Originally published in the March 4, 2010 issue of The Evangel.
by Sharron Lyon, FBC Organist, 1964 – 2004
When I arrived on the scene in 1964, there was already buzz about a new sanctuary. Russell Brothers chaired the Building Committee, and Dr. Hines Sims represented the musicians. We contacted five major pipe organ builders for bids and decided on the Schantz Organ Company in Orrville, Ohio, to build our instrument.
For those of you who remember the last service in the old sanctuary in 1967, Hardie Bass asked me to pull out all the stops and play "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" one last time. The next day the old instrument was removed by Sam Lott and friends, and three years later, our new Schantz organ arrived for our new sanctuary.
When I saw the Schantz truck parked on 7th Avenue, I started screaming and probably cried, too. I was the most excited organist in the world that day. Widener and Company of Atlanta, Georgia, installed our 59-rank, 4-manual instrument and constructed an electric pulley to hoist the larger pipes to the four openings on the east wall. After all of the pipes were in place, but not tuned or voiced, I begged Mr. Widener to let me play a note or two. I'll never forget it--Mary Kate Brothers was standing in the choir loft above the organ console, and I began playing the softest stops on the organ. It was a piece that I would later play for numerous weddings in our sanctuary. The sounds were beautiful, so Mary Kate and I shared a sweet moment among our tears. We were so happy.
The first service in the sanctuary was scheduled for Easter Sunday, March 29, 1970. The organ was not finished, but it was tuned well enough to play the first notes for Vince Johnson and Pat Halsell's wedding the night before and then for the packed house the next day. Throughout the building project, Dr. Paschall promised that our first hymn in the new sanctuary would be "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name," and it was. I played the Widor "Toccata" for the Easter postlude, and afterwards, the Sneads and I hugged in the organ pit and cried tears of joy. That night Mr. Snead led our choir in a major work, Of Time and Eternity, and it was the first time the mighty Trompette en Chamade (horizontal pipes) was played.
John Schantz and Breck Camp arrived in April 1970 to voice/finish the organ in time for my dedicatory recital on May 24, 1970. I played German and French music, including J. S. Bach's "Passacaglia" and Alain's "Litanies."
The one and only major refurbishment of the organ occurred in 2005, when the Milnar Organ Company of Eagleville, Tennessee, brought it up to date. Thanks to Mark Edwards and the Sanctuary Choir, a Zimbelstern was added on the occasion of my retirement. After 40 years on the First Baptist bench, it was my pleasure to pass the baton to Vicki Wright, who celebrated her fifth anniversary last June. And, did I mention, she is doing a fabulous job?!
What a privilege it was to play our wonderful instrument from 1970 to 2004 in a room built for music--aurally and visually. Thanks to the Schantz and Milnar Companies, it still sounds as great as it did when I played the first notes.
Don't miss the great organ concerts planned by Joe Fitzpatrick and our Music Committee for our sanctuary's 40th anniversary. I know all of the artists and highly recommend them to you. Happy Anniversary!
Soli deo Gloria!
*Image: The Day the Organ Arrived -- February 17, 1970
