First Congregational Church of Minnesota

500 8th Avenue SE
Minneapolis, MN


Builder: Hillgreen, Lane & Co, 1953
Manuals: 3
Ranks: 35
Action: Electro-pneumatic


Notes: Of the original 1888 tracker organ, still extant are: 16' Open Wood, 16' Violone (1-12 wood), and the casework. This organ was given in memory of Mrs. MacMillan (Cargill family).
-- In the 1953 Hillgreen, Lane rebuild, the organ was electrified with new pitman windchests and the facade was changed. Thick ivory keyboards were made in Wales. The organ was played by Virgil Fox, Cochereau, and Schreiner.
-- In the early 1980's the reservoirs were patched with new leather over the old.
-- In the mid-1960's the TCAGO student competition was held here. The organ was plagued with dead notes.
-- In 1988 Roland Rutz installed solid state electronics in the console (Peterson) with new wiring to the relay. He used the old wiring from relay to chests. The console was refinished and the prepared-for Positiv division stops removed.
-- In 1990, Olson-Lethert revoiced the Choir Trumpet, Swell Trumpet and Oboe-Clarion. They installed a new principal chorus on the Great (1-6 of the old 8' remain). The mixture was reduced from 3 to 2 ranks. They revoiced the Great 8' Bourdon, re-racked the Choir English Horn and cleaned the bottom octave of the 16' Bombarde.
-- In 2005 David Molvik installed new drawknobs and renamed many stops.
-- In 2010 Grandall & Engen LLC removed all reservoirs and removed old leather and replaced with new. Many safety modifications were made, including lighting throughout. Keys were leveled and pedalboard bushings were replaced.

GREAT ORGAN
8' Principal
8' Bourdon
4' Octave
2' Super Octave
    Mixture II
8' Trumpet (Ch)
4' Clarion (Ch)

SWELL ORGAN
16' Bourdon (tc)
8' Melodia
8' Viole
8' Voix Celeste (tc)
4' Prestant
4' Harmonic Flute
2.2/3' Nazard
    Cymbal III
8' Trompette
4' Oboe Clarion


CHOIR ORGAN
8' Diapason
8' Dulciana
8' Celeste (tc)
8' Hohlflute
4' Holzgedackt
2' Blockflute
8' English Horn
8' Trumpet

PEDAL ORGAN
32' Resultant
16' Oboe Wood
16' Violone Bass
16' Quintaton
16' Bourdon (Ch)
8' Principal
8' Violone (ext)
8' Hohlflute (Ch)
4' Spitzflute
2' Piccolo (ext Spitzflute)
16' Bombarde (Ch, ext)
8' Trumpet (Ch)
4' Clarion (Ch)