The people of the Cathedral are blessed with a church organ of superb expressiveness and carillon bells in the tower that ring out to the city.
Mark A. Babcock, Cathedral Organist
Choral and instrumental music is central to our worship of God at the cathedral. Cathedral Organist Mark A. Babcock plays the 8 and 10am services with special emphasis on robust congregational singing (at the 10am service) and a varied menu of organ repertoire from Baroque to modern.
68-rank Casavant Organ, op. 3719
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- Built by Casavant Freres, Ltd. of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
- The main organ and chancel installed in 1993
- The antiphonal division and trumpets were added In 1997
- In 2008, the 32-foot Contre Violon was added
There are 3,916 pipes, and the biggest weighs 550 pounds. It is one of the largest pipe organs in the state.
Carl Gravander, Cathedral Carillonneur
Windsor Memorial Carillon
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St. Paul’s carillon is one of only three in Iowa. By definition, a carillon must have a minimum of 22 bells; St. Paul’s has 25.
- The 12 original bells were cast in 1896 by the McShane Foundry, Baltimore.
- Three additional bells were installed in 1989, and 10 more in 1991.
These last 13 bells and the rebuild of the bell tower were a gift from the Windsor family, hence, the Windsor Memorial Carillon.
