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Saturday, Apr. 26, 2008

Neely's Creek ARP to dedicate organ and renovated sanctuary on Sunday

The congregation at Neely's Creek ARP Church will have a dedication service at 11 a.m. Sunday for the newly renovated sanctuary and recently installed pipe organ, which will be played for the first time Sunday.

The church on Neely's Creek Road in Rock Hill replaced its 30-year-old Rogers electronic organ with an Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, originally built in 1959 for the Second Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, Ill. The organ was reworked and enlarged in 1985 by the Moeller Organ Co., and a new console was built by the same company in 1986. Cornel Zimmer Organ Builders helped locate the instrument and has refurbished and installed it in Rock Hill.

The organ has three manuals, 30 stops, 38 pipe ranks and 20 digital ranks. With five divisions, the organ will be able to lead congregational singing, accompany choirs, instrumentalists and soloists, and play organ literature and service music.

Along with the organ, the sanctuary was refurbished with new paint, carpet, hardwood flooring in the choir loft area, refinished pews with pew pads, and a new sound system.

The Rev. Dwight Pearson will lead the dedication service. A covered-dish lunch will be conducted after the worship service.