First Baptist Church, East Elmhurst

First Baptist Church
East Elmhurst

There is a long and strong tradition of excellent music at the First Baptist Church of East Elmhurst, where the Rev. Dr. Brookward Bush is pastor and Ms. Ella Whack is secretary. The large nave and balcony comfortably seat about 500 people and the altar area includes two organs, a grand piano, an extensive set of drums, and generous seating for a large choir on several tiers. However, when the three choirs—the Youth Choir, the Gospel Choir, and the Chancel Choir—perform together as for the Organ Dedication Concert, space for the musicians is scarce.

Mrs. Eva Smith, the organ committee chair person, dreamed of a new organ for many years and worked closely with Pastor Bush to help achieve this goal. A group of eight people traveled together to visit the Allen Organ International Headquarters in Macungie, PA, to listen to several organs in one day. This helped the committee to determine the price range of the organ in which they were interested.

One of the three choirs of First Baptist Church of East Elmhurst performs under their dynamic conductor, as Mr. James Henry accompanies at the organ in the center, behind the altar.

Now the three-manual Allen AP-31 organ has lifted the standard of excellence even higher. Said Pastor Bush, "Not only is our three-manual Protégé organ a great, great instrument, but it is a fantastic instrument for our church. I love. it. Last Sunday our organist Mr. Jim Henry captivated the congregation completely throughout the whole service with his playing. The congregation has fallen in love with the organ even before the organ dedication service. This organ has revolutionized our worship." The church has three choirs—the Youth Choir, the Gospel Choir, and the Chancel Choir—and the worship service includes music on the classical and gospel organs, the grand piano, and an elaborate drum set.

The Rev. Dr. Brookward W. Bush, pastor, leads the congregation in a moment of prayer during the organ dedication service.

Pastor Bush continued, "Not only are the Allen people so courteous and kind, but they did all of the things they had promised...and more." From the involved double hoisting required by Allen's experienced movers to remove the former organ from the tight quarters two tiers up behind the altar, to the delivery of the new and larger instrument to the same location, through the structural and electrical preparations for the installation completely carried out by Daniel H. Hunter, Jr., installation tech of the Allen Organ Studios, the project was well organized and completed on schedule.

"It was a very smooth operation. From the start, it was a pleasure working with Bob & Claire, Mike & Dani, and the Allen folks. In fact, that was the reason we stayed with them," said Pastor Bush. The Allen organ was heard for the first time two weeks before Christmas when guest organist Mr. Elmer Hammond, music director and organist of St. Albans Congregational Church, accompanied a community choir in Handel's Messiah.

Said Ms. Whack, "The Allen people have been fantastic. Several of us heard Bob Wyatt perform at the dedication concert on the [three-manual 80-stop] Allen at Bedford Central Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn. Mr. Wyatt makes an organ concert a lot of fun." Bob Wyatt participated with other musicians for the Organ Dedication Concert on Sunday evening, March 17, 2002, at 5:00 p.m.