History

Download report to Church Council on 11/21/2017

A Brief Summary of a Long History

The Kent Grand Organ that is currently being renovated and installed in Kent, Washington was originally built in 1878 by organ builders Hutchings, Plaisted & Co. at a church in Salem, Massachusetts. The organ fell into the hands of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts which later gifted the organ to the Kent Lutheran Church in downtown Kent, Washington. The Kent Lutheran Church has established the Gathering Place for Culture and Arts, part of their campus that is dedicated to community activities and engagement. Interest from the community led to the creation of the Kent Grand Organ 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to oversee the funding, restoration, installation, and ongoing maintenance of the historic Hutchings, Plaisted & Co. in its new home withing the Gathering Place for Culture and Arts. Kent, Washington is one of the most diverse cities in the state. We need places to gather as a community and share and create culture and art to foster connections and understanding. The Kent Grand Organ is part of the larger narrative of our community.

The Nitty-Gritty

The Kent Grand Organ will be one of the few surviving Hutchings organs in the United States and in the world, and the only truly symphonic organ in the Pacific Northwest. Marceau & Associates Pipe Organ Builders, Inc. in Seattle, Washington, the organ builders responsible for the restoration and renovation of the Kent Grand Organ, is revolutionizing organ building in the Pacific Northwest. They have adopted a Neo-symphonic approach to organ restoration by looking at the evolution of organ-building in the United States and integrating the best innovations while staying true to the history and original capabilities of the instrument. Once completed, the Kent Grand Organ will be a unique instrument housed in the often-overlooked area of South King County.