IMPORTANT UPDATE - TCAGO Organ Crawl - April 26
Due to recent developments, we have had to make some major changes to the schedule for the Organ Crawl on April 26. Please review the revised schedule here to ensure you arrive at the correct location and time.
There are still a few seats open on the bus and you can make your reservation here through Friday, April 25 at 7pm.
We appreciate your understanding.
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The Pipe Organ Heritage Committee invites you to
The POHC Spring Organ Crawl: Organs of Central Minnesota!
Saturday, April 26th, 8:30 am – 6:30 pm
Join us for an unforgettable day of musical exploration as we embark on an inspiring organ crawl through the beautiful landscapes of Saint John’s Abbey and University and nearby communities. Download a publicity flyer with photos here.
We will see and hear five unique instruments — from the diminutive to the monumental, from the oldest organ in Minnesota to one of the newest. We will also tour the new Saint John’s Abbey Organ Builders!
The day will begin at the imposing Church of the Sacred Heart in Freeport, which contains a beautiful, unaltered organ by Wangerin-Weickhart (II/24) from 1913, which is possibly the only intact tubular-pneumatic organ extant in Minnesota. https://www.pipeorganlist.org/OrganList/data_mn/MN-FreeportSacredHeart.html
The second stop will be Saint John’s Abbey Organ Builders, the new collaboration between Saint John’s Abbey and organ builder Martin Pasi, to see where every step of the organ building process happens. https://www.sjaorgans.org/
We will then walk to the Great Hall — the former Abbey Church — for lunch (which can be ordered when you register).
After lunch, we will visit two organs on campus; we will begin with the 1988 organ by K.C. Marrin (II/25) in the Gertken Organ Studio. https://www.pipeorganlist.org/OrganList/data_mn/MN-CollegevilleStJohnsMarrin.html
Then we will take a short walk to Marcel Breuer’s 20th century masterpiece, the imposing Abbey Church of Saint John the Baptist, home to the 1961 Walter Holtkamp, Sr./2020 Martin Pasi organ (IV/111). This instrument is surely among the most thrilling pairings of organ and acoustic anywhere. https://www.pipeorganlist.org/OrganList/data_mn/MN-CollegevilleStJohnsPasi.html
Next, we will make our way to Richmond and the Church of Saints Peter & Paul, home to an organ from 1888 by Joseph Lorenz (II/23), the only example of that builder’s work in Minnesota. It was meticulously restored by Cold Spring builder K.C. Marrin in 2002.
https://www.pipeorganlist.org/OrganList/data_mn/MN-RichmondStPeterPaul.html
The final stop of the day will take us to Saint Wendelin’s Church in Luxemburg. This beautiful church, in an idyllic location, is home to what is likely the oldest (and most charming) organ still in use in Minnesota. The instrument’s origins are lost in the mists of time, but it is believed to have been built in about 1845 by Pilcher (I/7). It was purchased by the church in 1898 from a theater in Minneapolis, and has provided faithful leadership ever since. https://www.pipeorganlist.org/OrganList/data_mn/MN-LuxemburgStWendelin.html
Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in these rich sights and sounds — most of these organs are only heard during Sunday morning services — this is a rare opportunity to hear them as star attractions!
Leave the driving to us: we offer bus transportation (from Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403) with box lunch in the Great Hall for just $50 (what a great deal!) for the first 56 registrations. The deadline to register for lunch and bus transportation is April 19, 2025. Registration deadline extended to 7pm on Thursday, April 24 - we have 15 seats available on the bus! Box Lunch option has closed, but you can purchase lunch own your own.
