ORGAN & UPGRADES: 1966–1973
Sunday, May 29, 1966, Newberry College held its last Baccalaureate Service at Redeemer, and since then the college has used Wiles Chapel on campus. Sunday, July 17, 1966, the long-awaited new Schantz organ was dedicated. This three-manual instrument was initially installed having 24 ranks with a total of 1,496 pipes and the 21-note chime set from the former organ. Shortly afterwards, Mrs. Leonora Epting donated funds for the addition of two new ranks, completing the cornet division of the choir organ. A decade later, Mr. James W. Ingram, Jr. donated funds for the addition of a cymblestern in honor of Organist-Choirmaster W. Darr Wise. Next, two ranks for 16’ and 8’ Bourdon were added, these being electronic ranks, since no more space was available in the organ chamber for additional pipes. And most recently, a gift from the estate of Mr. Kernie Wessinger made possible the addition of the Trumpet-en-Chamade, located on the back balcony wall of the Church. So in its present form, the Schantz organ has grown to a total of 29 ranks.
The 13-year-old building program, begun in 1964, was completed by air-conditioning the Administrative Wing and the Education Building in 1971. The faceted stained-glass transom and decorative hardware at the Church front entrance and the four faceted stained-glass narthex windows were added in 1972. The 17 faceted stained-glass windows on the Wilson Street side were completed in 1973.