The church website in 2026 mentions two choirs and a bell choir, with their respective directors, and a pianist who accompanies the service and plays hymns. If they have an organist, that person's omission from the staff listing is egregious, but it suggests instead that like we encounter in an increasing number of protestant churches, the organ is no longer in use, and therefore likely not being maintained.

This organ has 4 manuals, 53 stops, and 51 ranks of pipes and chimes. It was constructed by the Pels Organ Company in Alkmaar, North Holland, the Netherlands. At the time our organ was purchased, each pipe set sold for $1,250, which meant that our organ would have cost $50,000. However, the Pels Organ Company reduced the price to $35,000 because they wanted to have an excellent demonstration organ in the Northwestern United States. While it was being built, Pastor Henry Budd and his wife vacationed in the Netherlands, stopped at the factory, and were able to watch the organ being constructed. The organ was supposed to arrive in the spring of 1957, but it was delayed until October. A message from the builders, dated October 7, 1957, read, “Your organ is on the ocean.” It was set up and ready to use during the Christmas season. Unfortunately, there was a leakage problem, so the builders sent “young Mr. Pels” over from Holland to correct the issue.

It was formally dedicated to God’s service on January 12, 1958, by world renowned organist, Edward George Power Biggs. During 1984, the organ’s console was replaced. The same year Albert P. Emola added a new Great Trumpet and also replaced the Choir and Swell expression mechanisms. The Lauren A. Peckham and Son Company added several parts during the 1990s. In 1991, a new zimbelstern was put in. New chimes were installed in 1992. During 1997, new pitman valves were added to the manual chests. Otherwise, no known changes have been made to this instrument. It has been in continuous regular use since its installation in 1957. Although it currently needs repair work and has the occasional sticky key or pedal, it is fully functional.

1 “Cornel Zimmer Organ Builders,” http://www.zimmerorgans/about/history/
2 Dick and Mary Lou Tenney, Celebrate the Past: Embrace the Future, (Ithaca, NY: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 2009), p. 56.
3 Tenney, p. 79.
4 David Peckham, letter to Jim Gutelius, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Ithaca, New York, April 2, 2001.

This entry describes an original installation of a new pipe organ.
Identified by James R. Stettner, using information from the church web site. [Ed. Now ofline]

The "Our History" page of the parish website states, "In 1957 a new Pels Organ, built in the Netherlands, with 4 manuals and pedals, 53 stops and 51 ranks of pipes and chimes was installed. Correspondence dated October 7 states, 'your organ is on the ocean.' The installation was finished in December in time for Christmas."