A brief history of our Organ
The rebuilt and enlarged organ at Grace Lutheran Church has an
interesting history.
It was originally built in 1929 by the Hall Organ Company
of New Haven, Connecticut. The Hall Organ Company was run
by Harry Hall, originally of Sussex, England who came to work
for the famous Hook and Hastings Company in Massachusetts.
The Hall Organ Company, remaining in business until the 1940’s,
built many church organs and were only a step below the prestigious
firms of Hook and Hastings, Hutchings, and later Skinner.
The original organ console was installed on the floor level
near the present pulpit with the choir loft also on that side..
The choir loft and console were moved to their present location
when the interior of the church was remodeled in 1960.
Several Hall organs were built in the Phoenix area at this time. One is around the corner from Grace in the Roosevelt Ministries Building, which is still in use. A smaller organ was moved from a funeral parlor downtown and is being used at the Beatitudes Campus of Care Chapel. A large organ was moved from the Church of Christ downtown and remains in storage at Lincoln Heights Christian Church.
The original Hall organ had 6 ranks of pipes and 2 manuals. The organ was very lovingly cared for by Marvin Anderson for over 50 years when he and his wife Ruth were active members of the church, especially in the choir and music program. In 1972, Marvin added another rank of pipes. After that addition, the organ was rededicated and organist Virginia Brown gave a recital on it. At that time the organ was over 40 years old and had survived two fires in the building.
In the fall of 2000, it was determined that the 71 year old organ needed major repair ,and the congregation voted to expand and rebuild the organ. They signed a contract with Pipe Organ Artisans of Tucson, Grahame Davis President.
The present organ has been expanded to three manuals (keyboards) with 19 ranks of pipes. The total number of pipes is 1,300. The original organ was all enclosed in the organ chamber behind the shutters.. The rebuilt organ has a division of exposed pipes in front of the chamber playable on both the choir and great manuals.
