Grace Baptist Church's sanctuary houses the only remaining theatre pipe organ from San Jose’s silent movie era. The 100-year old Liberty Theatre Pipe Organ was originally the centerpiece of the Liberty Theatre, one of the first major movie theatres built in San Jose. During the 1920s, the organ provided the sound for silent movies and accompanied community singing.

 

Following the arrival of talking pictures, the Liberty Theatre Pipe Organ fell into disuse. In 1941, it was sold to Grace Baptist Church. The architects for Grace’s new building, Binder & Curtis, were uniquely qualified to design the proper environment for the organ to sound as it had in the theatre. They were the same architects that designed the Liberty Theatre over 20 years before.

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The Liberty Theatre pipe organ is listed by the American Theatre Organ Society as one of the few remaining antique theatre pipe organs in the world that still play regularly in a public venue. It’s been beautifully preserved and maintained within the walls of the church. It’s regularly played for concerts, silent movies accompaniment, open consoles, and church services.

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The sanctuary has been structurally and acoustically designed for this historic pipe organ.  There is concern that if the sanctuary is demolished, the organ will be damaged or abandoned.  Please help save the sanctuary and this historic relic.