First Cumberland Presbyterian Church

Around 1875, the Cumberland Presbyterians built their $20,000 church at the corner of Oak and Lindsay. Nothing is known about early organs in the church until a John Brown organ was moved to the church from a church in Griffin GA. The move was done by Pilcher, who rebuilt the 9-rank organ and added 7 ranks to it as their Op. 1767. In 1958 the congregation sold the property to nearby First Baptist Church and moved to the Brainerd area near the intersection of North Moore and Shallowford Roads.

The first part of the impressive new facility to be built was the south wing, containing classrooms, offices and a fellowship hall, where services were held until the rest of the church plant was built. The sanctuary and north wing were completed in 1963. All of the buildings except for the sanctuary are single-story in order to give an even great sense of height to the soaring sanctuary. The height of the sanctuary from floor to ceiling is 54 feet, and the nave is over 150 long and 50 feet wide, with seating for over 1,200.

The exterior is of Tennessee Quartzite, commonly known as Crab Orchard stone. The ceiling murals were painted by 78-year old Hugh Tyler over a period of three months. The cross beams are painted an attractive gold and pale blue. The grand and beautiful look of the sanctuary has made it a favorite venue for weddings in Chattanooga.

An two-manual Allen C-3 organ was purchased when the church moved to Brainerd. It was moved into the sanctuary when it was completed, where it served until the Ruffatti was installed in 1981. The Ruffatti is installed on the front wall to each side of the tall chancel stained-glass window. The Swell and Choir-Postiiv are installed in a chamber high on the north wall of the chancel. The 23 equivalent electronic ranks are by Rodgers; the Grand Choeur, to be installed in the gallery, is prepared for. The hard ceiling and the slate floor make for an excellent acoustic.

Fratelli Ruffatti, 1981, 3/49

	GREAT			SWELL			CHOIR-POSITIV
16′	Spitzflote	1-12 elec	16′	Bourdon Doux	elec	16′	Erzahler	elec
8′	Principal		8′	Bourdon		8′	Singendgedeckt
8′	Spitzflote		8′	Viola Pomposa		8′	Flauto Mirabilis	elec
4′	Prestant		8′	Viola Celeste		8′	Gamba	elec
4′	Flute Harmonique		8′	Flute Celeste II		8′	Gamba Celeste	elec
2′	Doublette		4′	Prestant	12	8′	Erzahler	elec
IV-VI	Fourniture		4′	Flauto Veneziano	12	8′	Erzahler Celeste	elec
	Tremulant		2 2/3′	Nazard		4′	Principalino
	Sub		2′	Octavin		4′	Koppelflote
	Unison Off		1 3/5′	Tierce		2′	Blockflote
	Super		IV	Plein Jeu		1 1/3′	Larigot
	Chimes		16′	Basson	elec	III-V	Mixture
8′	Trompette-en-Chamade		8′	Trompette		8′	Trompete de Fete	elec
4′	Trompette-en-Chamade	12	8′	Hautbois	elec	8′	Cromorne	elec
			8′	Vox Humana	elec		Tremulant
	PEDAL		4′	Clairon			Sub
				Tremulant			Unison Off
32′	Open Wood	elec		Sub			Super
32′	Contre Bourdon	elec		Unison off			Chimes
16′	Open Wood	elec		Super			Harp	elec
16′	Principal		8′	Trompette-en-Chamade	GT		Celesta	elec
16′	Soubasse		4′	Clairon-en-Chamade	GT		Zimbelstern
16′	Spitzflote	GT		Antiphonal Swell ON		8′	Trompette-en-Chamade	GT
16′	Bourdon Doux	SW		Main Swell OFF		4′	Clairon-en-Chamade	GT
16′	Erzahler	CH					Antiphonal Choir ON
8′	Octave						Main Choir OFF
8′	Bourdon	12		GRAND CHOEUR
8′	Bourdon Doux	SW		(prepared for)
4′	Octave		16′	Montre
4′	Flute		8′	Principal
VI	Mixture		8′	Bourdon
32′	Contre Bombarde	elec	8′	Gemshorn
32′	Contre Basson	elec	8′	Flauto Dolce
16′	Bombarde		8′	Flute Celeste
16′	Basson	SW	4′	Octave
8′	Trompette	SW	4′	Flute Ouverte
4′	Clairon	SW	2 2/3′	Quinte
4′	Cromorne	CH	2′	Doublette
	Chimes		IV	Fourniture
8′	Trompette-en-Chamade	GT	III	Scharff
4′	Clairon-en-Chamade	GT	16′	Bombarde
	Antiphonal Pedal ON		8′	Trompette Harmonique
	Main Pedal OFF		4′	Clairon Harmonique
				Tremulant
				Sub
				Unison Off
				Super
			8′	Trompette-en-Chamade	GT
			4′	Clairon-en-Chamade	GT