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Saint Paul's Episcopal Church

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Estey Pipe Organ

History

About 1906 or 1907 a new, two manual Estey pipe organ with 7 stops, 4 couples, and 1 tremolo attachment was provided by Mr. W. D. Mount who obtained donations where possible and then covered the necessary balance himself. The cost was $1,100. Originally the pipe organ was powered by a large bellows, manually operated by a boy or a man. In 1910 a water motor was installed to eliminate the manual work. In 1947 an electric motor with blower replaced the water version. At this time a good-sized basement was excavated under the church to serve as a parish room and to accommodate a new automatic, oil-fired warm air furnace, with ducts to provide uniform heat and/or ventiliation to all parts of the church and basement.

Electric lights were installed on March 18, 1912. In 1916 a vicarage was built on land deeded by the Mathieson Alkali Works to the church. Since there is no resident priest, the vicarage is now rented.

On Easter Sunday, March 28, 1948 the two 3-branch candelabra were dedicated in memory of Mr. William D. Mount, one of the original trustees of St. Paul's. The lectern Bible was dedicated in memory of Lillian Dyer Watson on Easter, April 13, 1952. In 1988 the stained glass windows were restored as a memorial to Elsie Morris Stuart, Katherine Nelson Rapp, and Mr. Andrew N. Hawley.

Rectors of St. Paul's have been Messrs. J. J. Lloyd, C. C. Smith, J. S. Alfriend, E. R. Carter, R. E. Boykin, M. B. Marshall, W. H. Pettus, W. T. Elmer, T. F. Opie, W. R. Noe, J. R. Matthews, E. C. Burns, H. C. Fox, A. W. Taylor, J. S. Welliford, Edgar T. Ferrell, Joseph A. Dunaway, C. Lloyd Lipscomb, Arthur H. Brown, Charles H. Mencer, Charles A. Bledsoe, and William R. Pickels.

Six bishops of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia have served St. Paul's: A. M. Randolph, B. D. Tucker, R. C. Jett, H. D. Phillips, William H. Marmion, and Heath A. Light.

*Most of the foregoing data was obtained from historical notes by Mrs. J. F. Watson, A History of Saltville by Mr. William B. Kent, and church records.