Christ Church Cathedral has a long and distinguished history of music and pipe organs. The parish installed a Catlin organ in the early 1800s, the first in Hartford and the first in this part of the state. The distinguished American organ builders Erben, Hook and Hastings, and Hutchings built later installations. All of these organs were located in the rear gallery. In 1925, Ernest M. Skinner and Co. installed a large four-manual organ in the chancel, containing some of the largest 32’ pipes in the state.
The present organ, Opus 2417, dates from 1965, and was built by Hartford-based Austin
Organ Company. The organ contains fifty-six ranks and was controlled by a three-manual console. Although preparation was completed for a seven-rank antiphonal organ, it was never built.
As part of the last projects to restore Christ Church
Cathedral to its full splendor, the organ was refurbished
in 2000-2001. At that time, all the organ pipes were
cleaned, the reed pipes were re-voiced, and 3 digital
32’ stops
were added. The console was updated with solid-state
combination action and special computerized features.
Moveable on a dolly, the console can be brought out
for concerts and special events.
