An instrument steeped in history.

That was one of the highlights of a recital at Saint Michael Lutheran Church Jan. 14, as the congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America hosted a recital marking the 200th anniversary of the Lutheran Church’s S.C. Synod.

The instrument was the church’s circa-1865 E. & G.G. Hook pipe organ, and the musicians featured included Karen Shevenell, who served vocal soloist.

Clergy and lay worshippers gathered at the church near Irmo to celebrate the bicentennial of the founding of the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The program also featured remarks by Pastor Frank W. Anderson and a casual reception with snacks in the fellowship hall. 

“Pastor Frank W. Anderson spearheaded the acquisition of the historic pipe organ upon the closure of another church,” a release about the concert states. “This instrument has significant historical value and has been meticulously maintained for over 150 years, boasting a colorful and multi-denominational journey to the Dutch Fork community. Saint Michael celebrated its own bicentennial in 2014, noting that the first Lutheran ecclesiastical meeting held in the state of South Carolina took place at Saint Michael on April 30, 1816. The South Carolina Synod was founded at Saint Michael on January 14, 1824, making the concert on the exact date, two hundred years later, of very special significance.”