Pipe organs at First-Plymouth Church, UCC

The Lied Chancel Organ

East & West Chancel organ chambers, page 1

Through 2-27-98

In addition to the exposed pipe work in the chancel display, most of the Pedal division will be installed in the West chamber (left) and the Solo and Celestial divisions installed in the east chamber (right). These chambers were originally designed and incorporated during construction of the building in 1930 to house the pipes for its Kimball organ.

The page maintainer remembers as a child the grillwork for the Kimball organ in the areas now covered with tarps, as well as grillwork in the window arches partially shown (far left, left photo, far right, right photo) in these pictures. (See the page on the Kimball Casework). The four openings for these chambers were enclosed prior to the installation of the Schlicker chancel organ and used for climate air handling equipment. The air handling equipment and ductwork will be moved downstairs so that it will be virtually silent during use.

These photos were taken shortly after the old organ chambers were opened.  The west (pedal) chamber is shown left, east (Solo/Celestial) right.
Here the chambers are ready for the installation of equipment and pipes.  Though the maintainer has sacrificed photo quality for space, the small chamber at the top of the east chamber (right) can be seen, this chamber will hold the Vox Humana and 2' Tierce Mixture stop for the Celestial division.
Installation of pipes, chests, ducts and electrical has begun.  In the west/pedal chamber (Left photo) on the right side, some of our used pipes, the 16' Open Wood and original chests.   Along the back wall, some of the 16' Violone from John Levick's home organ can be seen.  See the Used Pipes page for a brief history of these pipes.
Most of the pedal pipes that required installation through the wall have been installed in the west chamber (left) and the larger Solo/Celestial pipes in the east chamber (right.)   Because of ongoing construction needed to reinstall the choir loft and drywall/plaster work in the apse area, Schoenstein needed to enclose the chambers to protect the equipment from the resulting dust.