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

GALLERY

The organ was originally built as four-manual/34 ranks for St. John’s Methodist Episcopal Church of Watertown, MA. Though it started life as a relatively modest four manual instrument, Op. 459 had many of the Skinner luxury items of the day, including four expression divisions (Swell, Choir, Solo, and Echo), nine ranks of reeds (including the signature French Horn, English Horn, and Tuba), three ranks of Celestes (two extending to CC), and 21 ranks of extended 73-note compass. This was clearly one of the “old man’s” organs, through and through.

Opus 459 is among the very best preserved early-E.M. Skinner instruments. Through its 99 years in Watertown, it was immaculately maintained by some of the most well-known Skinner-loving technicians of Boston, and its curatorial history has been traced back to almost the moment it left the factory. Pipework was all found to be in impeccable condition, the windchests avoided any signs of moisture, woodwork throughout the chambers was clean and the original factory shellac finish still vibrant. Unfortunately, following years of neighborhood change and church mergers, Op. 459 found itself in need of a new home and was listed for sale in 2022 through the Organ Clearing House.

Galilee Episcopal Church purchased the instrument for installation in their rear gallery, optimally positioned to project into a generous, warm acoustic (thanks to a recent building renovation) where bold Skinner voices will have ample opportunity to blossom and blend. After a rather expedited, but thorough committee process, Galilee chose to contract with Quimby Pipe Organs to rebuild and reconfigure Skinner Op. 459. As Galilee is a large, active Church with a vibrant music program, they chose to update the instrument with a new solid-state system control system and combination action by Integrated Organ Technologies, and to make sympathetic tonal additions to fill out the specification in the order one would expect from Ernest Skinner. All original materials of Op. 459 are being utilized and additions are being made with heritage E.M. Skinner pipework and mechanism.

In order to have full control of the instrument from both the gallery and the chancel, Quimby Pipe Organs is rebuilding and installing the historic four-manual E.M. Skinner “bat-wing” console from Opus 195 for installation in the chancel. Though it will normally live in a small alcove in the chancel, the bat-wing console is mobile via internal casters and can be positioned anywhere in the chancel for liturgical or concert needs