Project 57

The new organ for Emanual Luteran Church, New London, WI is a new 3-manual, 43-rank instrument completed in spring 2025. For the church, this instrument represents one piece of a much larger project that involved the complete renovation of the sanctuary space and acoustics, reconfiguring the narthex, building of a new east entryway, and significant remodeling to many other spaces.

The organ too has been given new life, as it is a remanufacture of the organ built for First United Methodist Church in DeKalb, IL, by the Berghaus Organ Company in 2001. Parsons was engaged to acquire, reconfigure, revoice, and install the instrument in the balcony at Emanual Lutheran. The remanufacture process focused on making significant changes and upgrades to the entire instrument and to do so in a way that made economic sense.

The organ was expanded by converting the original Swell to a Choir, and building a new Swell division. The instrument now contains a total of 43 ranks, versus its original 34. The interior of the instrument has been completely redesigned and includes an entirely new wedge bellows winding system—with a new blower—and micro-climate system to help maintain temperature which is crucial for tuning. Access to the Great, Swell, Choir and Pedal divisions has been greatly improved with the addition of angled stairs and open passageways. The façade has been modified, and the base of the case redesigned to enhance the visual appearance and provide tonal egress for the organ.

In this instance much of the original pipework was usable and with a considerable amount of work Parsons was able to combine the existing sets of pipes with other vintage and newly constructed pipes to produce an outstanding result in the organ’s new home. To facilitate Emanuel’s growing music program, the organ contains two complete manual principal choruses, two celestes and a hooded solo trumpet located under expression in the Choir division.

The operating system of the organ is entirely new and contained in custom-built cabinetry. While much of the existing console cabinet was reused, the vertical jambs and draw knobs, nameboard and couplers, manuals and pistons, and the adjustable bench are all new.

Scott R. Riedel and Associates served as consultant for both sanctuary acoustics and the pipe organ.