1. When was this project launched?

In December, 2000 (remember the night of the blizzard?), the Charge Conference graciously acknowledged the gift of $1,000,000 for the purchase of a new organ and directed the Trustees to explore acoustical improvements and related issues of function and décor.

2. How did the need for a new organ first surface?

During the prior decade, informal conversations took place concerning the limitations of our present organ. A careful analysis was done to compare the costs of repairing the organ, refurbishing the organ or replacing the organ. A number of factors (including the fact that the builder of the present organ is now out of business), clearly indicated that replacement was the best option.

3. Has a new organ been purchased?

New organs are not so much purchased as they are designed for specific installations. After a lengthy search, an order was placed with the Schoenstein Company of San Francisco. The organ is being built at present and will be available for installation in May of 2005.

4. What else should we know about the organ?

It will have three manuals and a full range of pedals. For those familiar with pipe organ configuration, it will consist of 48 ranks and speak with 39 voices. The console will actually be smaller and moveable. The sound will be more expressive, romantic and rich. It will also have greater loud/soft variations along with a breadth of solo stops that will replicate a well-appointed orchestra.

5. What will the instrument cost?

A little less than $960,000.

6. Does this mean that the organ is, in effect, paid for?

That's exactly what it means. We have received the pace-setting gift and have paid, to date, approximately $480,000 toward the organ's construction.

7. Will the organ pipes be housed in their current locations?

Relatively closely. The new organ will be of a chambered design, as is our present organ, which simply means that the greater majority of the pipes will not be openly exposed but contained in chambers.

8. Will the installation require adaptations to the chancel floor?

Yes, extensive adaptations. The recommendation is to remove the existing chancel floor and all of its support structures. This will expose the present crawl space and allow a new concrete slab to be poured at the bottom of the crawl space. At present, the surface of the crawl space is dirt. When a new chancel floor is poured, it will be six inches higher than the present floor and able to support additional weight. The additional six inches (added to the crawl space) will allow more room for the installation of the heating/cooling unit, creating a better air flow and making certain that circulating air does not blow dust from the dirt floor into the innards of the organ.

9. Will there be an additional benefit to raising the chancel floor six inches?

Yes. We will get better sight lines, thereby allowing persons in the rear of the sanctuary to see things taking place in the chancel (i.e. children's choirs).

10. Is there any other advantage to pouring a new chancel floor?

Yes. The new floor will be able to bear greater weight, thereby allowing us to replace the chancel carpeting with slate, porcelain tile or natural stone. This will not only add to the beauty of the sanctuary but will greatly enhance the sanctuary acoustics.

11. What else is projected for the chancel area?

It is recommended that the width of the stairs (between the sanctuary and the chancel) be increased from ten inches to eighteen inches. At present, it is difficult to stand on the steps and maintain balance (especially when singing with music folders in hand). The extra six inches added to the height of the chancel floor will also allow for one additional step. This will be a great benefit for children's choirs, weddings or other tiered presentations.

12. Will any of these changes reduce the number of seats in the sanctuary?

Not at all.

13. Was any consideration given to increasing the number of seats in the sanctuary?

While seating capacity was not within the purview of the organ committee, the Trustees (along with our church architects) did look at options for expansion. After collecting considerable data, it was decided to make no recommendations at this time.

14. Will the choir stalls look exactly as they do now?

No. The recommendation is to replace the choir pews with moveable chairs sitting on moveable risers. It is entirely possible that choir members will, on many occasions, sit facing each other (exactly as they do now). But it will also be possible to move the risers (and also the chairs) so as to place the choir at various angles toward the congregation (even to the point of facing the congregation, as might be desirable during a concert).

15. Will the issue of "flexibility" also dictate changes to other pieces of furniture that are presently permanent?

Yes, the recommendation calls for the pulpit, lectern and choir modesty panels to be removeable. It is important to note that, in normal use, their locations will be approximately the same. We have already seen how difficult it is to work within fixed parameters. Every time we bring in an orchestra for a special musical presentation (or attempt to move the modesty panels in front of the choir for any reason), we are never certain that we will be able to get them re-anchored. Frankly, they were never meant to be moved.

16. Is there any possibility of getting a usable communion rail?

The present plan is to remove the existing communion rail at the very front of the chancel. It, too, limits chancel flexibility. The only time we ever use it is for the reception of the confirmation class. Were we to design a portable communion rail in connectable sections, we could accomplish everything we do presently while adding the possibility of occasionally kneeling for communion.

17. Will the chancel look as it presently does when these changes are completed?

Every effort has been made to preserve the beauty and architectural integrity of our chancel. Our architects believe that this can be done, while greatly increasing flexibility, functionality and acoustical clarity.

18. Will all of the woodwork in the chancel match when the project is complete?

Assuredly. If you have looked carefully at the present woodwork in the chancel (altar, choir stalls, communion rail, etc.), you will see that it is badly peeled, chipped and faded. Were it not for this project, we would have to address this issue sooner rather than later.

19. What about the matter of acoustics?

The acoustics in the present sanctuary are just a few steps removed from terrible. There are many dead spots and the reverberation time is too short for optimum vocal and instrumental performance. Improving the acoustics by hardening sanctuary surfaces was determined to be unpredictable, expensive and require extensive sanctuary down time. After lengthy investigation, the decision was made to propose an electronic system designed by Jaffe-Holden Company which, through the marriage of software, multiple speakers and sophisticated electronic equipment will produce enhanced sound quality throughout the sanctuary. This is a state of the art solution, widely applauded by experts in the field.

20. Will this system merely amplify the present sounds?

No. Instead it will change the reverberation patterns of the sounds, addressing the issue of sound quality rather than merely upgrading sound quantity.

21. What about the movement of hot and cold air?

The plan calls for the replacement of the aging, inefficient and partially inoperative HVAC system in the sanctuary. Until we got into the crawl space, we had no way of knowing that all of the air delivery systems in the chancel area have been defective for years. The primary reason for changing the system is to maintain stable and constant temperatures to the organ itself. Other benefits include a quieter system and a greater ability to control temperature variations throughout the sanctuary.

22. Is there any other added benefit to a new HVAC system?

Yes. The newly installed system will be able to serve Fellowship Hall.

23. What else will be done in the sanctuary?

If adopted, the plan calls for the removal of acoustical ceiling tile in both transepts and the balcony. The tile will be replaced by plastered (painted) ceilings.

24. What about carpeting?

In order to abet the acoustics, the plan will remove carpeting from the chancel. It will also remove the east to west strip between the chancel steps and the first pew. All of this will become natural stone or something similar. New carpeting will be installed down the center aisle and both side aisles. An east to west strip of carpeting will also be added across the center of the balcony. Our present carpet is stretched to the max and can no longer be stitched together. The new carpeting will also have better acoustical properties than the present version.

25. What about the tile under the pews?

All of the tile will be replaced. The present tile is original, meaning it has been there for fifty-two years.

26. Will anything happen to the pews?

The plan calls for the pews to be refinished, thereby matching the new woodwork and greatly improving their appearance.

27. What about the sanctuary walls?

While we could have left them alone, closer examination indicates that they are much in need of repainting. Given that we will have scaffolding already in place for the installation of the electronic acoustics, this would seem like the perfect time to repaint.

28. Is anybody going to address the fact that it is hard to see in the sanctuary?

Yes. A new lighting system will improve our ability to see and create dramatic effects for the use of our worship space. The existing chandeliers will be retained (but become an accent feature). New lights will be largely hidden. Of greatest importance will be a new control system. It is almost impossible to adjust present sanctuary lighting by any other method than trial and error. Doing the lighting work will be easiest to accomplish with the pews removed.

29. Is anything projected for the narthex?

A pair of changes are in the offing. First, the plan will expand the sound system into the narthex. Second, the existing windowed panels (which separate the sanctuary from the narthex) will be replaced with a new design, allowing the entire wall to be moved as overflow needs dictate.

30. Has consideration been given to poor sound from pulpit and lectern?

Our public address system has long been in need of an overhaul. The present plan will accomplish this, integrating a brand new system into the electronic acoustics. This will include new speakers, microphones and outlets.

31. Wow, that sounds like a lot. How much will all of this cost?

Thanks to the capable assistance of the Auch Company (our CLC construction managers) we have a good fix on a budget. All things together, the projected cost is $2,994,541.

32. Does this include the organ?

Yes.

33. Does this include a liberal allowance for contingencies?

An estimate contingency of 10% and a project contingency of 5% means that $194,000 has been written into the budget for contingencies.

34. Isn't that a bit high?

Our goal was to budget conservatively, given that there are a couple of "unknowns" involving asbestos and present electrical wiring.

35. Does this include design and consulting fees?

Not only does it include design and consulting fees (Jickling, Lyman & Powell and Jaffe-Holden) but it also includes construction management fees for the Auch Company.

36. Aren't Jickling, Lyman and Powell and Auch the same people who gave us the CLC?

Yes, that's why our confidence is so high. In fact, Jickling, Lyman and Powell have been our "house architects" for every project in recent years.

37. How much money do we have in hand at present?

We have the $1,000,000 gift for the organ and we also have $400,000 set aside by the Trustees ($100,00 per year from 2001 to 2004) for the electronic acoustical architecture. We also have about $27,400 from unsolicited contributions and memorials over the last several years.

38. Does this mean the difference between funds needed and funds in hand is approximately $1,568,000?

That's pretty much what it means.

39. Is it possible that the project will come in under budget?

Given the liberal contingencies and the possibility of cost savings in the unknown areas (wiring and asbestos) we could achieve some savings.

40. Are all of these projects essential to the installation of a new organ?

No. But the greater majority are. At the beginning, it seemed as if a new HVAC system, while desirable, was not essential. But when we learned that the old system was so defective that there was no way to maintain temperature control in the chancel (where the new organ will be located) the HVAC system moved from "a nice idea" to an engineering necessity. The same is pretty much true for the acoustical changes. The Schoenstein Company didn't even want us to consider a new instrument unless we did something about the acoustics in the sanctuary. This means that painting the walls, refinishing the pews, improving the lighting and making the chancel seating more flexible become the major discretionary items. And taken together, these don't make up that much of the budget.

41. When will this work be done?

We will be out of the sanctuary from the first of January until Holy Week in 2005. The Auch Company has all but promised that we can worship in the newly refurbished sanctuary on Easter Sunday, March 28, 2005. In truth, they are shooting for Palm Sunday (one week previous).

42. But didn't you say the organ won't be installed until May?

That's true. From the end of March through the first week in May, we will either place a rental organ in the sanctuary or use other instrumentation (piano, brass, orchestra, etc.)

43. Will we be able to use the sanctuary during the actual installation of the organ?

No. We will be out of the sanctuary for two additional weeks in mid-May, 2005. This is not because installing the organ creates a big mess, but because the only place to store and sort 48 ranks worth of organ pipes involves laying them on the pews.

44. Where will we worship during the time we are out of the sanctuary?

We will go to the Christian Life Center where, as we have already discovered, the sound and the lighting are far superior to what we have in the sanctuary.

45. Is the CLC big enough for worship?

Actually, it is bigger than the sanctuary. For the 5:30 service on Christmas Eve we had 660 chairs on the floor with room left over.

46. Is this the best possible timetable?

It couldn't get much better. The initial projection had the organ being installed in the fall of 2005 (perhaps even as late as December).

47. Isn't this a lot of money for a room that is only used for a couple of hours on Sunday?

I suppose you could say that if the usage were as limited as you describe. But the sanctuary is actually the heart and soul of our religious life. In addition to three services on Sunday morning, we have innumerable special services throughout the year. The number of weddings (annually) is between 50 and 75. And changes in the culture mean that 75% of all funerals and memorial services now take place in the sanctuary. Add multiple rehearsals, several concerts and a few lectures and you can see how popular the sanctuary is. Virtually everyone reading this material will participate in a special sanctuary experience (a very personal sanctuary experience) within the next ten years.

48. Are there other things we should be doing first?

Truth be told, we did virtually everything else first. In the last eleven years we have repaired, refurbished or redecorated virtually every other segment of the building except the sanctuary. Every Christian education room has been redone. So have all the spaces for youth ministry. We have expanded the parking lot….expanded the building….replaced the boiler….upgraded all the garden areas….replaced every window….and redecorated all of the hallways (except for the west end of the second floor) and all the parlors (except for the Martin Room). We have also redone the library and created a beautiful home for the Wesleyana collection. But, with little exception, we haven't touched the sanctuary since 1952.

49. Will we be given an opportunity to contribute to this significant project?

Once we test the will of the Charge Conference, we will finalize the financing and invite widespread participation.

50. Will there be "before and after" drawings at the Charge Conference?

Yes. Along with an insightful power point presentation and a line-item budget breakdown.

51. Is there anything else we should know?

Hopefully, there is more that you will want to know, which is why we encourage your questions and covet your participation on Monday, March 22.