New Organ Information

Cheshire United Methodist Church will be holding an afternoon concert on Sunday, June 10, 2007 at 3:00pm to celebrate and dedicate their new Allen Renaissance Quantum 325 digital organ. This three-manual, fifty-stop instrument provides the versatility of four separate and distinct organs in one console, featuring pipe samples from the world’s finest examples of each major organ-building style.

Sharon Schindler Rising, music director and organist, will begin the concert with solo pieces by Cesar Franck, J. S. Bach, Carl Peters, and Paul Manz. The senior choir will present the John Rutter "Te Deum". This splendid choral piece was first performed in 1988 at a service of thanksgiving in Canterbury Cathedral, England.

Other musical groups within the church will also be featured. Children will play and process to a chime piece, and the children’s choir will sing a Natalie Sleeth number with organ. Merrillee and Jubilate Ringers will combine with choir and congregation to deliver two favorite hymns. "Old Hundredth" will be offered by a brass ensemble, and a Marco Enrico Bossi "Gig" will feature the church’s liturgical dancers.

Yalesville Methodist Church organist, Gail DeBoer, will play variations on hymn tunes, and Ann Fennelly, longtime former Cheshire Methodist Church organist, will present a Bach harpsichord piece.

The public is heartily invited to attend this free concert at the church, 205 Academy Rd, and the reception following. Please refer questions to the church office at 272-4626.

 

The organ will be installed and tuned on March 20, 21 and 22, 2007

Our first Worship with the new Allen Q325 will be March 25, 2007

The dedication service is being planned for Sunday afternoon June 10, 2007

Before the process begins

Main Organ Speaker Location                                Bass Speaker Location

  The Changes

Sharon, Carolyn and Gail learn about Vista (midi) from Greg


The Allen organ Q325 was ordered 12/20/06
with the hope of a pre Easter installation

Meet the people that will build our proposed new organ

Allen Organ - Quantum 345
Information sheet on our proposed new Allen organ

 

The Quantum Story
Read a little history of the organ and the technology that has been put into the
Allen Organ Company Renaissance Quantum organs

Responding to the Word of God
Music Appreciation Sunday (9/30/05)
Sharing the Organ Fund Vision

               Brief organ history at CUMC
History starts with a Möller Pipe Organ in the Church at Spring and Main Streets. During construction on Academy Road in 1969 the Möller Organ was inspected and found to be in such condition that it could not be moved.

We started worship on Academy Road in Fellowship Hall with a piano for a short time. Later in 1969 we received a large Wurlitzer Organ as a gift from long time members, Marge and Karl Haller.

An organ committee was formed in 1977 and after much work we decided on the Allen 301 two-manual organ with first generation computer technology.

In the spring of 2001 it was learned that the Allen Organ Company had developed two new computer boards for the Allen 301 organ, that would extend it's life and increase the quality of sound with newer technology. These were installed.

                         In Memory Of
Around the time of my mothers passing I was approached with the idea of placing a portion of the money from the Lillian Burns estate in a separate account earmarked for a new organ. Since that time, money has been added from the Harmonia Chorus and in memory of Al and Helen Thomas, Carl Perrin, and Ray Dahman. As of the end of October, the Organ Account has $8072.45, a considerable 10% of what is needed to purchase a new organ.

Organ Funding Ways and Chart

The go-ahead for our drive has been approved by both the Finance Committee and Church Council. It will not interfere with any immediate plans to raise funds and concerts could be held to build up the capital improvements portion of our budget after installation of the new organ.

An organ is a somewhat different kind of capital project in that it tends to bring in donations in memory or in honor of loved ones, or to the glory of God. As you have heard, the majority of current funds in our organ account represent loved-ones who have passed on and whom we wish to honor through music. All memorial or honorary gifts will be recognized on a special plaque. For those contributing in memory or in honor of someone, each service with our new organ will serve to remember that loved one in an inspiring and uplifting way. Great music is eternal and every time our organ is played, or we sing a hymn, hear a prelude, listen to the choir, attend a wedding or a memorial service for a church member, take communion, or attend a recital, those loved ones will be honored. What a wonderful way to be remembered!

I will tell you that the cost of the organ we are considering is $75,000. Yes that is a lot of money. We are 10% of the way there. Granted, we will probably not achieve our goal by this Christmas, but Easter would be a wonderful day to celebrate a new organ, or perhaps Rally Day 2006. We will be putting down half of the amount before construction of the new instrument is begun and 4 months thereafter can have it installed.

Let’s turn our attention to this chart. Each pedal and key represents a $350 donation. All pedals plus 5 keys have been colored in to indicate our current available funds. Once all keys have been colored in, we will have met our goal. If 178 individuals each purchased one key, our goal would be met. There are numerous ways of giving. For instance, if you are accustomed to collecting your change at the end of the day and want to contribute in this way, children included, we have cans available in the narthex for each family.

Our present organ has served us well for almost 30 years. A new organ is a legacy to present and future congregations. We hope that you, in any way possible, will choose to be a part of that legacy. Thank you.

             ORGAN FUND DRIVE UNDERWAY (November 2005)

With the approval by the Church Council and Finance Committee, we are moving forward with the drive to raise funds for a new organ. Currently we have over $8,000 toward that goal. We also have an anticipated trade-in at time of purchase of $5,000. An organ is a somewhat different capital project in that it tends to bring in funds in memory or in honor of loved-ones or to the glory of God. We are coloring in keys and pedals on the organ poster in the narthex to indicate where we stand. Each pedal and key represents a $350 donation and we have already colored in all pedals and 5 keys. Perhaps you feel moved to purchase a key, or keys, or an octave representing 8 keys in memory or in honor of someone special in your life. That loved one will be honored every time our new instrument is played during worship, weddings, memorial services, communion, and at many other times in the life of the church. We want to thank you for your ongoing coin collection to aid this drive. Cans may be brought in to the church office when full. (A full can of assorted coins holds almost $100!) A new organ is a legacy to present and future generations. If 178 of us each purchase one key, our goal will be met. Donations may be made out to CUMC Organ Fund. If you are donating in honor or memory of a loved-one please indicate that person on the memo line of your check or attach a note.

Mid-December
Mid-December donations to the Organ fund now total over $20,000.00 with over $9,000.00 due in either this week or next for a total of 40%. People have asked if we can have the organ for Easter? The answer is YES, BUT it must be ordered before the end of the year. YES we can order the organ, BUT we need 60% in commitment this week to do it. If you can give either this year or by Easter 2006 please talk to Sharon, Carolyn, Mara, Jeanie or Andy.
This is the time of year to either Honor or give in Memory of that special person.

January 1, 2006
Funds received this past week included Memorial, Honoring of and for the new organ.
We now have a total of $ 33,325 (52% to go)
This is a great time of year to either Honor or give in Memory of
that very special person in your life.
If you have any questions about our new organ please talk to Sharon, Carolyn, Mara, Jeanie or Andy.

Mid-January
Mid-January donations to the Organ Fund now total over $36,500.00 52+%. If you have any questions please talk to Sharon, Carolyn, Mara, Jeanie or Andy.
A gift to the Organ Fund is  a great way to Honor or give in Memory of that special person.

Early May
Early May brings donations to the Organ Fund to the plus side of $40,000.00. If you have any questions please talk to Sharon, Carolyn, Dick, Mara, Jeanie or Andy.
A gift to the Organ Fund is  a great way to Honor or give in Memory of that special person.

Mid-September
Mid-September brings donations to the Organ Fund to the plus side of $50,000.00. If you have any questions please talk to Sharon, Carolyn, Dick, Mara, Jeanie or Andy.
A gift to the Organ Fund is  a great way to Honor or give in Memory of that special person in your life.

Mid-November
Mid-November brings the Organ Fund donations very close. With only 15 keys remaining as we enter into the seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas,
what a wonderful time of year to Honor or give in Memory of that special person in your life. If you have any questions about our new organ please talk to Carolyn,  Sharon,  Dick,  Mara, Jeanie or Andy.

Mid-December
Carolyn, Chair of the Organ Committee announced today, December 17, that the committee has selected the Allen Organ Co. to build our new organ.
The Allen organ Q325 was ordered December 20, 2006