MENLO PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Menlo Park, California



Real Audio Player Required

Menlo Park Presbyterian Church was established in 1873. The first church was built in 1874 and was a small wooden structure. Music has always been an integral part of this congregation, including the pick-up choir that sang at the cornerstone-laying ceremony of the Leland Stanford Jr. University in 1887!  In looking through old archive material we found that the Hammond Organ Company included a photograph (shown here) of this lovely little church, in an advertisement which acknowledged their purchase of a small Hammond Organ.
 

The current church campus was built in 1950, and, at one time, had a new three-manual Casavant pipe organ installed in the balcony. In 1976 the decision was made to enlarge the sanctuary and move the choir and organ to the Chancel area. There was no room for the pipe organ and it was decided to replace it with a large custom four-manual Allen organ. In 1997 the music committee approved an upgrade of the instrument to include, among other things, MIDI capabilities. In 1998, the upgraded console with specification designed by Christian Elliott, and featuring Renaissance™ technology, was reinstalled.

This 5,000 member congregation now enjoys the beauty and versatility of their four-manual, 117 rank equivalent, Custom Allen Renaissance™ Organ.  At all services, Christian Elliott, Organist and Associate Minister of Worship, delights the congregation with his outstanding ability to musically enhance their worship experience.

 
(For a close-up of the drawknobs, click on each side of the console.)