The King of Instruments in Eugene

Its physical stature is imposing, and its sonic beauty is a sound to behold.

The John Brombaugh-built pipe organ at Eugene’s Central Lutheran Church can dazzle with the whimsical (think bird-like sounds) and move a congregant to deep introspection with its throaty bass pipes. Since its dedication at a Vespers service in 1976, it has accompanied Sunday morning processions, given support for the hymn of the day and captured the attention of many with its capabilities during the end-of-service voluntary, music performed freely, without strict liturgical guidelines. It has also helped marry couples and helped soothe the hurt at memorial services.

And you don’t have to be a congregant to get to know this magnificent instrument. Outside of church services in recent years, it has been featured in the Oregon Bach Festival and other concerts and recitals. If you are simply walking past the church at 18th and Potter at a given moment, you can hear either Andrew ElRay Stewart-Cook, the lead organist, or Lindsey Henriksen Rogers, the associate organist, hard at work rehearsing. The sound carries above foot and vehicle traffic and makes you pause.

Central Lutheran signed a contract with John Brombaugh and Associates of Germantown, Ohio, in 1972. Upon completion four years later, the organ had three keyboards, 38 stops, the part of a pipe organ that allows pressurized air to flow to a set of pipes, with 2,821 pipes total. The final project cost was $120,000, but its replacement value today is estimated to be close to $2 million.

Central Lutheran Church is located at 1857 Potter Street. Information about services and when the John Brombaugh-built organ is featured in recitals and concerts is at ConnecttoCentral.org.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

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None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!