Read about - Westminster Presbyterian Church

Orrville, Ohio, for construction of a pipe organ of sixteen or
seventeen ranks and console. A year later an additional one
and a half ranks were approved.
Parish Assistant John Mecouch (also teacher, preacher
and choir soloist) and Music Director Robert Allen were
deeply involved in this project, as were Clifford Morris of
the Property Committee and the pastor. Actual installation
involved only about a week of the organ company’s presence
beginning October 27, 1980. Numerous Westminster
members were on hand to watch the progress and to have
an actual part in carrying the eleven hundred pipes into the
sanctuary. On Sunday, November 2, the new instrument was
played publicly for the first time, and an all-church orchestra
premiered on this occasion. It was an auspicious and exciting
day marking yet another milepost in our growth.
The dedication recital on November 30, 1980 was presented
by Dr. Marilyn Mason, Ann Arbor’s internationally
known organ expert, who had been helpful in planning and
consultations from the beginning. Three succeeding dedicatory
recitals were performed early in 1981 by Donald Renz,
another consultant, Florence Westrum and Fayola Ash. The
final concert in the dedicatory series took place on a May
Sunday evening when combined choirs of Westminster and
of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church plus soloists and instrumentalists
presented a festival service performing the J. S.
Bach Cantata #29. The beautiful eighteen and a half rank
instrument, costing approximately $74,000, is a tremendous
asset to our music ministry and will be a source of great enjoyment
in future years.
There has been a Junior Choir almost every year and at
times there have been a Handbell Choir, Girls’ Ensemble, a
folk guitar group and a church orchestra. We have been fortunate
to have many able vocalists and instrumentalists who
have added musical enjoyment to our services.
people and programs—69