• Skip to Content
  • Skip to Sidebar
  • Skip to Navigation
First United Methodist Church Logo
  • Sermons
  • Donate
  • Login
  • Contact Us
Go
  • I'm New
  • About
    • FAQs
    • Directions
    • Mission Statement
    • What United Methodists Believe
    • Pastors & Staff
    • Weddings
    • Memorial and Funeral Services
    • Giving
      • Stewardship & Generosity
      • My Pledge
      • Online Giving
      • Welcome to The Covenant Circle
      • Covenant Circle Planning Committee
      • Foundation Board of Directors
      • Endowment Development Committee
      • The Heritage Newsletter
    • History
    • Contact Us
  • Worship
    • Traditional Services
    • The Water's Edge
    • Wednesday Vespers
    • New Evening Worship coming soon!
    • Children's Church
    • Holy Communion
    • Music
      • Music Series 2012
      • Adult Choirs
      • Children's Choirs
      • Youth Choir
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation
    • Sermons
  • Get Connected
    • Starting Points
      • Worship
      • Alpha Course
    • Children's Ministry
      • Sunday School Schedules & Lessons
      • Sunday School - Lesson Archive
      • Sunday School Registration/Photo Release Form
      • Children's Programs
      • Children's Choirs
      • Children and Youth Choir Registration
      • Tween
      • Registration/Photo Release/RSVP form
      • Director's Message
    • Youth
      • Wesley Heritage Tour to London
      • Confirmation at First Church
      • 2012 Calendar
      • Forms and brochure
      • Youth Parent Survey
    • Young Adults
    • Adult Studies
      • Financial Peace University
      • Positive Parenting
      • Sunday Morning Classes
      • Bible Study
      • School of Christian Studies
      • The Alpha Course
      • The Marriage Course
    • Missions & Service
      • Social Action & Justice
      • Global Missions
      • Loaves & Fishes
      • Thrift Store
      • United Methodist Women
      • AIDS Ministry
    • Small Groups
      • ChristCare Groups
      • Earth Care
      • All God's Children
    • Adult Interest Groups
      • All God's Children
      • Friday Night Singles
    • Community Life
    • Music Ministry
      • Adult Choirs
      • Children's Choirs
      • Youth Choir
      • Music Series
      • Pipe Organs at First Church
      • Trotter Chapel Pipe Organ
  • News & Events
    • Coming Events
    • Subscribe to eNews
    • eNews
    • Social Media at First Church
  • Care & Prayer
    • Pastoral Care
    • Prayer Request
    • Prayer Group
    • Counseling Center
      • Premarital Counseling
      • Contact us
    • In Our Prayers
    • Prayers & Squares
      • Be Involved
      • Sponsor Checklist
      • Request a quilt
    • Parish Nurse
    • The Labyrinth
    • Twitter Prayer
  • First Church A-Z

Pipe Organs at First Church

Gallery Organ and Console
Gallery Organ and Console, built by L. W. Blackinton & Associates

By Dr. Richard Peerson

From its founding, May 12, 1869, First Church has valued music in its worship services and community outreach.

The first pipe organ was a two-manual Hook and Hastings, which was dedicated on February 26, 1888, in the new Methodist Block three-story brick building located at the corner of 4th and Broadway in downtown San Diego.

When First Church moved in 1907 to a new church building, designed by Irving Gill and located at 9th and C streets, the Hook and Hastings pipe organ was enlarged by Murray Harris and installed in the 1500 seat auditorium.

In 1929, First Church dedicated a new 27 rank three manual Pilcher pipe organ with 1,946 speaking sounds: 1,877 pipes with harp and chimes.

The church moved to Mission Valley in 1964 and Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Myers, Jr., loaned the church their Baldwin 5A electronic organ for use in the sanctuary. The Pilcher organ was placed in storage. In 1967, Dowling and Blackinton Organ Builders designed and installed a 12 rank (855 pipes) Chancel Organ over the the choir stalls.

The former downtown pipe organ was removed from storage in 1971 and was refurbished and enlarged by L. W. Blackinton and Associates to 41 ranks with 2,450 pipes, chimes and harp and placed in the rear gallery of the church sanctuary.

On April 24, 1986, a contract was signed with Mr. Blackinton to remove the existing organ andHook and Hastings Organ 1888 in the Methodist Block building. completely redesign and expand the instrument using the former pipe work and adding 54 ranks of new pipes, slider chests, and a new four manual console. The instrument was dedicated on January 22, 1989 with a total of 107 ranks and 6,042 pipes.

In 2010 a Festival Trumpet 8' was added to the Gallery Choir division. The organ now contains 108 ranks and 6092 pipes over four manual and pedal divisions in the rear gallery, including a full-length pedal Principal 32', and three manual and pedal divisions in the chancel. It is the largest pipe organ in San Diego County.

Specifications of the Sanctuary Pipe Organ

 

The Trotter Chapel Pipe Organ

A two-manual, 14-rank, 849-pipe L. W. Blackinton and Associates Pipe Organ was installed in the Trotter Chapel and dedicated on September 12, 2010.

Tonal concepts and specifications for the organ were cooperatively developed by Organ Builder, Lyle Blackinton; Organist, Robert Plimpton and Music Director, Stanley Wicks. The challenge was to design an instrument of modest size to be used primarily for small services, weddings, and funerals, but in addition, would have the versatility to be used for other intimate musical events.

About the Trotter Chapel Pipe Organ

Get Connected   >  The Ministry of Music   >  Pipe Organs at First Church
  • Adult Choirs
    • Chancel Choir
    • Contemporary Singers
    • Masterwork Chorale
    • Summer Choir
  • Children's Choirs
  • Youth Choir
  • Music Series
  • Pipe Organs at First Church
  • Trotter Chapel Pipe Organ
May 2012>>
S M T W T F S
  1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31  
<<June 2012>>
S M T W T F S
  1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
<<July 2012>>
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31  
<<August 2012>>
S M T W T F S
  1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31  
<<September 2012>>
S M T W T F S
  1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30  
<<October 2012>>
S M T W T F S
  1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31  
<<November 2012>>
S M T W T F S
  1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30  
<<December 2012>>
S M T W T F S
  1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31  
<<January 2013>>
S M T W T F S
  1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31  
<<February 2013>>
S M T W T F S
  1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28  
<<March 2013>>
S M T W T F S
  1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31  
<<April 2013
S M T W T F S
  1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30  
Saturday, May 19, 2012, 5:30 PM - Sunday, May 20, 2012, 10:30 AM
"Fight for What is Right" Overnight -- Broomball and Laser Tag
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Global Missions Sunday, Worship and Brunch

Stay Updated with . . .

There's a lot going on at First Church. Here are some ways to stay current.

  • Weekly eNews
  • Twice-a-month print edition
  • Facebook
  • Not a subscriber?
  • Subscribe now!

© Copyright 2011

First United Methodist Church of San Diego

All rights reserved

2111 Camino del Rio South

(Mission Valley west of Texas St.)

San Diego, CA 92108

(619) 297-4366

Stay Connected

  • Calendar
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Powered by
Ekklesia360 logo