Pipe Organ Database

This entry describes an original installation of a new pipe organ.
Identified by Sean Haley, who maintains the organ.
The Hinners organ was originally located at the church's original building in the older part of Helena. In the early 1980's a new sanctuary and school was built at the present site on Broadway. The original Hinners was brought from the old church and placed in the rear choir loft of the new church. Reportedly of mechanical action, the instrument was small, likely only about 7 stops and deemed inadequate to fill the space. An attempt to revise the organ was made by a man named Russell from Missoula. Questions about his failing health as well as his skill led the church to seek out an alternative.

Robert D. Hoppe had a new 5 stop slider chest built containing the original 8' Diapason, 4' Octave, 8' Melodia, a new 4' Koppel Flute, and a 2' Fifteenth made from rescaling a Salicional.

The casework and speaking Facade of the Hinners was retained. The facade consists of pipes of the 8' and 4' Diapasons with basses of the 8' offset inside the chamber. The 5 stops were interfaced with a 3 manual Church Organ Systems Prestige II (made by Viscount) and speakers placed behind the facade and slider chest.