Sunday, April 15
Dr. Hamby Barton
Sermon
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Tennille United Methodist Church Pipe Organ

The six rank unified pipe organ was built originally by the Tellers Organ Company of Erie, Pennsylvania.  The organ was given by the W.B. Smith family in loving memory of William Holder Smith. Installation was done by Manley-Stiner Organ Company of Atlanta; and the organ was used for the first time on October 4, 1964.

Time took its toll on the organ, especially the leather and the mechanical parts. The church decided in 2006 to secure the funds to refurbish the organ in memory of Charles Vestus Smith who served faithfully for many years as the church organist and  in memory of Charles Vestus Ouzts who was a faithful  benefactor of this church.

The A.E. Schlueter Organ Company of Lithonia, Georgia was selected to restore and refurbish the organ. The work involved installing new solid state logic in the console to replace the  obsolete switches and relay parts. The grill cloth was replaced with new material; and all leather and valves  were replaced.  A new solid state board and a new transformer were installed in the chimes section. The console received new stop units and combination action.  The pedal board was rebuilt and new felt was installed.  Since the reservoir and shutter motor had earlier been rebuilt, these remained intact.  All wood pipes were replaced with new leather and felt on the stoppers.  All metal pipes were cleaned and checked for proper tone projection.  The church also did repairs to the organ chamber while the organ was being rebuilt at the factory. The newly rebuilt and refurbished organ was returned to the arched organ loft in the east wall of the chancel above the altar, and was enjoyed by the congregation at the morning worship service on October 22, 2006.

Tennille United Methodist Church acknowledges with great appreciation the many memorial gifts of love that made this pipe organ restoration possible. We are indebted to all who had a part in restoring this extraordinary musical instrument that has graced our church sanctuary as a focal point for worship for more than forty years.