The traditional handcrafted pipe organ for Christendom’s new Christ the King Chapel in Front Royal was delivered last month. The organ, funded by anonymous donors, will take approximately three weeks to assemble, followed by another four weeks of careful tuning of each of the 2,825 pipes.
The new organ was designed and constructed by Kegg Pipe Organ Builders, based in Hartville, Ohio. Charles Kegg, the artistic director at the company, oversaw the initial design work, meeting with Christendom staff before designing the visual display as well as the console. The blueprints of the organ took about 10 months to complete, with the actual organ construction taking approximately 14 months.
From there, the organ was disassembled and shipped via two semitrucks, with the same Kegg crew that built the organ traveling to campus to reassemble it in the new chapel. Once the organ is installed, Kegg and his assistant will make careful adjustments to the pipes.
These adjustments are called “voicing” and include pipe tone, volume, attack and release. During this process, which can be completed only once the organ is in its final acoustic home, each stop is balanced between its mates within each section of the organ, and each section is balanced between the other sections.
The arrival of the organ comes as the final touches are being made to the chapel before its dedication in April. Beautiful woodworking is underway in the interior of the chapel, along with the installation of stained-glass windows.
The new chapel, inspired by the Gothic cathedrals of Europe, will accommodate 840 people and provide the college more worship space. The Piazza of Christ the King is being constructed as well, which will be a space for reflection before entering the chapel.
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge will celebrate the Mass of Dedication April 15 with Cardinal Francis Arizne presiding. The invitation-only Mass, which will be broadcast live on EWTN, will draw college alumni priests and the donors who made the construction possible. Following Mass, a special reception will be held for guests. April 16, the college community will gather for the first community Mass in the new chapel, which will be celebrated by Cardinal Arinze. A formal celebration for faculty, staff and students will be held that evening in a large tent.
Find out more
Go to chapel.christendom.edu.
