Print Issue: April 25, 2002

Shrine Of The Immaculate Conception Gets New Organ Pipes

Organ pipes of different lengths and weights lie in the back of the church and along the side aisle. The new pipes are made of copper, and are more durable than the old zinc ones. The new pipes range in size from the smallest at 4 feet tall, 5 pounds, to the largest at 18 feet, 200 pounds. (Photos by Michael Alexander)

Jim Rawls, below, hands a 16-foot gemshorn pipe to Adam Axton, top of scaffold, and Bryan Ciccaglione, hanging over the rail, at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Atlanta. A work crew from Parkey Organ Builders, Atlanta, replaced all the organ pipes made of zinc alloy, including the large façade pipes.

Shrine of the Immaculate Conception organist Jeffrey McIntyre played the organ with all its new pipes for the first time during the parish Easter Vigil liturgy, March 30. McIntyre said, "I am proud the Shrine is one of two parishes in the archdiocese with an all pipe organ." The other parish is the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta.