The St. Anthony Society for the Preservation of Sacred Music and Art has taken on the task of acquiring for St. Anthony Church, a beautiful 1930 Skinner Pipe Organ. This historic treasure and the beautiful historic St. Anthony Church will complement each other well. The unrivaled quality of E. M. Skinner pipe organs is well recognized throughout the “pipe organ world” and the acoustic perfection achieved within the Church’s sanctuary is equally well established making this a perfect union.

Ernest M. Skinner was a constant tinkerer, focused on continuous improvement of his pipe organs. His obsession with excellence resulted in many of the significant pipe organs of the 1920's and 30's including huge organs at Woolsley Hall, Yale University; the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City; the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.; and Rockefeller Chapel, University of Chicago. Skinner frequently invested more in his organs than the contract called for. Thus, he produced magnificent instruments, but died a pauper living over someone's garage.

The mission of the St. Anthony’s Society for the Preservation of Sacred Music and Art is to acquire, preserve, enhance and encourage all forms of sacred music and art for St. Anthony Church. It has become abundantly clear that the arts, especially sacred music and art, are a low priority when establishing annual budgets and suffer substantially in economic downturns. As the history of the Catholic Church has been imbued with sacred music and art, the Society wishes to proactively assure that this rich tradition is protected for its parish. The Society will therefore endeavor to raise funds to identify and procure religious art and artifacts of value for St. Anthony Church that might otherwise fall into disuse, disrepair, or be discarded due to insufficient funding. Funds raised by the Society will also be used to supplement the maintenance of its sacred treasure trove (e.g., stained glass windows, statues, etc.) in the best condition possible.
Dorothy Holden, The Life and Work of Ernest M. Skinner, 1985, Organ Historical Society.

Kick-Off Dinner Fundraiser
(click here for recap and photos)

Why the E.M. Skinner Project?
(please click here)

For More Information on how you can help,
Call Anne Scherer 954-761-1000

© 2009 Saint Anthony Catholic Church,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida