This organ, originally built for St. John's RC Church, Providence, RI, had not been playable since the 1950's. The original action was a form of tracker/pneumatic which means that the detached console had trackers to a pneumatic machine within the case. The pneumatic machine then operated the pull-down mechanisms of the slider windchests. The stop action was pneumatic throughout.

The organ was purchased by the First Presbyterian Church to replace their Casavant organ which had burned along with the church. The organ was purchased before the new building was designed, so the building was literally designed around the organ.

It was decided that the best approach to rebuilding was to make the key and stop actions mechanical with mechanical combination pedals. The console would be attached and projecting from the case although most of the old detached console was used including most of the woodwork, the keyboards, the Pedalboard and the stop jambs and knobs. The interior layout of the original organ was the Great in front with the Choir behind the Great and the Swell behind the Choir. The Choir was moved to a position above the Great and the Swell moved forward in the former Choir position.

Tonally it was decided to restore the original tone quality and voicing style. The only changes were to move the 8' Quintadena from the Swell to the Choir and the Choir Dolcissimo to the Swell and tuned as a Celeste to the Salicional. To increase the versatility of the organ a Mixture of two ranks and a 4' Clarion were added to the Great and a 10²⁄₃' Quinte and 16' Trombone were added to the Pedal. A 4' Principal was prepared. These stops were copied exactly from existing stops in the Woodberry & Harris, Opus 100, located in St. Mary's Church, Charlestown, Massachusetts.