Holy Trinity Anglican Church – RCCO Historic Organ Citation Presentation

On Sunday, January 22, 2012, after playing for the service at my own church, I hightailed it over to Holy Trinity Anglican in order to catch the end of their service and to represent the RCCO in a special certificate presentation.

Holy Trinity has been granted a Class C designation (by the RCCO Historic Organ Committee) in respect of their Casavant Frères pipe organ, Opus 485, which is now 100 years of age. Class “C” requires that over 80% of the pipe work is original and the chests are still original.

In thanking the church for inviting me to make the certificate presentation, I offered my congratulations to them for having the wisdom and the foresight to preserve this heritage instrument. [I should add that the church started out as Presbyterian and then became United, before ending up as Anglican.] I singled out the efforts of organ builder and congregation member David Quinton for his efforts in returning the organ to 98% operation. I also noted that this is the first such citation issued in the City of Vancouver, and only the second in British Columbia. Pictured are the Reverend Dr. John Oakes, RCCO Regional Director Sam Balden, Organist Michael Dirk, and David Quinton.

Under the enthusiastic guidance of Michael Dirk, the church is presenting a number of organ related events leading up to the instrument’s official 100th birthday this August. A new console (being the old console from the Casavant at the Victoria Conservatory of Music) is in the process of being activated and pipework is being added for an antiphonal division.

submitted by Sam Balden

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