Saint David's Episcopal Church in Topeka, Kansas, has been a victim of arson on November 10, 2006. Due to structural weakness caused by the fire, the nave, sanctuary, chapel and sacristy must be torn down. The Wolff organ on the gallery burned down completely. The Reverend Donald Davidson, the rector, and the parishioners of Saint David's intend to rebuild the church and replace the organ as well. The church founded in 1953, has between 600 and 700 members and is among the 10 largest Episcopal Churches in Kansas.

In 1980, when the organ was inaugurated by Robert Danes, it was the first modern tracker organ within a radius of 600 miles. However, in the last 25 years, many other fine tracker organs have been installed in churches and universities in the state of Kansas. For example some 15 years later we were to build a 40-stop organ for the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

As the organ had no division under expression, the Positive had doors which could be closed when needed for a more discreet accompaniment of the choir. The Trumpet en Chamade was a request by the donor and was somewhat odd for a single 8' Trumpet. To make it milder and more useful, the scale
was narrow and the shallots were made in ebony. The largest pipes were standing upright, behind the façade pipes. The Basson on the Great had also ebony shallots. Originally it had unusual resonators which made it sound like a saxophone - until the resonators were turned into a regular tapered
shape.

STOPLIST

Saint David’s Episcopal Church, Topeka, Kansas
Opus 23, 1980