Rebuilt console in the factory
Grace United Methodist Church in Rockford, Illinois has an instrument that has served them faithfully for many years. Originally installed in the church’s former sanctuary in 1916 as Henry Pilcher’s Sons Opus 924, the organ has been much altered but retains all of its original pipework with some additions. In 2021 and 2022, the pipework was removed to be fitted onto new slider chests. The swell enclosure was painted to match the color of the sanctuary. The pedal bourdon chest was removed and the pneumatics re-covered. The organ was featured in a “soft launch” in a demonstration sponsored by the Rockford Chapter of the American Guild of Organists in April of 2022. A month later, the organ was formally re-dedicated with a recital given by Dr. Steven Wente.