Organ consecration in Gröba delayed: new date not until March!

Organ consecration in Gröba delayed: new date not until March!

Riesa.An unexpected obstacle in the renovation of the historic organ in the Gröba Church! The magnificent instrument was originally supposed to be inaugurated on the 1st of Advent, but Pastor Jan Quenstedt has now delivered the sad news: “Things are progressing well, but this date cannot be kept.” The reasons are complex - cases of illness among the organ builder and massive material shortages, especially with the urgently needed, specially tanned goat leather, have disrupted the schedule. Fortunately, there were no further unpleasant surprises during the renovation work, which eased the situation somewhat.

The delay now means that the inauguration has to be postponed until March. “The organ first has to adjust to the room,” explains Quenstedt. In order to optimally prepare the instrument, the church would have to be heated over a longer period of time - a costly affair that does not seem sensible. In addition, planning the ceremony will be easier if it is moved to spring. “We were very fortunate that many institutions and individual donors followed our call,” said the priest, who would like to invite supporters to the inauguration.

Renovation costs and historical significance

The Jahn organ, a masterpiece from 1907, is an important cultural asset of the community. Since October 2023, the parish has been diligently collecting donations to finance the renovation. The estimated costs are around 160,000 euros, and according to Quenstedt there is now only a small financial gap to be closed. Anticipation for the inauguration is growing, even if the delay poses challenges for the community.