Instruments

The Organ

Installed in December 2008, the Allen-Sipe Digital Pipe Combination Organ is a focal point of the sanctuary at St. Barnabas and of the musical life of the church.

The 458 pipes that comprise the eight ranks included in this instrument are all exposed. They tower over windchest enclosures that were specifically designed to match the existing surfaces in the chancel. In addition to the pipe stops, which are not digitally duplicated, there are abundant resources to match the capabilities of many large all-pipe instruments. The digital ranks were chosen for St. Barnabas alone. Also, with voicing of both the pipe and digital stops by Burton Tidwell, as well as the addition of many of his personally digitized stops from organs around the world, the continuity in the instrument and the "tuning" to the space of the sanctuary contributes mightily to the worship and music life of the church.

The church organ is often a gift of a single family. That was not the case with this instrument. The following quote from Pastor Tom Gibbons was included in the dedicatory recital program:

St. Barnabas has a history of generous giving of time, talents, and money. Funding of this organ is the latest example of the commitment of this family of faith to the worship of God. Gifts for the purchase of the organ came from 153 families and individuals. Eleven gifts were in excess of $5,000, and 142 gifts were amounts between $1.00 and $4,999. The major donor for this instrument that we dedicate to the glory of God was the family and friends of St. Barnabas.

A complete stop list for the organ can be seen here.

The Piano

In September 2008, the Session of St. Barnabas was informed of the generous gift of a new Steinway Model B grand piano for use in the sanctuary. One of the families in the church gave this piano in honor of the 50th anniversary of the charter for St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church in 2009. The new piano for worship allowed for the original grand piano, which was a memorial gift to the church, to be moved to Providence Hall where it is used for First Sunday services and other musical occasions in that venue.