Services at All Saints are enriched and accompanied by a unique organ that started its life in Germany, spent many years at Concordia Theological Seminary, and now finds it home here in Charlotte, NC. The organ was built by the firm of E.F. Walcker and Cie. of Ludwigsburg, West Germany. It was customized for the Luther Chapel at Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois by D.G. Reuning and S.H. Dembinsky. It arrived in Springfield on November 3, 1970, and was dedicated to the glory and praise of God on November 13, 1970. When the Springfield Seminary held its last classes in 1976, the organ made its way to the Fort Wayne seminary where it resided until 2016, when it was disassembled and transported by Lewtak Pipe Organ Builders to Mocksville, NC. Under the leadership of Tom Lewtak and his team, the organ was meticulously inspected, cleaned, catalogued, restored, repaired, refurbished, and upgraded. In 2018, the organ was installed in our sanctuary.
This organ was originally designed specifically to fulfill all the requirements of a Christian community engaged in liturgical worship. The skill of its voicing is such that the tonal range and color allow the musician to play practically all the musical literature for organ. This instrument is intended to assist present and future hearers in their response “to him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen.”
The following construction principles of classic pipe organs of Northern Europe, many of which come from the 17th and 18th centuries, were adhered to, including:
- Tracker Action: Direct mechanical linkage between key and pipe valve, rather than electric action.
- Classic specification, with classic pipe voicing.
- Slider chests, with pipes of the same note within each division standing of a common windway.
- Low wind pressure.
- Placement of the organ where it can speak directly to the room. Room and organ are considered one unit.
- Encasement of each division of the organ on all sides except for the front.
The specifications of the organ are as follows:
| MANUAL I | MANUAL II | PEDAL | COUPLERS |
| Prinzipal 8′ | Gedeckt 8′ | Subbass 16′ | Manual I to Pedal |
| Rohrfloete 8′ | Nachthorn 4′ | Zartbass 16′ | Manual II to Pedal |
| Octave 4′ | Prinzipal 2′ | Gedecktbass 8′ | Manual II to Manual I |
| Sesquialter 1-2 rks. | Quinte 1 1/3′ | Choral Bass 4′ | |
| Waldfloete 2′ | Zimbel 3 rks. | Nachthorn 2′ | |
| Mixtur 3-4 rks. | Rohrschalmei 8′ | Faggot 16′ | |
| Tremelo |
More organ details can be found at the Pipe Organ Database, here, and more pictures are found below.
