Paul R. Marchesano on June 16th, 2023:
The [Karn-Warren] organ in St. Andrew’s Church, Quebec was donated to the church in 1900 by Mr. John Breakey and placed in the former Governor’s gallery, facing the pulpit. It was the first instrument to be installed in the building, since the introduction of organs into Presbyterian Churches [was not officially allowed until the first General Assembly of the united Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1875 sanctioned their use in congregations which had approved of them]. . . .
The organ as it stands today reflects three strata of organbuilding endeavour. The case is original – visually the instrument has remained unchanged since 1900 – and is made of oak, with façade pipes coloured and stencilled to blend in with the decoration of the building. In 1914, the organ was provided with an electric blower, and in 1934 the organ was rebuilt by Casavant Frères, the leading Canadian organbuilding firm. In 1971, the organ was once again rebuilt, this time by the British organbuilding firm of Hill, Norman and Beard.
Source: [cd recording] St. Andrew’s Church, Québec [City], Québec / Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse [organist]. Recorded in 1999.