As in most Episcopal churches, music is a vital part of our church life at St Stephen's. The history of music in our early church is somewhat incomplete. We do know, however, that at the time that our present church was built in 1956-7, Ruby Stone was the choir director and organist/pianist. At that time, and for the next twenty years, a succession of small electric organs was used.

In 1974, Barbara Bruns became the musical director at St Stephen's. She initiated the search for a pipe organ for the loft, by contacting the Organ Clearing House, a private company that salvages old organs and then finds new homes for them. A George S Hutchings #492 tracker organ, built around the turn of the century, was located in a convent associated with St Thomas Aquinas Parish in Jamaica Plains.

Here is a brief explanation about pipe organs. There are two basic types. The first is an "electro pneumatic" organ which electronically produces all key action. The second type is a "tracker" organ in which every pipe is connected to the key mechanically with rods. A tracker organ is preferred by many organists because it offers the organist a great deal more control. The first tracker organs were very difficult to play, but new materials have resulted in much improved playability.

Philip Beaudry disassembled the organ, stored it in his barn in Lowell, and did much of the repair and rebuilding in his shop. The organ was transported to St Stephen's in pieces and then reconstructed like a puzzle. The lower case, which was made from old pews, is walnut with a mahogany-colored varnish and is original. The original upper case had to be left as part of the building from which it came and a new upper case was designed and constructed in pine by Philip. Carmen Borgia led the rebuilding effort, which took many months. Carmen remembers the tremendous effort required to get the half-ton wind chest up the stairs to the loft! On June 10, 1978, the organ was dedicated with a concert given by Barbara Bruns.

The original purchase of the organ and the cost to rebuild was financed by the generous donations of the parishioners of St Stephen's and through fund-raising events, such as spaghetti suppers. Philip Beaudry's design provided for the additions of four more stops, to be added "when resources permit" in order to "complete the tonal design of the instrument." The organ fund has continued to grow, by way of donations, over the years and as a result, we are now able to continue the work of those who took on this project many years ago.

In the spring of 2000, David Melrose of Southfield Organ Builders of Springfield was hired to install two of the four additional stops provided in the original design by Philip Beaudry, namely the quint flute or larigot stop on the swell division and the principal bass on the great division. At the same time, David added new pipes and reworked several "nonspeaking" pipes into "speaking" condition as well. The principal base stop enhances the depth of the rich deep tones and the quint flute stop provides a solo instrumental tone in the upper register. The addition of these two stops together give the organ a richer, fuller sound. In 2001 a dedication concert was performed on the rebuilt and expanded organ by then organist and choir director, Ms Beverly Scheibert. It was a particular honor that Philip Beaudry was able to attend the event.

As a result of the loving care and stewardship of members of our parish, past and present, St Stephen's is blessed with one of the finest pipe organs in the area.

Contributed by Peter Kite from an earlier piece by Cyndy Hill.