St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, Rockwood/Gresham, has a remarkable new instrumentarium under the leadership of Organist-Choirmaster Joseph Z. Pettit. Pettit came to St. Aidan's at the beginning of 2022, and together with then-rector Mother Esme Culver and Senior Warden Rachel Hayashi dreamed of a new model for musical life in the parish, beginning with a better organ and a piano. The parish's 1960 3-rank Möller Artiste organ was extremely limited, and the sanctuary had never housed a piano since it was built in 1960.
In September of 2022, the parish acquired the organ from the now defunct Laurelhurst Presbyterian Church in Portland. It is a 1960 7-rank instrument by Schlicker, significantly revoiced in 1976 by Manuel Rosales. The organ is small but colorful and flexible, ideal for leading worship, as well as a delightful concert and chamber instrument.
The Möller Artiste remains hidden in its corner, waiting until resources are available to incorporate it into the new instrument. It will be revised as a Nazard, Tierce, and unison string stop to complement the existing Schlicker/Rosales specification.
In September of 2023, St. Aidan's received the glorious gift of an 1875 Chickering square grand piano. This ornate instrument was restored by Joseph A. Garrett in 1983 and speaks as beautifully as it did a century and a half ago. This unusual instrument by one of America's premier 19th century builders is the first piano ever to sound in St. Aidan's.
Following an appeal to the congregation in 2024, funds were quickly raised for a four-octave set of Suzuki ToneChimes. Due to storage limitations and intended bell use, it was deemed wiser to forego expensive English handbells and their bulky equipment and move forward with the easy-to-maintain ToneChimes, ideal for liturgical use and for St. Aidan’s smaller building.
Also available for use at the church are instruments from Pettit's own collection:
Flemish double harpsichord, 3 ranks (8-8-4), Zuckermann by Floyd Cammack, Honolulu, 1986; refurbished by David Calhoun, Seattle, 2018.
Virginal, single rank, Zuckermann by David Calhoun, Seattle, ca. 1975, refurbished 2025.
Melodeon, 2 treble ranks, 2 bass ranks, Gulbransen, Chicago, ca. 1925.
Organ Scholar Michael Lasfetto also keeps his harpsichord at St. Aidan’s. It is a single manual, 2 rank (8-4), Burton built by McClendon Steed, Fitzgerald, Georgia, 1972; refurbished by David Calhoun, Seattle, 2025.
Pettit and Lasfetto both have early 20th century portable field/chaplain organs, used for unplugged outdoor events.
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St. Aidan's, with its bright, present acoustic, and its newly available collection of fascinating instruments, is the Eastside's destination for solo recitals, chamber music, and smaller ensemble concerts with historical and historically informed instruments. We welcome the greater Portland musical community to bring their programs to our church.
Please contact the parish office at 503-252-6128 or Organist-Choirmaster Joseph Pettit at 253-583-4695 to visit the instruments or book our facilities.