Project 51

St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church engaged Parsons Pipe Organ Builders and Rosales Organ Builders to collaborate on the construction of a new four-manual and pedal, 65-voice, 79-rank pipe organ. The instrument was designed and built by Parsons with tonal concept, pipe scaling, and tonal finishing completed in collaboration with Rosales.

The organ’s action utilized Parsons’ own design of slider chests with electric pulldowns and unit chests for the reeds and bass pipes. Wind pressures ranged from 3.5” to 17.5”.

The existing chambers on either side of the chancel were modified with seismic code upgrades and extended with new casework of quartered white oak cantilevered in front of four tone openings. Above the main entrance, casework in matching style was installed for the Antiphonal division. The five cases contained 109 façade pipes of polished tin for the bass notes of the 16’ and 8’ Principal ranks.

A new English-style draw knob console was custom designed to control the 105 draw knobs spread over six divisions, including two full-length 32’ pedal stops and sixteen ranks of reeds.

We enjoyed working with Alex Benestelli, Director of Music, and Thomas Sheehan, Consultant.