Sometime in the 1740s David Candler, who studied in Europe, came to the southern Pennsylvania area and was ordained. The local Lutherans built a structure on Third Street that served as both a schoolhouse and church… just blocks from where I live today.

In 1756 the congregation moved to a new site and built a two story log church. The alter used in that structure survives with the congregation, and is most likely the oldest altar in a Lutheran church in our country.

These events occurred before the town itself was laid out as Hanover in 1763. The local Lutherans acquired land on Chestnut Street, where a school was built. Construction of a church in that location began in 1802.

Frederick Valentine, noted in the Dictionary of American Biography, became a pastor in the Hanover area in 1790 and provided services in German.  This tradition continued along with others in English until 1918.

A fourth and later a fifth church followed in 1924, and this structure is in use today. As part of the new building, Clara Gladfelter Moul donated the funds to purchase a large pipe organ built by Austin Organs, one of the oldest and most respected organ manufacturers in the United States.

With 14,341 pipes and 231 stops, it is one of the top ten largest pipe organs in the world. Over one million sound combinations are offered by this grand instrument.

Instruments this complex obviously need much care and attention. Eight of the top ten pipe organs have their own full-time curators. For many years, the St. Matthew organ has received about $2,000 per year in necessary repairs, but as the materials have aged, recent years' budgets have been in the neighborhood of $20,000 annually.

Even with these expenditures, the organ now needs a more extensive renovation. Some repairs will begin in February, but a vote by the congregation to impart on a lengthy and extensive repair program totaling in the neighborhood of one million dollars will occur later in the year.

All proceeds from this photowalk beyond the dessert expenditures will be provided to the St. Matthew Lutheran Church Organ Fund.

Those not able to attend this event or desiring to donate to the repairs and care of the organ may send donations to:

St. Matthew Lutheran Church

Attn: Organ Fund

30 West Chestnut Street

Hanover, PA 17331