A century ago, an organ was ordered by St. John Cantius Church, a Polish parish in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, from the Votteler-Holtkamp-Sparling Organ Co. The instrument has provided music for Masses and other liturgical celebrations at the parish since 1926, when the current – and third church for the parish – was completed.
But, as the years passed, the organ fell into disrepair. When Joseph Sutowski, parish organist, arrived in the 1980s, “He found a damaged, vandalized, non-working organ,” said Father James Roach, St. John Cantius pastor.
(See photo gallery above.)
Sutowski decided to pursue an organ restoration project and after a series of fundraisers, he was able to get the instrument partially operational once again.
When Father Roach arrived as pastor seven years ago, he was determined to work with Sutowski to retore the historic organ and make it fully functional once again. He was pleased when Chris Holtkamp, president of the family-run organ company, was able to locate the original, signed contract from June 5, 1925, containing complete details about the organ, including wind pressure and material component of the wood and metal pipes.
Holtkamp told Father Roach that the parish’s unique orchestral-style pipe organ is one of the only surviving instrument built by the company – a style of organ voicing/building in the 1920s and 1930s.
“Finally, we signed a contract with Holtkamp Organ in 2021,” Father Roach said, and after several setbacks that delayed the project, the full restoration was completed in 2024.
Father Roach, who also plays the organ, organized a blessing and a concert to showcase the newly restored organ. Presiding at the brief blessing on Nov. 2 was Bishop Edward Malesic, also an organist.
“This instrument adds to the worship in this beautifully restored church,” the bishop said, as he scanned the statues and paintings decorating the Polish cathedral-style church, the parish’s third church building.
After the blessing, renowned organist Ken Cowan performed on the newly restored organ for about an hourlong concert, highlighting its range and sound. Among the pieces he played were Sonata No. 1 in f minor by Felix Mendhelssohn-Bartholdy, Symphonic Poem for the Season of Advent, Op. 69 by Rachel Laurin, Ave Maria by Marco Enrico Bossi, Carillon de Westminster by Louis Vierne and Final from Sonata No. 1 Op. 42 by Alexandre Guilmant.
“Thank you for all you’ve done to make this day a reality,” Father Roach told the large crowd that attended the blessing and concert. “I am so grateful.”