In the early 1970’s the parish expressed an interest in acquiring a pipe organ. A generous gift toward a new organ was given by Father John and Martha Salberg before their departure from St. Stephen’s in 1972. With this donation Martin Hill, a musician and active parishioner, was given the task of writing a contract to hire John Chrastina to rebuild an organ for St. Stephen’s. John knew of an organ in storage and was willing to donate his labor in order to provide the church with a pipe organ. John was originally a cabinet maker in Czechoslovakia and he came to the United States in 1921. He became involved in the manufacture, installation, rebuilding and repair of many major organs in the United States and worked for Morel Organ Company in Denver. He accepted the contract on September 12, 1972 to build a pipe organ for St. Stephen’s.

Working closely with Martin Hill, John built a new console. Then using ranks from various sources he re-manufactured the worn parts and assembled the organ in the rear of the sanctuary. The pipes were contained in a large box that protruded from the rear wall above the center aisle supported by two columns. The “Chrastina” organ was installed in 1975 and the dedicatory recital was given by St. Stephen’s organist, Denise Lanning, on November 30, 1975.

In 2001, as a result of a building project that expanded the sanctuary, it was decided to increase the size of the organ and relocate it to the front of the church in the remodeled area. A team of specialists from Morel and Associates disassembled the “Chrastina” organ and placed it in storage awaiting completion of the building addition. While the “Chrastina” organ was being rebuilt Morel loaned the church a four-rank 1952 Möller organ. The Möller organ proved well-suited for the newly remodeled space and it was decided to incorporate the Möller organ into the final organ. The console was updated to add a Multi-Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) donated by the Bill Dominguez family, a sequencer (allowing the organ to record and play back), and solid state combination action with 32 memory levels. Also added to the console were the controls for the Zimbelstern from Germany donated by the Dick Fitzgerald family, and the carillon for the newly constructed bell tower, also given by the Dominguez family.

The “Christina-Morel” organ is one of only a few pipe organs in the city of Aurora. It is one of the most versatile small organs in the entire Denver area.

 1.  16’ Bourdon

(Rank #3)

23.  8’ Principal

(Rank #2)

41.   16’ Subbass

(Rank #3)

All pipes enclosed under Swell box except for

42.   16’ Violone

(Rank #4 & 9)

    the Great Principal

43.   8’ Principal

(Rank #1)

Zimbelstern from Germany

44.   8’ Bourdon

(Rank #3)

Solid State Combination Action

45.   8’ Gemshorn

(Rank #4)

32 Levels of Memory

46.   5 1/3’ Quinte

(Rank #9)

11 General Pistons   (all manual)

47.   4’ Octave

(Rank #1)

5 MIDI Pistons

48.   4’ Rohr Bourdon

(Rank #3)

Toe studs:

49.   4’ Gemshorn

(Rank #4)

50.   2 2/3’ Twelfth

(Rank #9)

51.   2’ Principal

(Rank #1)

52.   8’ Trumpet

(Rank #7)

53.   4’ Clarion

(Rank #7)

MIDI is incomplete until a sound module is

purchased