Dover-Foxcroft pipe dream alive

It could have been enough to split the congregation.

Not too many years ago, members of the venerable Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church were confronted with either replacing their ailing 1,000-pipe organ installed in 1929 or repairing it.

The wood and leather on the instrument kept wearing out and needed constant repair, according to the Rev. Ken Dale, the church’s pastor.

Then somebody discovered that repairs done to the big Tellers-Kent pipe organ in 1970 had included installation of an electronic system. That was wonderful news for the congregation because it allowed a marriage between the pipe organ and a digital organ.

Dale said he was worried at the time that the issue would split the congregation because half of the members supported the replacement and the remainder wanted it repaired. A committee recommended that the pipe organ be replaced and a hearing was set to forward that recommendation to the congregation, he said.

The new equipment was purchased and interfaced with the pipe organ last summer for about $80,000.

Now the two organs can be played together or separately.

The church had a limited organ fund, and much more was needed to pay for the project. So on Mother’s Day last year, an offering was specifically earmarked for the new organ. The collection plates that day held $54,000 – more than enough to pay the balance, Dale said.

It was a “miracle Sunday,” he said.

To celebrate those gifts, the church will sponsor a concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, with Elisabeth Weber, daughter of Ned and Judy Garner of Sebec, at the keyboard. Weber has twice won the Strader organ competition held at the University of Cincinnati. The public is invited.