A VICTORIAN PIPE ORGAN FROM LONDON FOR ST MARY'S CHURCH POTCHEFSTROOM
	The beautiful Anglican Stone Church of St Mary, Potchefstroom is busy embarking on the biggest Project of the Church's history. The Parish will be cele-brating its 150th 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-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 instrument, Rev. Jacques Pieterse, Rector of St Mary's felt very distraught! The prospect of acqui-ring the organ had already brought an upliftment in the spirit of the congregation, but the Rector was now beginning to have doubts. On 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 felt an urge to read Ezekiel 37. To understand the answer he received, one has to understand that the organ had literally been ripped to pieces, and parts were lying around in different storehouses. Also one needs to understand that a pipe organ requires a wind mechanism to work. So in actual fact, it is a breathing instrument. Kneeling before the altar, Rev. Jacques read, "The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley, it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' I said, 'O Sovereign Lord, You alone know.' Then He said to me, 'Prohesy to these bones and say to them, dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!' This is what the sovereign Lord said to these bones. 'I will make My breath enter you and you will come to life.'" Rev. Jacques said that at that moment he knew that God would resurrect this organ, that He would put His breath into the instrument and that it would live again! The response from the congregation, as well as from many people in the community and elsewhere has been overwhelming! Rev. Jacques explains that they see in the Project the truth that God makes everything new, and that nothing is impossible with Him! The congregation of St Mary's has seen the purchasing of the organ as an opportunity of a lifetime. It has united the congregation in a miraculous way and has brought much joy and publicity to the Church. Michael Farley's Organ Builders from Devon assisted greatly in the restoration of broken pipes, sorting, making crates, etc. Many strides have been made thus far. Numerous metal pipes have been restored, the whole organ crated and packed into a shipping container, fumigated, shipped and imported to South Africa. The container arrived in Potchef-stroom on the 25th of June 2015 and was unpacked onto the stage in the Hall of St Mary's Anglican Church to acclimatize. The organ remained untouched for 7 months. The whole Project thus far has cost about R410 000 which through the grace of God has all been paid! The total estimation of the Project is between R1 000 000 and R1 200 000. Alec Longman from Cooper Gill & Tomkins Organ Builders soon inspected the organ and was pleasantly surprised by its condition. Official work on the organ's wooden casing was started on Saturday the 23rd January 2016. A number of St Mary's congregants are involved. Even people from other denominations have offered their services and are working tirelessly. The organ will soon be laid out on the floor of the Church Hall. Only then will the full extent of the Project be visible. The placing of the organ has been finalized. St Mary's was not built with an Organ Chamber; thus one has to be built within the existing Vestry. As a National Monument, the exterior of the Church Building may not be changed. This will necessitate the removing of part of the stone wall between the Main Building and the Vestry, the pouring of a concrete floor in the Vestry, the replacement, lifting and insulating of the Vestry Roof, building a concrete chamber inside the Vestry, and painting the floor, walls and ceiling with a reflective paint. A structural engineer and architect advised by Potchef-stroom Heritage have been approached and will be assisting in the renovation and building plans. Being a National Monument, it is imperative that the National Heri-tage Council be involved. The beautiful Victorian façade pipes will soon start their tran-sition. Various artists have been approached, of which one in particular, a well-known Potchef-stroom artist, has shown great interest and has himself fallen in love with the antique instrument. The pipes are to be repainted and stenciled in their original pattern and colour and will reflect perfectly in the stained glass window of "Jesus the Good Shepherd" adja-cent to where the organ will rest. All the work is being done under the supervision of an organ builder who inevitable will get more involved as work progresses. Rev. Jacques shares: "This Project is ultimately to the Glory of God and therefore does not just include St Mary's Anglican Church, but also other denominations. Indeed, the whole of the Potchefstroom Com-munity, the Northwest, and South Africa - even churches abroad - have taken note." According to Rev. Jacques, sometimes it is necessary to break the jar of perfume spoken about in John 12:1-8 for the simple reason that God is worth it! St Mary's continues to appeal for financial assistance; any amount will be warmly welcomed! To date an amount of R570 000 has been raised, which includes a generous donation from the Annelie Rupert Foundation. Between R500 000 and R600 000 still needs to be raised. For additional information, please call Rev. Jacques Pieters at 082 454 8273 or 018 294 8066. Alternatively, you can write him an e-mail at Jacques.stmarys@telkomsa.net For a donation the following details need to be used: St Mary's Anglican Church, Absa Bank, current account: 4053241918, branch 632005, and the reference should be the donor's name, followed by the word "organ". If possible, donations need to be accompanied by an e-mail or SMS to the above. Your kind offer of assistance and involvement in this exciting Project will be greatly appreciated!