By Loretta Fulton

After a wait of two years, the newly rebuilt organ at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest will be dedicated on Sunday, May 3.

The dedication service will begin at 6 p.m., with prayers, scriptures, psalms, hymns, choir anthems, and an organ repertoire. A recent church newsletter said the following:

“As we mark this exciting moment in the musical life of Heavenly Rest, we pray that our organ will continue to reflect who we are as the people of God as we seek to perfect the praises offered by God’s people here on earth.”

The organ originally was installed in the early 1960s by Aeolian-Skinner, one of the premier organ builders of the era. It stopped functioning in 2018 and a decision was made to rebuild and renovate the organ. The church contracted with Kegg Pipe Organ Builders in Hartsville, Ohio, who in consultation with Thomas Pavlechko, organist and choirmaster, devised a plan for the reconstruction. In March 2024, a team from Kegg Pipe Organ Builders visited Heavenly Rest, and the design/drawing phase was completed in early 2025.

Construction of the new parts began shortly afterward. The new pipes, wind chests, and organ console were built first, with support structures and expression enclosures following. All the sections were assembled in Kegg’s shop in Ohio and reassembled at Heavenly Rest. The tonal finishing was completed in February. 

“After nearly two years, Charles Kegg and his team finished most of their work in February of this year, providing us with an instrument that is well suited to the way this community worships,” the newsletter article said. 

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene