Chancel 2 manuals, 20 ranks

Relocation and expansion of E.M. Skinner Opus 459 (1924), and construction of a new chancel organ.

CHANCEL
In addition to the installation of E.M. Skinner Op. 459 in the rear gallery, Galilee Episcopal Church had a clear need for an instrument in the chancel of the church in order to support their active music program at both ends of the nave. As the tonal identity of Skinner Op. 459 and Galilee’s vision for it in their space was so clearly defined, the Church gave builders significant latitude to design and propose a chancel instrument that would meet two primary goals: that it be both contrasting and complimentary to the Skinner; and that it be a sufficiently independent instrument to serve both liturgical and concert roles in the chancel.
Recognizing Galilee’s appreciation for preservation and use of historic materials, the chancel instrument which Quimby proposed utilizes the majority of an 1891 Frank Roosevelt instrument, Opus 494 (formerly of St. James Catholic Church, Chicago – the church of Wilhelm Middelschulte), and select ranks from Galilee’s former chancel instrument. Though this new chancel instrument utilizes heritage pipework, its tonal identity is entirely new, and it is being built on a new Quimby mechanism. Making efficient use of the limited space in the chancel chamber, the new chancel organ is made up of 20 ranks across two separately enclosed divisions, resulting in a very flexible and colorful instrument.