A beautiful Hybrid 361 Infinity Series organ at Richardson Park United Methodist Church!

Congratulations to Richardson Park United Methodist Church, WIlmignton, DE, on their new hybrid organ comprised of a three-manual Rodgers Infinity Series 361 digital console and 22 ranks of real wind-blown pipes. Installed by a notable Rodgers dealer for the area, Cunningham Piano, the Infinity Series 361 organ also features 3 keyboard manuals, mechanical drawknobs, 61 digital stops sampled from real pipe organs, and over 370 total voices. Rodgers’ unique high-resolution sampling process employs up to 8 microphones to record the authentic sound from legendary pipe organs across the country as well as around the world.

The Infinity Series 361 also features built-in Bluetooth® technology for AirTurn™ hands-free page turning controlled by thumb or toe pistons for music displayed on a mobile device. All Infinity Series consoles are pipe-ready and easily pair with new or existing pipes. The control and flexibility with the Voice Palette™ system, allow you to select digital and pipe voices individually for perfect ensemble balance.

The original pipe organ was built by the Roosevelt Pipe Organ Company, New York & Philadelphia, 1890, and was a 2 manual and pedal instrument of 15 ranks; acquired in 1950 and installed in the at the time “new” sanctuary of Richardson Park UMC. Between 1950 and 2001, the organ continued to grow in size with the addition of ranks of pipes rescued from organs in closing churches or theatres throughout the Delaware Valley area. By 2001, the organ reached 56 ranks of wind-blown pipes and 8 electronic voices (added in 1982) controlled by a 4 manual and pedal console. The organ was arranged in spaces scattered around the sanctuary and included both exposed pipework in the rear gallery as well as enclosed chambers in the chancel and an echo division in the rear of the church.

By 2014, the Trustee Board of the church recognized that the instrument was beginning to experience significant failure of support systems. The newest wind-chests in the organ dated from 1928 and much of the wiring was cotton-clad wire. Additionally, the organ had always had tuning issues due to the various locations at different heights in the room. The decision was made to investigate the cost of rebuilding the instrument and/or finding a suitable replacement. A committee was formed and after 8 months, reported that no reputable builder was willing to “rebuild” the instrument as it stood. All recommendations were to create a “new” organ using the best of the pipework in the present organ, blended with the versatility of a new console. It was noted that the organ had been a “hybrid” of electronic and wind-blown voices since 1982 (although the congregation was never truly aware of this until the investigative work done by the Organ Committee) and that the church would benefit from looking further into the possibilities offered by today’s technology.

Rodgers and one other digital manufacturer were considered. In the end, the decision was unanimous and the recommendation to the Trustee Board and Church Council was to purchase a Rodgers Infinity Series 361 console and interface it with selected ranks of existing pipework. The 22 ranks of pipes chosen represent both the original 1890 Roosevelt pipes and the best of those added from other builders over the half-century that the organ was “as work in progress.” 

Rodgers would like to kindly thank Richardson Park United Methodist Church, and premier Rodgers Dealer Cunningham Piano for their continued professionalism and excellence in the field.