Clergy and parishioners at St. Luke’s Cathedral “didn’t know what was going to be possible” when the Anglican church’s electric organ stopped working in early 2018.

Sixteen months later Very Rev. James McShane is preparing to welcome “a remarkable instrument” to the Brock Street church that was built in 1870.

“It’s going to be a rich blessing well into the future,” McShane told The Sault Star during a recent interview.

The pipe organ from Rudolf von Beckerath in Hamburg, Germany arrived at St. Luke’s in 65 crates in mid-May. Members of 49th Field Regiment assisted with unloading the boxes. St. Luke’s is the regimental home of the reserve unit. About a dozen crates still sat in the church’s main aisle last week. The organ, in three sections with 846 pipes, cost $270,000.

“Everyone’s caught a vision and become part of a project we all thought was bigger than us,” said McShane.

Installation started May 26 and will take four weeks. Three staff from Rudolf von Beckerath are at the church. S&T Electrical is assisting.

“It’s a rich custom installation that makes the best of the instrument and the acoustic of the building itself,” said McShane.

Rudolf van Beckerath also built a tracker organ that’s in the church loft.

“They knew the building,” said McShane. “They knew our needs and were able to design this fantastic instrument.”

A blessing and dedication service is planned for June 30 at 10 a.m. That will be the first time the organ is played publicly. Bishop of Algoma, and senior bishop of the province, Anne Germond will attend.

“It’s going to be very versatile,” said music director and choirmaster Stephen Mallinger. “The sound is going to be fantastic.”

Sunday services are usually held at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. About 100 attend.

btkelly@postmedia.com

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