Pipe Organ Delivered Back to St. Mary's Church

NEWPORT, RI—St. Mary's Church pipe organ has made the journey back home from Quebec. It was all hands on deck Wednesday morning, when part of William Street was closed to traffic while the truck made the special delivery. Pastor Kris von Maluski even helped the workmen carry some of the pieces inside.

The organ has 30,000 parts. Last fall, after 60 years, it was taken apart to be shipped to Canada, where the original maker, the Casavant Frères Company, restored it. The work was done by hand by skilled experts.

During its absence, the church said, St. Mary’s Church rebuilt the choir loft space to ensure that upon the pipe organ’s return on Wednesday, "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 instrument will also undergo tests before it's put back into service. "To create the unique St. Mary’s Church instrumental sound, specially trained 'Casavant voicers' will be on-site once the organ is re-installed to expertly test and tune each pipe," the church said.

To pay for all the work, the church has started the St. Mary's Souls in Harmony Campaign. The goal is to raise $1.2 million to preserve the Church building and choir loft, restore the 1958 pipe organ and expand the music program into the community.

The newly restored pipe organ will have its first musical performance during Sunday Mass on May 28 at 11 a.m., the church said.

Photo Caption: Workmen deliver the pipe organ, in 30,000 pieces, on Wednesday.

Courtesy Photo (top): Rev. Kris von Maluski carries part of the pipe organ inside St. Mary's Church in Newport.