Madison, VA, USA: Hebron Lutheran Church

My card of the Tannenburg organ at Hebron Lutheran Church features a rather unique perspective, from below at an angle looking up at the organ in its loft. Mine is unused and in color. The reverse gives information about the organ: built in 1800 in Pennsylvania and moved by ox cart and installed in 1802. We are told it remains unaltered, though it underwent restoration in 1970. My card is not dated anywhere.

Tannenburg was a very important instrument-maker in early American history. Another of his instruments is nearby in Winston-Salem, NC. The church was established in 1717; the present facility is a charming colonial-looking building. Taylor & Boody, of Virginia tend to the instrument, and have helpful information on their site. The key- and stop action are all original as are all of the pipes, 486 of them. It is the largest in tact Tannenburg in existence.

Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, VA, USA

 

Williamsburg, VA may be thought of as two distinct entities. There is the self-contained historic area well worth visiting at any time, and the sprawling town which has grown up around the enclave. Bruton Parish is located in the historic area and is part of all of the activity which take place there. It is also a lively Episcopal congregation with a vigorous music program. This postcard shows a (probably staged) worship service with preacher and congregants. It includes an organ in the front gallery.

What is visible is a case and dummy pipes from a 1785 organ by Samuel Green. The keydesk and pipework are apparently in storage. As the parish grew in the last century, it was able to purchase a large Aeolian-Skinner instrument installed above the ceiling and in other areas of the church. The installation while note-worthy was never musically satisfying. Plans are underway to raise funds for a completely new instrument by the Dobson firm.

St John's, Church Hill, Richmond, VA USA

St John's Episcopal Church in Richmond, VA is famous for being the site of Patrick Henry's "give me liberty or give me death" speech. The parish capitalizes on this with regulated entrance to the facility, tours, and re-enactments of the speech inside the building. The church is also an active congregation with its own website. My postcard is one of several from the same era created by the church as part of the marketing of the Patrick Henry tie-in. They are all fairly common.

This color postcard at the top is used, with a note on the front with the date January 10, 1907. The church website states "the Adam Stein organ was installed in 1905 and restored in 1983." That would make the card contemporaneous with the new instrument. John DeMayo's more accurate site detailing Episcopal Churches in the region gives the years 1903 and 1985, with the latter work being done by the Virginia firm, Lewis and Hitchcock. His page also gives the specification. The card just above is not dated so I will not hazard a guess as to its time frame. Subtle differences between the wo cards (light fixture, stone tablet, transept door) distinguish the two and suggest different time frames. This second card is unused.

Virginia, USA, Pohick Episcopal

This more modern card conveniently includes plenty of useful information about the organ pictured. It is located in the Pohick Episcopal Church in Fairfax County, Virginia. The instrument (click on "Pipe Organ") was built by the Noack firm in 1968 and includes 13 stops, 17 ranks, totaling 880 pipes.

Virginia, USA, Methodist Episcopal Church

This card simply says "Interior Epworth M.E. Church, Va." on the picture side.  The color card is used. The postmark reads "Washington, DC Aug 6, 1909, 3PM." I've tried looking for historical Methodist churches in the Northern Virginia region without much luck. The Methodist Episcopal denomination eventually became part of what is now the United Methodist Church. However, "Epworth" is a pretty common name for Methodist churches, given its association with John Wesley. It may be possible to find historical information about ME church in that region, but that will have to wait for another time. Absent information about the church, it's difficult to know much about the instrument. If you know anything about this church, please let me know in the comments.