Saint Alban's Episcopal Church

2011 23rd Street
Spirit Lake, IA 51360


Builder: Johnson & Son, Op. 579, 1882.
Moved to this church in 1978 by Cameron Arnold (see story below).
Manuals: 1
Ranks: 4
Compass: 58/13 (flat/coupled to manual)
Action: Mechanical/slider chests

Notes: Once the organ arrived in Spirit Lake, all parts were repaired or replaced and the case stripped and refinished. The instrument was set up at St. Alban’s and used for the first time on Sunday, February 11, 1979.

Though small (indeed, the smallest known existing Johnson & Son instrument), the instrument has the bright, clear tone characteristic of nineteenth century American organs.

This instrument was built in 1882 for the First Presbyterian Church of Lansing, Iowa, a small town in the northeast section of the state. It remained in use there until the congregation abandoned the building in 1968, after which it sat idle in the deteriorating building.

Having been alerted to its availability by the Organ Clearing House of Harrisville, New Hampshire, a volunteer crew from St. Alban’s Church, led by John Martin from St. Peter, Minnesota dismantled the organ and removed it from the collapsing building at the 11th hour; unfortunately not before vandalism had taken its toll: some of the display pipes were somewhat battered. On the day of removal, July 25, 1978, rainwater was running down the wall behind the organ.

Information and photos from The Rev. Carl Mann, Rector.

Organ Historical Society as of 2014.


MANUAL ORGAN (58 notes/enclosed)
8 Open Diapason 46
8 Dulciana 46
8 Melodia 46
8 Unison Bass 12
4 Octave 58

PEDAL ORGAN
13 notes (no pipes/permanently coupled to manual)