Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew & Matthew (SsAM)

Seeking to know and love God in every person, here, now.

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About The Katherine Esterly Organ

Links

  • About the Organ Restoration Project and its Capital Campaign
  • Tonal Specifications
  • Join The Friends of the Katherine Esterly Organ
  • Make A Donation

About The Organ

The new pipe organ for the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew & Matthew (SsAM) in Wilmington, Delaware is Quimby Pipe Organs’ Opus 72, and is comprised of 45 ranks divided into four manual divisions and pedal, playable from a new three manual and pedal console. The new organ replaces a two-manual Möller, Opus 7114, which was completed in 1948.

The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew & Matthew is the successful result of the combination of two established Episcopal congregations in Wilmington, in 1995. Since that time, the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John in Wilmington was closed, and many congregants moved to Sts. Andrew & Matthew. Because of this, as a symbolic gesture of bringing many disparate parts into a unified whole, ranks of pipes from all three church organs have been incorporated into the new Quimby organ. In addition to the St. Andrew Möller, pipes were used from both the St. Matthew 1956 Möller, Opus 8832, and the 1920 Möller, Opus 2992 (rebuilt by Möller in 1952 and 1967) from the Cathedral Church of St. John. Some of the pipes in the St. Andrew Möller were retained from the church’s former 1907 C.S. Haskell organ, and have also been reused in the new organ.

These pipes have been skillfully restored, rescaled, and re-voiced so that they form integral parts of an organ ensemble that is unique to Quimby. Together with new ranks of pipes, all form a diverse but coherent whole where individual voices are developed for individual beauty and maximum harmonic development, but also great blending capacity.

The separately enclosed Swell and Great divisions are located together in the chamber that housed both the St. Andrew Möller and the previous C.S. Haskell. The primary pedal ranks are enclosed with the Great. The Choir division is located in an expression enclosure in a newly constructed chamber on the opposite side of the Chancel. Both chambers are fronted by new non-speaking façade pipes constructed to replicate closely the original 1907 C.S. Haskell façade pipes, which were reused by Möller in 1948. The Antiphonal division is unenclosed, and is located in an alcove in the rear Gallery where Möller previously installed an Antiphonal division in 1957, where the pipes are arranged on either side of a rose window.

As with other recent instruments, our work here draws from several antecedents for inspiration, resulting in a tonal style that is entirely our own, and no copy of any historical work. As such, it becomes a part of a historical continuum from which lessons are taken, and new concepts are explored within the framework of an English-American 19th and 20th century heritage. Of special note are the Diapason choruses, which are inspired by the work of 19th century English organ builder T.C. Lewis, and which feature generously scaled pipework, voiced to optimum harmonic potential, that enables the constituent chorus pitches to lock into an integrated ensemble while also filling the church with grandeur and presence.

The reeds are also unique to Quimby Pipe Organs. The Swell Chorus reeds are our own synthesis of the French and English schools, in order to provide fire and brilliance combined with a fundamental tone that simulates the “bourdon tone” that reverberant stone buildings impart to fiery French Trompettes—here, in the context of a much less resonant space. The Great Trumpet is squarely from the English tradition, and is more round, but still brilliant. The Harmonic Trumpet, located in the Antiphonal, speaks with a heroic, commanding voice capable of solo lines over full organ ensembles.

The Swell Oboe is also from the English tradition, and will function well with both the foundation stops, and also as a lyrical solo reed. The Choir Clarinet is after the tradition of twentieth century American organbuilder Ernest M. Skinner. The Choir English Horn is the representative rank from the Cathedral of St. John, and was constructed by Möller for their 1920 organ in that church, Opus 2992.

The console, built by Jim Schmidt, is a departure from our standard practice, and was modeled on the elegantly compact and attractive three manual console built by Aeolian for their 1930 three-manual and pedal instrument at Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, and features tilting stop tablets on angled jambs.

New Quimby-Blackinton slider windchests have been constructed for the primary manual divisions, with extended ranks on new electro-pneumatic unit windchests.

The organ was completion in January 2017 with Service of Dedication (featuring David Christopher and the SsAM Choirs) on Sunday 19 February 2017 at 4:00 p.m. and the Dedicatory Recital (given by Ken Cowan) on Saturday, 25 February 2017 at 7:00 p.m.

Click here to find out about becoming a FRIEND OF THE KATHERINE ESTERLY ORGAN

Links

About the Organ Restoration Project and its Capital Campaign

Tonal Specifications

Join The Friends of the Katherine Esterly Organ

Make A Donation

Written by Daniel T. Hancock, President, Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc.

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NEWS

Clergy Transition – Our Search for a New Rector

SsAM IS NOW RECEIVING NAMES FOR OUR NEXT RECTOR! If you are a clergy person and interested in our open rector position, we invite you to … [Read More...]

The Rev. Deacon Clay Brown

The Rev. Deacon Clay Brown will be ordained a priest on Saturday, February 4, at 11am. He joined the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew … [Read More...]

Worship God with us this Sunday in downtown Wilmington, Delaware

You are invited to worship God with us in person this Sunday at 8:00 or 10:30 a.m. in downtown Wilmington, Delaware. Our newly-ordained … [Read More...]

Welcome To SsAM. You are invited!

SsAM, the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew & Matthew in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, welcomes you. Come to God’s Table! Come, you … [Read More...]

SsAM Presents: Upcoming Events

Silent Walk for Justice and Peace, 5:30pm on Friday, February 3 Join us for this peaceful, prayerful walk through the center of … [Read More...]

The Extraordinary Life of Rosetta Henderson

An interview with Rosetta Henderson and a digital exhibit exploring her life and accomplishments is now at the Hagley Museum and Library. … [Read More...]

Reflection – Things kept going wrong but that didn’t bother us.

A reflection by Danny Schweers for January 29, 2023. Why did our companionship, in spite of events, continue as cheerfully as ever? Why … [Read More...]

First Friday Walks for Justice and Peace in Wilmington, Delaware

The next walk begins on Friday, February 3 at 5:30 p.m. in the SsAM parking lot, 713 N. Shipley Street. Join us for this peaceful, … [Read More...]

Spiritual Music in Wilmington, Delaware

Wilmington Children’s Chorus Teaching Fellowship applications are due February 10. The Wilmington Children's Chorus is accepting … [Read More...]

Children’s Chapel continues on February 12 at 10:30am.

Children’s Chapel will meet on February 12 and 26, and on every second and fourth Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in Crypt Hall. Children have several … [Read More...]

See all the News & Upcoming Events posts

Worship Services

We will be delighted if you worship with us in-person or via video this Sunday at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Click here to learn more!

Visit Us

719 N. Shipley Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
with free parking weekends and evenings next to the church at 713 N. Shipley Street. Click here to learn more about parking and directions.
Office Hours
Monday – Thursday, 9:00 to 4:30
Friday, 9:00 to 1:00

OUR MISSION

To be an inclusive Christian community which worships God, follows Christ in all aspects of our lives, and serves the Greater Wilmington area through actions and ministries which promote peace, justice, reconciliation and empowerment for all people.

Contact Us

PHONE: 302 656-6628

EMAIL: Click here to use our email form.

FACEBOOK: Click here to see our Facebook page. You need a Facebook account to see it.

YOUTUBE: Click here to see our YouTube Channel. Some smart TV sets will allow you to stream YouTube, so you can watch in your den or living room. Search for “Saints Andrews and Matthew”.

Are You New to SsAM?

If you are new to SsAM, please click here to see the Welcome to SsAM booklet in PDF format. The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew is a dynamic and diverse congregation in downtown Wilmington, Delaware.

Our Vision

The Episcopal Church of Sts. Andrew and Matthew seeks to be a dynamic, spiritual center that is active in the pursuit of peace and justice in the community and a place where all God’s people are honored.

LINKS

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Donations Are Welcome, and a Necessity
Our ministries are dependent on financial donations. Click here to make a secure credit-card donation on-line or to learn

Our main focus is ministry, not money!
We offer a host of ministries for which you can volunteer. You can participate in worship services, help make the church hum, or offer your time and talent to the local community.

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