Helen Anthony
Helen Anthony has played organs in many of the area’s churches, but, for her, none compares to the 1918 Moller pipe organ at Messiah Lutheran Church in Harrisburg.
“This is such a beautiful organ, and the acoustics at Messiah are so wonderful,” said Anthony, who serves as the church’s director of music and organist. “Whenever I lift my fingers off the keys, the sound reverberates for another three seconds.”
Carol Scott, the church’s former director of music and 20-year member, concurs. In fact, Scott, of Linglestown, is a chair of the Messiah Steering Committee that formed this year to raise funds for restoring the “magnificent” instrument.
On June 11, the committee will launch the first of a planned series of organ recital fundraisers at the landmark 1860 church located at N. 6th and Forster streets. The public is welcome to attend the 3 p.m. event featuring Anthony performing the works of classical composer, J.S. Bach.
An afternoon tea reception is scheduled in the church social hall immediately following the recital.
Messiah Lutheran Church, formerly known as the Second English Evangelical Lutheran Church, was founded in 1860 and currently has about 175 members. An initial church structure was dedicated on July 12, 1867, but due to a growing congregation, a new, two-story brick chapel, measuring 100-by-60 feet, was dedicated on April 13, 1890. Today’s congregation continues to meet in the same historic building.
Scott, a 20-year Messiah Lutheran member, said that she wants a greater swath of area locals to become aware of all that her church has to offer.
“We are a presence in downtown Harrisburg,” she said. “Thousands of cars pass our church every day, but nobody really knows the beauty of this building.”
The goal, besides raising money for the organ restoration, is to open their doors and show people the grandeur of the church, Scott said.
“We have beautiful stained glass windows and a magnificent organ,” she said.
Anthony also lauds an abundance of “hard surfaces” inside Messiah Lutheran’s vast sanctuary that contributes to a mighty reverberation of the church organ’s sound.
The historic organ has been evaluated by a professional and is estimated to cost around $300,000 to fully restore, according to Scott. However, raising the needed funds “may be a few years,” she admitted. This month’s recital is considered the first in a series of fundraiser concerts the church plans to run in the coming months.
In addition to the concerts, Messiah Lutheran offers sponsorship and donation opportunities for organ restoration in the following denominations: J.S. Bach, $1,500; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, $1,000; Ludwig Van Beethoven, $500; Frederic Chopin, $250; and Friends of Messiah, other amounts.
Since its installation 105 years ago, the instrument’s three keyboards and pedal keys were rebuilt in 1948 and restored in 1974, Anthony said.
“Fifteen years ago, we did major work on the organ’s console, including the keyboards and stops,” Scott noted.
Overall, the organ’s pipes, enclosed in two chambers, now require professional cleaning to remove accumulated dust and plaster as some pipes are no longer in operation. Altogether, the organ comprises three keyboards and 33 ranks. Each organ rank comprises pipes that make a same sound at different pitches.
Likewise, the instrument’s chamber enclosures need fresh paint, and leather pouches affected by water damage also need work.
During the upcoming restoration, Anthony said that she plans to use a “lovely baby grand Steinway” piano, also in the church sanctuary.
“It will sound very vibrant in there,” she said.
Music at Messiah holds its inaugural concert on June 11 at 3 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, 901 N. 6th St., Harrisburg. Information and tickets are available at www.messiahhbg.org or by calling 717-652-6880.
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