Bedford Central Presbyterian Church
Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn
Conductor and organist Mrs. Sherrylyn
Waldron dynamically leads the large choir.
 A
three-manual 80-stop Allen Renaissanceô organ
in a drawknob console was chosen by the large and enthusiastic organ
committee to replace Bedford
Central Presbyterian Church's 1909 three-manual Moeller pipe
organ. The console is in the front of the church with the main organ
speaking from the organ chamber directly behind the altar. From
high in the rear of the church, the antiphonal organ sings out.
The
Rev. Dr. Clive E. Neil,
 pastor,
heads the large, active
church, whose nave has 1,100 seats and
a full balcony on three sides of the building. As
Dr. Neil wrote recently to Allen Organ Studios, Inc., Mineola, "Bedford
Central Presbyterian Church is pleased with the quality and service
provided by your company. The quality of our worship service has
been enhanced. A Renaissance?/font>
organ should be in every church."
Dr. Neil is most ably assisted by Ms. Clareen Atkins and Ms.
Joyce Mason, who are
dedicated church workers
as well as members of the organ committee.
The church was founded in 1909 and the exterior with
its many turrets is reminiscent of a castle.
The
former organ was a three-manual 56-stop pipe organ from 1909 with
tonal revisions in 1980.
Director
of Music and Organist, Sherrylyn Waldron had this to say:
"The Allen Renaissance?organ is a magnificent instrument. Its
versatility provides organists the opportunity to capture all styles of
music and lead their congregations in exuberant praise and worship. We
are blessed to have such an instrument and are thankful to Claire Arnold
and Bob Wyatt for their assistance in the selection and installation
process.
"Our
church has always had a pipe organ. Unfortunately, the Moeller organ had
not been working at full capacity for over 10 years. Within the last
year, the organ was not playable. The installation of the Allen
Renaissance?organ not only brought back the sounds our congregation was
used to but took us to another level. From the beautiful pipe sounds to
the inspirational and jazz combinations, the Allen organ has and will
continue to enhance our worship."
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A special concert to dedicate the new organ and the new concert grand
piano
was presented on Sunday, January 20, 2002, and
featured guest organists Robert L. Wyatt,
John Hyunil Hong, and Claire Arnold; guest pianist the Rev. Eunsung Hong;
and the Choir under the direction of Mrs. Sherrylyn Waldron, director of
music and organist. Pastor Hong and his son
John played a festive
piano-organ duet together on "How Great Thou Art" by Linda McKechnie.
Spirituals and patriotic music were also included in honor of the Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. The artists received 5 standing
ovations during the recital!
Composer David Hegarty
said,
"John Hong's approach to my Festival Trumpet Tune was unique and very
creative. I loved it!"
"The dedication of our
Renaissanceô organ was a very rewarding experience. The capabilities of the
organ far surpassed my expectations. The talent of all of the participants,
especially John Hong, was breathtaking," said Ms. Waldron.
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