Organ

Coming in 2026—Orgues Létourneau Ltée, Opus 140

St. John’s Lutheran Church in downtown San Antonio, is thrilled to announce the commissioning of a new pipe organ by Orgues Létourneau of Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec—an international leader in organ design and craftsmanship for over 40 years. This $2 million project represents a historic investment in the sacred and musical life of our congregation and community.

Rooted in the strong musical heritage of Lutheran worship, the new organ is custom-designed for St. John’s acoustics and unlike any other in South Texas. The organ’s 2,936 pipes will be divided between both ends of the nave, providing surround-sound brilliance and dynamic versatility for worship, concerts, and educational programs. The entire organ will be playable from one of two identical 3-manual consoles, also located at either end of the space, with 56 stops and 52 ranks. The instrument will be prepared for the later addition of seven stops, which will increase the organ’s totals to 64 stops, 60 ranks, and 3,347 pipes once installed. Létourneau’s design refurbishes 27 ranks of pipework from the church’s previous Möller organs, thus preserving an extensive part of St. John’s legacy and honoring the investments of the past.

The award-winning Killis Almond Architects, which specializes in historic preservation and restoration, will oversee the restoration of original 1932 building aspects and the re-design of the gallery in preparation for the organ installation. Elevated pipe chambers in the gallery will facilitate a much-improved layout of the choir loft, adding floor space for the choir and improving overall safety and visual aesthetics in the loft. Design of the organ chambers and gallery will be made in consultation with architectural acoustician Anthony Shou of Kirkegaard South LLC to maximize the acoustical impact of the space and the new instrument.

Before and After – Click to Enlarge

With Gratitude to Our Donors – Click here to give to the Church Organ Fund! 

We thank all who have already given to support this historic endeavor as we joyfully move toward our $350,000 fundraising goal for the Pipe Organ Project. Each gift, large or small, brings us closer to hearing the magnificent Orgues Létourneau Opus 140 resound in our sanctuary at the end of 2026. Thank you for helping us build a lasting legacy of faith, beauty, and sacred music at St. John’s Lutheran Church. For more information about the project or about partnering with St. John’s Music Series for events once the organ is installed, contact the church at [email protected].