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In over 50 years in the organ business, I have learned that few organs were as heavily used as those in Catholic churches during the mid-20th century. I recall working in Waterbury, Connecticut, in the mid 1970's, releathering the organ at just such a church, where there were often 100 masses a week, plus a very active funeral and wedding schedule. Fast-forward to 2010, when we were called to Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church on West 42nd Street in Manhattan.

Remembering and celebrating the lives of those in our community who died homeless. Jerrod Sanders sings Amazing Grace in their honor.

Ten years ago, things weren’t looking so great for this organ. Holy Cross was ramping up to start a massive redecorating project. At the last minute, contractors decided that the organ had to be removed. When we removed its hundreds of components from what was to have been short-term storage, we found that more than the original water damage was now visible.

Hear excerpts of our newly restored pipe organ being used for the first time to accompany the parish choir & orchestra, recorded live at Midnight, Christmas 2019.

Watch the organ console being lifted off the ground and over the balcony ledge, now situated in it's original location from 1933.

Watch as fifty+ foot pipes are stood upright, walked up a latter, and received by team-members ready to unwrap and position them into a facade.

Watch as the nearly 2000 pipes are pulleyed up to the loft in small batches.