McKENZIE, TENN. (March 16, 2022) — The historic pipe organ at the McKenzie First Cumberland Presbyterian Church was rededicated during a concert on Wednesday, March 16.

The organ was first dedicated on March 28, 1953 when it was installed in the historic First Cumberland Presbyterian Church on Stonewall Street in downtown McKenzie. When the church family relocated to a new church building on Highland Avenue, the pipe organ was stored until the new sanctuary was constructed in the year 2020. The renovated pipe organ was first played on January 10, 2021 with Dr. Keith Herris playing the organ to open the Sunday service.

The funds to purchase the original organ were provided by Mrs. Fannye Baxter Moore in memory of her mother, Mrs. Lou J. Baxter. Mrs. Hudson Roseberry played the dedicatory service and served as the first organist. Through the years, it was played by Clara Dishman, Jane Atkins, Vince Edwards, Sandy McMahen and Zia Locke at the historic church building.

The M.P. Moller Pipe Organ company restored and installed the instrument, adding electronics and amplification equipment so the historic organ could fill the new, larger sanctuary with sound.

Dr. Mark Herris, an adjunct lecturer for the Music and Arts Technology Department at Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis, was the main instrumentalist for the dedication of the renovated pipe organ. He is the brother of Dr. Keith Herris, the music director at First C.P. Church-McKenzie.

Dr. Mark Herris holds a Ph.D. in organ performance.

Dr. Mark and Dr. Keith provided an organ and piano performance of “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” to complete the concert. Melissa Herris provided narration to an organ performance of “The Ant and the Grasshopper.”

The late Ruth Morris, a member of First C.P. Church and former president of McKenzie Banking Company, provided funding for the restoration and upkeep. She donated $125,000 to the special organ fund to modernize the instrument and another $25,000 for its repair and maintenance. Ruth and John Morris also left $500,000 to the church’s building fund to help fund the construction of the new sanctuary.

Dr. Ed Perkins honored the Moore and Morris families by telling of the gifts of the organ and funds to maintain it. Mrs. Morris was the cousin to Mrs. Moore.

The memory and service of Fannye Baxter Moore continues through a trust account she established to provide financial assistance to ‘worthy, needy McKenzians. McKenzie Rotary Club manages that fund. It has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to serve McKenzie families. With more than 50 years providing humanitarian relief, it still maintains a balance of $275,000.

Read in the McKenzie Banner: https://www.mckenziebanner.com/stories/cp-organ-rededicated,13523