Growing up in Tabernacle United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach, Jim Hill knows church music. Pressed into service at a very young age, Hill served as the church's organist and recalled many hot summer days before the introduction of air conditioning.
"I played the old Hammond spinet with one hand and swatted wasps with the other."
After years of playing and selling organs, Hill has donated a two-manual Allen organ, valued at nearly $50,000.
With a modern draw-knob console and full pedalboard configured to American Organist Guild standards, the instrument will allow students to take organ lessons on campus, provide a practice instrument, support the college's choral program and enhance the work of VWC's Center for Sacred Music.
"There's such a shortage of organists, and so few are training for it now," Hill said. "It's really having an effect on churches, and since I've been a Methodist all my life, I thought the best place to start helping the situation was at my local Methodist college."
"We've been overwhelmed by Jim's generosity," said Sandra Billy, director of the college's Center for Sacred Music. "The college desperately needed something like this, not only for organ students, but so those studying to be directors can develop an understanding of the organ, what it can and can't do and the benefits it has as a worship service instrument."
Billy said that the college previously had arrangements with local churches so organ students could practice. While the churches were generous with their space, occasionally their time was interrupted, and often students had transportation difficulties.
"Jim has done a wonderful thing that will help us throughout the school year and during our annual Sacred Music Summer Conferences."