In 1864, a disastrous fire destroyed the church building and organ of the South Parish Congregational Church. The new building which the congregation dedicated in 1866 was built from stone rather than wood and a new organ was purchased at the same time from the preeminent organbuilding firm of E. & G.G. Hook in Boston, Massachusetts. The organ, which was Hook's Opus #389, was dedicated at the same time. J.H. Wilcox, an employee of the Hook firm and later a prominent builder in his own right, regulated and tuned the organ. He also played the dedication recital on June 22, 1866.
The organ remained unchanged until the turn of the century when H.C. Harrison of Portland, Maine removed the Great 2 2/3' Twelfth and moved the Swell Clarinet to its place on the Great. He also placed a Salicional and an Aeoline in the Oboe/Bassoon and Violina spot respectively. In addition he installed a Voix Celeste in the former Clarinet spot. Some of the Great stops were softened.
The Andover Organ Company restored the instrument as their Opus #R-226 in 1982 and restored the Clarinet to the Swell, installed a 2 2/3' Twelfth from E.&G.G. Hook & Hastings Opus 831 on the Great; removed the Salicional, Aeoline and Voix Celeste from the Swell and installed a Violina from E.&G.G. Hook, Opus 470 and an Oboe/Bassoon from E.&G.G. Hook Opus 371. All pipes which had to be replaced were originally built by the hook firm and all original voicing was carefully restored as was the action and windchests. The organ was returned to its original pitch. The work was under the direction of Robert C. Newton, Vice President of the Old Organ Department.
Great:
16' Bourdon
8' Open Diapason
8' Dulciana
8' Viol da Gamba
8' Melodia
4' Octave
4' Flute Harmonique
22⁄3' Twelfth
2 Fifteenth
IV Mixture
8' Trumpet
Swell:
8' Open Diapason
8' Keraulophon
8' Stop Diapason
4' Violina
4' Flute Harmonique
2' Picolo
8' Clarinet
8' Oboe
8' Bassoon
Pedal:
16' Open Diapason
16' Bourdon
8' Violoncello
