Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
BRIDGTON – The Music Committee at the First Congregational Church of Bridgton Maine has announced that an inaugural concert of its newly restored 1930 Estey pipe organ will be given at the church at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 5. The concert is free and open to all members of the community. Performances will be given by Jeremy Hill, the congregation’s current Organist and Choir Director. Returning for the afternoon is Dan Moore who had held the position of Organist and Choir Director for many years at First Church. Refreshments will be served after the concert.
Estey Organ, Opus 2948, was installed at the First Church in 1930 in place of the George Stevens organ dating to 1871. It continues to be housed behind the original Stevens casework. Despite the onset of the Great Depression, the congregation at First Church in 1930 experienced the maturation of a charitable trust which allowed for some cosmetic changes to the sanctuary and the purchase of the organ with 722 pipes in three divisions. A restoration occurred in 1972 lead by Dr. Dwight W. Leighton of Yarmouth and included the addition of 70 pipes and the replacement of the action with what was then state of the art electric action.
The most recently completed project was lead by Nick Orso of Portland Maine. It involved a complete restoration of the organ and the installation of a new, American Guild of Organists-compliant console and a sound system which allows for the addition of church and theater organ supplements. We began in early June and the organ was “unveiled” this past Christmas Eve. Many members of the church contributed both monetary and physical labor to the effort. Please come and hear this historic instrument for yourself.
First Congregational Church of Bridgton is at 33 South High Street. For more information, call 207-647-9578 or email toscanini@roadrunner.com.
