In 1909, the rapidly growing congregation of Grand Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church elected to build a new church and sanctuary. Completed in 1912, the Greek Revival design became known as Grand Avenue Temple. Inherent in the church’s design was a magnificent fifty-five rank pipe organ designed and built by  E.M. Skinner, a master organ builder from Boston.  The organ was installed by Mr. Skinner as a gift to the congregation from Henry Schoellhoph and his son, Henry Schoellhopf, Jr. of Chicago.   The gift was a memorial to Christian Edward Schoellhopf, a former member of the Grand Avenue congregation (1901-1906).  The original cost of the organ was $50,000.   It is the only presently existing unaltered example of Skinner's.   The church sanctuary and the pipe organ have never been altered from their original designs.  The organ and the Grand Avenue Temple building are both on the National Historic Registry.

The organ, Opus 190, spans the entire seventy-foot wall in the front of the sanctuary. The auditorium and the instrument come together to amplify and direct sounds produced by its 3500 pipes. The Opus 190 is an excellent example of the romantic sounds’ popular at the turn of the 20th century. This organ can shake the rafters and rattle the windows, or gently tickle your ear with the soft and sweet sounds of a piccolo, concert flute, or clarinet.

Opus 190 is truly a rare and exotic antique... and also a living testament to the tonal philosophies of an American organ-building legend.  In 1948, Ernest M. Skinner, at age 83, returned to Grand Avenue Temple.  He replaced the Swell division Claribel Flute with a fine two-rank Flute Celestes.  Minor additions were made under Mr. Skinner's suggestion: two ranks to the Great division, 4 mutations to the Choir division, and one mixture to the Pedal division.  Mr. Skinner urged the congregation to never let anyone remove or change his instrument.

The organ's longevity is due in great part to the service and restorative repairs performed since 1971 by Mr. Michael Quimby of Warrensburg, Missouri.  All original console parts of Opus 190 have been painstakingly restored according to the 1912 specifications and designs by Michael Quimby and his associate, Mr. Eric Johnson.  The Grand Avenue Temple organ is the oldest surviving 4-manuel Skinner organ which has not been mechanically or tonally modified by anyone other than Mr. Skinner himself.

Frederick Hohman Plays Vintage Repertoire on the Oldest Original and Intact 4-Manual Ernest M. Skinner Pipe Organ was recorded on September 12, 1995 after restorative repairs were completed by Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc. of Warrensburg, Missouri.   Mr. Hohman is active as a touring organ virtuoso and also a producer of classical music recordings for Pro Organo, a label which he founded in 1984.  His original organ compositions and organ transcriptions are published by Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc.

List of House and Guest Organists at Grand Avenue Temple from 1912-present

Edward Kreiser House organist for and after the 1912 dedication.

Powell WeaverHouse Organist from 1912-1937.  A world renowned composer, teacher, and world class organist.  He wrote several famous compositions on Opus 190.   Although excellent as an organist and writer, he never attained the level of notoriety, or the stature that Marcel Dupre and Jean Langlais.  He did not produce the large number of compositions, nor was he head of such prestigious churches or universities, which is perhaps why.

Charles Heinroth Temporary organist 1915-1916.  Organist at the Carnegy Institute of Music.

Marcel DupreTemporary organist several times possibly in the early thirties.   A world class organist and teacher. if he were a pianist, he would be mentioned in the same breath with the names of Mozart, Chopin, and Beethoven.  This could also be said of Jean Langlais.

Virgil FoxGuest organist many times around 1940.  World class composer, teacher, organist, and recording artist.  He had an unusual style that was his own.   The Virgil Fox Society provides ongoing funding for student organists with the Virgil Fox Memorial Scholarship.

Fernando Germand Guest organist several occasions 1954 and 1957.  He was organist for the Pope at Saint Peters Basilica in Rome Italy.

J. Max KruwelHouse organist around 1954.  He was Assistant Pastor and Minister of Music under Pastor Bohi.

Jean LanglaisGuest organist 1956. World class organist, teacher and composer.   The head of the music department  of the Basilica of Saint Clotilde in Paris France.  Organist at Notre Dame Cathedral in France.  Possibly the greatest organist in the world at that time.  He wrote perhaps more fine organ compositions than anyone in the world except J.S. Bach.  He was totally blind since a young child.

Kenneth R. Fletcher House organist from 1960-?1990. Very popular organist.   He performed many of his own compositions.

Dale Rider Guest organist 1969.  Student at Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa.

Jon Spong Temporary organist 1967.  Faculty member of the Conservatory of Music in Kansas City, Missouri.

J.W. Coffman Temporary organist 1969-1970.  Head of the Music and Arts Department at the Kansas City Missouri Main Library.

Earleine Moulder Guest organist 1977.  Organ Division Chair at Drury College.

Kathleen Thomerson Guest organist 1984.  Professor of Music at the Saint Louis Conservatory and also Professor of Organ at Southern Illinois University.

Wilhelm Middleschulte Guest organist 1984.  Organist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. William E. McCandless Guest organist 1984.  Professor of Music at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Missouri.

John Ditto Guest or temporary organist around 1986.  Professor of Music at the Conservatory of Music, Kansas City, Missouri.

Don Crawley Head of Music Ministries including the choir during the 1990's.   excellent organist, great pianist, and good singing voice.  Acted as Moderator of Ceremonies for Brown Bag Concerts.  Was Program Director of WDAF Radio and had program on KXTR radio.

Frederick Hohman Guest organist on several occasions around 1995.   Nationally known organist and recording artist.  He is the organist of Frederick Hohman Plays Vintage Repertoire on the Oldest Original and Intact 4-Manual Ernest M. Skinner Organ, recorded September 12, 1995.

Kyle Johnson Head of Music Ministries and Choir Director 1998-1999.   concert class organist, pianist, teacher, and Professor of Music at Northwestern Missouri University.  He frequently wrote compositions on Opus 190 and introduced them during Sunday services as Preludes or Postludes.

Greg Stoskopf Organist 1999-2000.

Steve Green 2001

Other organists                        Tom Hilton and Barry Cates.