Page 2 - Good News May 2016 paper

he beautiful Anglican Stone distraught! The prospect of acqui-
Church of St Mary, Potchef- ring the organ had already brought
Tstroom is busy embarking on
the biggest Project of the Church's
history. The Parish will be cele- now beginning to have doubts. On
th
brating its 150 year in 2016 and has
purchased a Victorian Forster and
Andrews Pipe Organ from Bristol in
the UK. The organ dates from
around the same period in which St
Mary's was built.
The organ was crudely dismantled
in a redundant church building in
East Sheen in London, and was on
its way to be used as scrap metal.
However, it was "saved" by Mr
Graham Searle of Bristol who could
not imagine such a valuable instru- felt an urge to read Ezekiel 37. To
ment being discarded in such a
manner. He had no place to store
the organ, and so the instrument
had to be stored in three different
storehouses in Bristol. There it has
been standing since 2013.
In June 2014, Mr Searle decided to
advertise the instrument on eBay
for £3 000. During the early morning
hours of 13 June 2014, St Mary's
organist, Dr Gerrit Jordaan woke up
with a sudden desire to check his
computer. As he switched on, the
eBay advert appeared on the
screen displaying the organ. Dr
Jordaan bid on the instrument
without giving it a second thought
and the bid was accepted. His
thought was that if St Mary's could
not buy the instrument, he would
buy it himself. Two weeks after the
bid was accepted, St Mary's sent Dr
Jordaan to the UK to view the
instrument, and take some photos.
Unfortunately the damage to the
pipes are extensive, and the organ
will need much work and tender
loving care in order to be restored
to its former glory. Upon viewing
the photos of the damaged breath into the instrument and that
instrument, Rev. Jacques Pieterse,
Rector of St Mary's felt very
1881 15-rank Two-manual
Forster and Andrews Organ
an upliftment in the spirit of the
congregation, but the Rector was
the evening after seeing the photos
of the damaged organ, Rev.
Jacques could not sleep, and at
midnight entered the old church to
pray. In his own words, "The church
was quiet, the streetlights were
filtering through the stained glass
windows as I knelt before the altar
and I asked God what I should do. I
felt I could not allow my congre-
gation to make such a huge
financial commitment should it be a
mistake." Rev. Jacques instantly
understand the answer he recei-
ved, one has to understand that the
organ had literally been ripped to
pieces, and parts were lying around
in different storehouses. Also one St. Mary's Anglican Church, Potchefstroom
needs to understand that a pipe
organ requires a wind mechanism was unpacked onto the stage in the particular, a well-known Potchef-
to work. So in actual fact, it is a Hall of St Mary's Anglican Church stroom artist, has shown great
breathing instrument. to acclimatize. The organ remained interest and has himself fallen in
untouched for 7 months. The whole love with the antique instrument.
Kneeling before the altar, Rev. Project thus far has cost about The pipes are to be repainted and
Jacques read, "The hand of the R410 000 which through the grace stenciled in their original pattern
Lord was upon me, and He brought of God has all been paid! The total and colour and will reflect perfectly
me out by the Spirit of the Lord and estimation of the Project is between in the stained glass window of
set me in the middle of a valley, it R1 000 000 and R1 200 000. Alec “Jesus the Good Shepherd” adja-
was full of bones. He led me back Longman from Cooper Gill & cent to where the organ will rest.
and forth among them, I saw a great Tomkins Organ Builders soon
many bones on the floor of the inspected the organ and was All the work is being done under the
valley, bones that were very dry. He pleasantly surprised by its condi- supervision of an organ builder
asked me, 'Son of man, can these tion. who inevitable will get more
bones live?' I said, 'O Sovereign involved as work progresses.
Lord, You alone know.' Then He Official work on the organ's
said to me, 'Prohesy to these bones wooden casing was started on Rev. Jacques shares: "This Project
rd
and say to them, dry bones, hear Saturday the 23 January 2016. A is ultimately to the Glory of God and
the word of the Lord!' This is what number of St Mary's congregants therefore does not just include St
the sovereign Lord said to these are involved. Even people from Mary's Anglican Church, but also
bones. 'I will make My breath enter other denominations have offered other denominations. Indeed, the
you and you will come to life.'" Rev. their services and are working whole of the Potchefstroom Com-
Jacques said that at that moment tirelessly. The organ will soon be munity, the Northwest, and South
he knew that God would resurrect laid out on the floor of the Church Africa - even churches abroad -
this organ, that He would put His Hall. Only then will the full extent of have taken note." According to Rev.
the Project be visible. Jacques, sometimes it is necessary
it would live again! to break the jar of perfume spoken
The placing of the organ has been about in John 12:1-8 for the simple
The response from the congre- finalized. St Mary's was not built reason that God is worth it!
gation, as well as from many people with an Organ Chamber; thus one
in the community and elsewhere has to be built within the existing St Mary's continues to appeal for
has been overwhelming! Rev. Vestry. As a National Monument, financial assistance; any amount
Jacques explains that they see in the exterior of the Church Building will be warmly welcomed! To date
the Project the truth that God may not be changed. This will an amount of R570 000 has been
makes everything new, and that necessitate the removing of part of raised, which includes a generous
nothing is impossible with Him! the stone wall between the Main donation from the Annelie Rupert
The congregation of St Mary's has Building and the Vestry, the Foundation. Between R500 000 and
seen the purchasing of the organ as pouring of a concrete floor in the R600 000 still needs to be raised.
an opportunity of a lifetime. It has Vestry, the replacement, lifting and For additional information, please
united the congregation in a mira- insulating of the Vestry Roof, call Rev. Jacques Pieters at 082 454
culous way and has brought much building a concrete chamber inside 8273 or 018 294 8066. Alternatively,
joy and publicity to the Church. the Vestry, and painting the floor, you can write him an e-mail at
Michael Farley's Organ Builders walls and ceiling with a reflective Jacques.stmarys@telkomsa.net
from Devon assisted greatly in the paint. A structural engineer and
restoration of broken pipes, architect advised by Potchef- For a donation the following details
sorting, making crates, etc. stroom Heritage have been need to be used: St Mary's Anglican
approached and will be assisting in Church, Absa Bank, current
Many strides have been made thus the renovation and building plans. account: 4053241918, branch
far. Numerous metal pipes have Being a National Monument, it is 632005, and the reference should
been restored, the whole organ imperative that the National Heri- be the donor's name, followed by
crated and packed into a shipping tage Council be involved. the word "organ". If possible,
container, fumigated, shipped and donations need to be accompanied
imported to South Africa. The beautiful Victorian façade by an e-mail or SMS to the above.
pipes will soon start their tran- Your kind offer of assistance and
The container arrived in Potchef- involvement in this exciting Project
stroom on the 25 of June 2015 and sition. Various artists have been will be greatly appreciated!
th
approached, of which one in