Olympia, Washington
St. John's Episcopal Church
M.P. MÖLLER, Opus 9072, 1957 - Original Specifications
GREAT COUPLERS
8' Diapason 61 Swell to Pedal 8,4
8' Bourdon 61 Great to Pedal 8,4
4' Gemshorn 61
2' Fifteenth 61 Swell to Great 16,8,4
III Mixture [15-19-22] 183
Great 16' FINGER PISTONS
Great Unison Off Full Organ 1 - 4
Great 4' Swell & Pedal 1 – 4
Great & Pedal 1 – 4
SWELL (Expressive)
8' Spitzflöte 61 TOE STUDS
8' Viola 61 Gr. to Ped. Reversible (rev)
8' Viola Celeste (tc) 49 Sforzando Reversible (rev)
4' Harmonic Flute 61
8' Trompette 61
Tremolo PEDAL MOVEMENTS
Swell Expression (bal.)
Swell 16' Crescendo (bal.)
Swell Unison Off
Swell 4'
PEDAL
16' Diapason (Gt) 12 ACTION: E-P pitman & unit
16' Gedeckt 32
8' Octave (Gt) -- VOICES: 11 STOPS: 15
8' Gedeckt 12
4' Gedeckt 12 RANKS: 13 PIPES: 788
NOTES
St. John's Church of Olympia was the first incorporated parish of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the United States to be formed in what is now the State of
Washington; however, the first church building in Olympia was the Methodist Church
built in 1856. Notices in Olympia newspapers list services at St. John's Chapel,
but this was just a rented hall from the Masonic Temple.
On January 13, 1864, Lot 7, Block 7 of the Town of Olympia on the corner of 7th and
Main (later, Capitol Way) was purchased from Benjamin & Eliza P. Harned for $500.00.
An old frame carpenter shop on the lot was converted into a church. Music was pro-
vided by a small melodeon.
In May of 1888, bids for building a new church were called for. Those bids received
were opened on June 8. The basement was built first, and services were begun there
on October 20, 1889. Work was delayed for about one year, but then resumed after a
gift of $500.00 from Governor Perry. The cost of the building was $10,361.75. The
bell, stained glass of St. John & St. Mary, and the Bishop's and rector's chairs
were saved from the first structure and incorporated into the new building.
In 1891, a 2-manual & pedal tracker-action pipe organ built by th Pilcher firm was
installed as a result of the labors of the St. John's Musical Society. The cost of
the instrument was $1,500.00, and it was installed by Henry Pilcher himself.
The present structure was built in 1949, but the Möller wasn't installed until 1957.
It is located in a right-side chamber towards the front of the church. The console
is located in front of the chamber with the organist facing across the nave.
Sources: Möller opus list; James R. Stettner; extant organ
[Received from James R. Stettner 2015-04-11.]