FBCSD Given Pipe Organ!
First Baptist Church Soddy Daisy has received a tremendous blessing in the form of a high-quality pipe organ! While our current electronic instrument has served our church well for many years, it has reached a point of needing major repairs and updates with considerable expense.
A church in Rome, GA recently merged into a larger congregation and sold the building housing this well-maintained pipe organ. The new owners had no desire to use the instrument and made it available to anyone willing to remove it. With the amazing help of the crew at Barger & Nix Organs, we were able to quickly and safely remove the organ and transport it to Soddy Daisy, placing it in temporary storage at the church.
This pipe organ was built by the highly reputable M.P. Möller Company of Hagerstown, Maryland in 1948. Opus 7884 was originally designed and installed in the First Baptist Church of Oneida, Tennessee, serving faithfully for 40 years. The organ was removed to make way for a larger instrument and placed in storage before it was completely rebuilt and installed in Rome, Georgia in 1999. Additional ranks of pipes as well as modern solid-state controls were included with the restoration.
The combination of high-quality original parts, expert rebuilding, and reliable controls make this instrument an absolute treasure! We were continually surprised as we inspected and disassembled the organ by how well it was taken care of and by the excellent upgrades that had been done. With some straightforward modifications to the existing organ chambers in our sanctuary, the organ installation should be relatively simple. As it sits, the organ should have many decades of faithful use, and having the modern switching system already installed, the possibility for upgrades or additions are extremely simple for future expansion.
Why pipes? For generations, pipe organs have filled churches with beautiful music with their unique foundation for singing. Having true acoustic sounds that resemble strings, flutes, brass, woodwinds, and sometimes even percussion, the pipe organ is an unique "orchestra" that creates wonderful sound colors for all styles and genres of music. While its early origins make it one of the oldest instruments in history, the pipe organ has advanced and grown using modern technology not only in its manufacturing, but also in controls and usability. Having such an amazing instrument will provide us the amazing opportunity to educate a new generation of keyboard players as well as enrich our weekly worship services!
Ms. Ernestine Eldridge served in the music ministry of FBC Soddy Daisy for almost 8 decades, playing the piano, organ, and directing music for services at various times throughout her amazing lifetime. Ms. Ernestine taught music and coached girls basketball in Sale Creek and Soddy Daisy, touching the lives of hundreds through her sweet spirit and love for people and music.
This instrument will be dedicated in her honor as we continue to pass on graceful excellence in our music ministry for generations to come. Prayerfully give toward this project as we celebrate the legacy of Ms. Ernestine!