THE ARTICLES BELOW DETAIL THE ST. PATRICK CHURCH ORGAN AS IT EXISTS IN 2008. AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS JUST MADE THAT A NEW 3/49 ORGAN WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AND INSTALLED IN 2009, BY THE FIRM OF PATRICK J. MURPHY AND ASSOCIATES OF STOWE, PENNSYLVANIA. THE ORIGINAL 1843 HENRY ERBEN CASE WILL BE RETAINED AS PART OF THE NEW INSTRUMENT.

___________________________________________________

The orga case (visible above) was part of the church's original 1843 Henry Erben organ. This organ remained in service until it was severely damaged by the great hurricane of 1915. Although the case survived, the works were totally destroyed. When the church was repaired after the storm, the pipe work of Odell organ Opus 239 (1887), purchased from Trinity Episcopal on Jackson Avenue, was incorporated into the old Erben case. During the church's restoration under the pastorate of the late Msgr. John Reynolds, a Moller organ (Opus 9614) was built under the tonal directorship of Ernest White, noted Moller tonal designer of that era. The Moller was installed, as a replacement for the Odell works, in the historic Erben case. This instrument, complete with the historic case, is still in use today. Church organist Joe Hoppe is credited with having contributed much to the preservation of the instrument over the years.

Information provided by Roy Redman and Jeff Scofield