St. Mary's Church Pipe Organ Quebec-Bound for Restoration

NEWPORT, RI—The pipe organ at St. Mary's Church is about to take a trip. But only temporarily.

The organ, located inside the church at the corner of Spring Street and Memorial Boulevard, is going on a long road trip to Quebec, Canada to its original builder Casavant Freres for a complete overhaul. It's the first time Casavant Op. 2462 will leave St. Mary's since it arrived in 1958.

On Saturday, Oct. 1, the church is sending it off with a special 5:15 p.m. Bon voyage Mass.

According to the Cody Mead, the church's director of liturgical music, some of the preparation has already been accomplished.

The organ looks different right now, but it sounds the same.

The dismantling of the organ in earnest starts on Tuesday. Built in 1958, it has almost 1,700 pipes. He estimated it will be about 10 days to dismantle and pack all the pipes and pieces.

The craftsmen at Casavant will repair and restore it by hand, using "historic techniques," according to the church's press release.

"In its absence," the church also anounced, "St. Mary’s will rebuild the choir loft space to ensure that upon the pipe organ’s return, the environment is structurally sound, aesthetically pleasing and perfectly matched with the Church’s remarkable and historic 188-year-old Gothic Revival architectural style. The choir loft rebuilding project will include revealing stained glass windows crafted in Austria that have been partially obscured for nearly 60 years."

The organ is expected to be back in the loft by Easter.

“This spectacular instrument is as vital to St. Mary’s as are the columns or the roof to the church," said Rev. Kris von Maluski, the pastor. “When the organ died on Christmas Eve in 2014, we knew it was time to make a full examination due to its age and apparent deterioration to ensure that we preserved its magnificence beyond its original splendor for the future.

"It is truly a musical treasure that has graced our Church for nearly 60 years of weekly services, and thousands of weddings, baptisms, funerals, concerts and holiday liturgies,” he said.

Photo: Courtesy St. Mary's Church