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No more a pipedream
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Sonorous notes from the heritage pipe organ filled the holy ambience of St. John's Church
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THEODORE V. Comfort was dressed in a neat, black suit for Sunday's evening service at St. John's Church, Secunderabad. He had to wait 20 long years for this day. And as hallowed notes from the heritage pipe organ rented the air, the octogenarian organist's joy was writ large on his face with a drop or two of tears, carefully concealed under his powerful lenses.
It was in the early Eighties that the M/s. Misquith & Co. (1908) - manufactured pipe organ was last played in the Church when a vital motor broke down, and the instrument went silent. An electronic organ soon replaced the historic pipe to serve the immediacy of purpose, but it is almost needless to add that the melody was less than half-as-good as the unparalleled pipe organ.
The collective desire of the patrons of the British-built St. John's Church culminated in the restoration and subsequent re-dedication of the organ on Sunday by Bishop Rev. Dr. B.P Sugandhar (Diocese of Medak). The event was characterised by the ceremonial re-dedication and Thanksgiving devotionals that witnessed enthusiastic participation by the young and old alike.
As the pipes came alive, sonorous notes saturated the holy ambience inside the church as the choir rendered O worship the king... The music was phenomenal - one that could readily suffuse devotion so that the desire of fullness of a prayer was fulfilled, after a long hiatus.
Intangible aspects apart, the supreme power of an authentic pipe organ to lead singing gives it value in helping build the cohesiveness of a congregation, believes Theodore - the oldest organist of St. John's, who has been coming here for the past 64-years.
And what a way to honour the W.H. Morrison-student than to let his dexterous fingers play his favourite keys that he since long, abandoned. Requires no practise for such a seasoned organist, Evensong and Jesus...Joy of man's desiring, was played with religious precision, leaving everyone in awe by his expertise.
"The keys have become a little tight," was the only complaint he had amidst extolling expressions for the instrument, which he said, "is a peerless asset to St. John's".
With the closing hymn Abide with me, people preserved the music in their heart although nostalgic strains of their favourite pipe organ kept coming back, long after they were heard no more.
S.C.
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