Pipe organ slated for demolition finds new life in China

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – An 800-pipe organ that was spared during the demolition of a New Hampshire church has been shipped to China, where it’s serving as a bridge between two countries.

The organ was a fixture at St. James Church in Portsmouth for years before the church was demolished in May. The Portsmouth Herald reports a doctoral candidate at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China arranged for the organ’s dismantling and shipment from Portsmouth to China.

A university spokesman says the doctoral candidate, Justin Berg, now plays the organ at concerts and he’s offering free lessons to students.

The university spokesman says the organ’s the only one in the Chinese city of Ningbo, which is a city of more than 3 million people. Berg found out about the organ in an online ad.