December 2019 saw the dedication of our long awaited M.P. Rathke Opus 10. Opus 10 is 28 Stops, 41 ranks, two manual and petal tracker action pipe organ.

First United Methodist church Henderson Kentucky has a long history of providing  high quality music for church and community events.   In 1925 the Henry Pilcher’s Sons (Opus 1284) was installed in the church. It consisted of 3 manuals with 26 stops.

 

The organ was renovated by John Cave of Evansville, IN in 1975 with electronic keyboard console and pipe work located inside chambers to each side of the visual pipes as shown here.

 

In May 2015, First United Methodist Henderson signed an agreement with M.P. Rathke Inc to dismantle, design and construct the Opus 10 with 28 Stops, 41 ranks two manual and petal.

 

During 2015 and 2016, Mr. Rathke worked closely with First United Methodist Director of Music Ministries and organist Matthew Vanover and the pipe organ committee which had been assembled for the purpose overseeing the project.  James Kemp was appointed as Chairman of the committee.

Rathke and Vanover collaborated on the design and specifications of the instrument.   The plan was to take as much of the original work, combine it with other restored pipe work Mr. Rathke owned from dismantled pipe organs in Evansville Indiana and build a self contained mechanical action free standing pipe organ.  The final design was based on an Angel wing style with gilded gold leaf carvings which framed the cross hanging in the center of the chancel.

The new pipe organ required significant strengthening of the floor as it was estimated to weigh nearly 27,000 pounds.  Marrying a pipe organ to the existing space had special challenges including improvements in the Air Conditioning system to maintain and regulate humidity and temperature.

The pipe organ is a hybrid of old and new components.  Much of the pipe work was of the original organ combined with other used and restored pipes.  Structural wood came from Mr. Rathke family farm, the walnut casing came from timber harvested in the Indiana National forest which was shaped into beautiful cabinetry by a firm in Indianapolis Indiana.  New pipe work was imported from England, the mechanical action keyboard console from Germany, the roller boards from Fisk Pipe Organ Company of Gloucester MA as well as the gold-leaf carvings.

Finally a quick listen being played by First United Methodist Henderson Kentucky organist and choir director Nicolai Peek.