The cathedrals of Incheon and Daejon dioceses now boast beautiful pipe organs thanks to a company that imports the instruments collected from United States churches that have closed down.

The Dap-dong Cathedral at Incheon and the Daeheung-dong cathedral of Daejeon obtained their organs through the Treanor Organ Company, sayssales manager Simon Bae Young-bum.

Several Seoul Protestant Churches, including Youndong Church and Seungdong Church, also benefited from the program, which sources organs from American churches slated for demolition or from church closures, Bae told ucanews.com.

The churches wish to donate the organs to Korea or other South East Asian countries, he added, but a major financial barrier remains.

“Though the organs are donated, it is expensive to dismantle, transport and re-assemble the large, elaborate music instruments,” Bae explained, “and the receiving Church needs to cover the costs.”

Nevertheless, even with these expenses, an organ can be installed for just 40 percent of the price of a new one.

Moreover, the newly installed organ becomes virtually a new one, since all parts except for the main pipes and wooden frames are replaced.

Peter Joung Moon-kyu, parish officer of the Dap-dong cathedral, is very satisfied.

The sound from a pipe organ is much more magnificent than from a reed organ, Joung told ucanews.com on July 2.

Cathedral parishioners also enjoy the organ-accompanied liturgies, he said.

The medium sized Dap-dong cathedral organ has 43 stops with more than 2,400 pipes. It was originally installed in a Methodist Church in Illinois in 1953.

Transportation and re-installation for the organ totaled 200 million won (USD $167,000 US).

This is "very much cheaper than a new one," Joung said, noting that a small new pipe organ with 30 stops costs about 900 million won (USD $750,000).

Now, the cathedral holds a biannual pipe organ concert for parishioners.

Related reports
New pipe organ to lure visitors to church
Leaders In Church Music Seek To Enhance Prayer And Worship
Church Center Trains Organists To Deal With Shortage In Parishes
Manila Cathedral Restores Pipe Organ On Silver Jubilee As Basilica
Tokyo Cathedral´s New Pipe Organ Stars In Documentary Film

KO10301.1609