Discovery-workshop of the St-James organs

The guided tour of the grand organ at St-James United Church offers an immersive experience into Montreal’s history, music, and heritage. Taking place on Saturday, September 12, at St. James United Church, a National Historic Site of Canada, the tour will provide an opportunity to discover one of the most remarkable instruments in Canada’s organ heritage. The doors will open at 1:30 p.m., and the tour will begin at 2 p.m., led by Dr. Alexandra Fol, CTh, Music Director and Principal Organist since 2021.

Originally from Bulgaria and based in Montreal since 2004, Alexandra Fol is an organist, composer, and researcher. As coordinator of the “Sacred Music at St-James” project, she contributes to promoting contemporary composers for liturgy and organ. She is also a regional coordinator for United Music, a board member of LAUDEM, and a certified composer with the Canadian Music Centre. Her works have been performed in Europe, North America, and Asia.

The tour will explore the secrets of St. James’s grand organ, whose origins date back to 1888. Built by the Montreal firm Edward D. Wadsworth & Bros. and installed in 1889 at the front of the sanctuary, its location was unusual in Montreal Protestant churches. From the outset, the instrument stood out for its bold design: three keyboards, a hydraulic system powered by a hand pump, a complex mechanical action, and several technical innovations that were rare for the time.

*This event is part of the official programming of the Journées du patrimoine religieux 2026.