Recital To Honor Oldest Pipe Organ In DuPage County, IL

First Congregational United Church of Christ in Naperville, IL celebrates its 100 year old pipe organ with a concert by members of the American Guild of Organists.

Naperville, Ill. (PRWEB) April 15, 2006 -- First Congregational United Church of Christ in Naperville, 25 E. Benton Avenue, will host a recital to celebrate its century-old pipe organ on Sunday, April 30, at 4:00 PM, according to church spokesperson Daniel Bennett. The instrument, Austin Opus 163, was installed in 1906, making it the oldest pipe organ in DuPage County, and one of the oldest still functioning in Illinois.

Recitalists from the Fox Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) will play a variety of selections including works by Dietrich Buxtehude, J.S. Bach, Andre Campra, Louis Vierne, Percy Fletcher and Paul Manz. In addition, the organ will accompany congregational hymn singing, and an "AGO and friends" choir will perform Charles Gounod's "Sanctus." All singers are welcome to participate in the choir; there will be only one rehearsal for the "Sanctus," at 2:45 PM, just prior to the event. After the recital, all are invited to attend a light-buffet reception served in the church's Community Room.

The church sanctuary also had its start in 1906, at a time when commercial electrification was not yet commonplace (the original gas-lamp mountings may still be seen), but a high level of craftsmanship was expected. The sanctuary was built of local yellow limestone, and its interior features large scissor-trusses of oak and a paneled oak vaulted ceiling. Some of the finest period examples of stained and opalescent glass in Naperville may be found in the sanctuary windows. The organ casework, no less intricate, is constructed of quarter-sawn oak, with paneled pedestals and hand-carved filigree. Lacking electricity to run the blower, the organ first used a rather ingenious device known as a "water engine," in which city water pressure was used to turn a turbine and hence the blower. Subsequently this was replaced by an electric motor. The organ has 1014 pipes. To find more specifications on this historic organ, please use the following URL: http://www.loveandjustice.org/images/organ/organ4.jpg

Ample free parking is available, either on the street or in the City of Naperville's public parking garage on Benton Avenue, just west of Washington Street. The organ centenary event is part of First Congregational Church's year-long celebration of its sanctuary and pipe organ. A freewill offering will be taken.

Chartered in 1833, First Congregational United Church of Christ is the oldest church in DuPage County. Members have been part of every major change in the surrounding area, be it abolition, railroads, civic duty, community development or social action. This year First Congregational Church will hold a number of events during 2006 to celebrate the church’s 100 years in its historic stone building at Benton and Center in downtown Naperville.

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