It was a bright Sunday morning in Raleigh, North Carolina when a North American moving van pulled into the parking lot of Church of the Nativity. Soon parishioners began to arrive to attend the morning service. Shortly after the service ended, a pot luck lunch was served -- a sumptuous feast that was to repeat itself in the days to come. Once the lunch dishes were cleaned up and the food put away, Mother Diane Corlett, Rector of Nativity, approached the moving van and with much fanfare received the first piece of Nativity’s new Andover organ. She processed into the sanctuary. Parishioners of all ages followed, each taking parts of the organ and depositing them in the sanctuary under the supervision of the Andover crew. After only an hour, the van was completely unloaded and the sanctuary was filled with hundreds of organ parts. The organ had arrived.

The following week and a half saw the organ being assembled in the front of the sanctuary. Team Leader, Matthew Bellocchio and his crew, consisting of David Zarges, Tony Miscio and Craig Seaman, completed the mechanical installation and traveled back to Lawrence. Two weeks latter, Tonal Director John Morlock and voicer Don Glover arrived to begin the tonal finishing. Tonal work was completed in two weeks.

This instrument has tracker key and stop action. The case is made from solid red oak and is stained to match the woodwork of the Church. The case pipes are made of 70% polished tin. The keyboards are covered with cow bone naturals and ebony sharps and the drawknobs are made of Pau Ferro with faux ivory labels. The solid walnut pipe shades were designed and carved by Tony Miscio. The organ has a Zimbelstern and a star that turns when the stop is put on. It is a fitting addition for Church of the Nativity.

The dedication of the organ was on Friday, November 16, 2007 with Brian Jones, Organist, playing works by Lefébure-Wely, Bach, Reinken, Sweelinck, Arne, White, Schumann, Rawsthorne and Saint-Saens.

Brian was joined by the Nativity Choir directed by Waltye Rasulala in When In Our Music God is Glorified and the Nativity Bell Choir directed by Ruth Brown in Beethoven’s Hymn to Joy. The audience joined in singing hymns Come, Ye Thankful People Come and Ye Watchers and Ye Holy One with descants by the choir on the last verses.

Nativity is a small, but very active and growing congregation and is known locally as Church of the Activity.

For photos of AOC building of the organ, see below.