The Church Organ:  Thanks to Betty Walkers efforts in contacting Ivan Kuster, past organist and choir director at St. David’s, we now have some concrete information about our venerable and highly treasured organ. Each organist we have had has found this instrument to be a challenge, for it can be cranky in its old age, but each organist has also come to respect this instrument. It is rare to find such an organ in a church of St. David’s size.

The organ pipes (from two different organs) were built in Westfield, Mass. by Johnson and Son Organ Company in 1876. A Mr. John Elsworth bought the pipes and rebuilt the organ in his Watertown, NY home. We do not have the dates for this. Upon his death he wanted the organ to go to a church “in need of and desirous of having a pipe organ.” His wife and family not only generously donated the organ but also helped with the installation costs. Her name is given only as Mrs. John Elsworth.

This instrument was disassembled and brought here by the rector at the time, The Rev. Donald Kirkwood and Mr. Kuster. The men of St. David’s, their sons and friends worked long, long hours for 2 1/2 years rebuilding and assembling the organ in the church. Memorial gifts helped underwrite the cost. There are 703 pipes.

It was dedicated by The Rt. Rev. Harold B. Robinson, then Bishop of Western New York, in memory of John Elsworth at a service on April 28, 1974. At that time, it was estimated that a similar organ would cost $40,000. I wonder what that would be in today’s dollars? 

Ed Baker was chair of the installation committee. Others who worked on the project and are familiar to us today are Bill Gentry, Terry Coles, Babe McEvoy, Jerry Linsner, Ron Hov and John Gratton. We owe these individuals and all the others and John Elsworth much thanks.