SINT LAMBERTUSKERK in BEERS

HISTORY

of the

SMITS ORGAN

In about 1800 the old church of Beers was returned to the catholics and could be restored between 1820 and 1830. The Organ builder F.C. Smits from Reek got the assignment to build an organ. In April 1854 he developed a plan for a two manual instrument with attached pedal. Easter 1855 the organ was inaugurated. Until 1890 it remained unchanged.

Due to the building of a new church (1890 - 1891) the organ was taken down by J. van Kesteren from Gennip. Only after 5 years it was decided to return the organ to the new church.

March 16, 1896 F.C. Smits (II) replaces the organ under the tower arch. Until 1928 maintenance was carried out by Smits. After the death of F.C. Smits (III) in 1928 maintenance of the organ went to G.P. Bik from Boxmeer. In 1943 a restoration was carried out which damaged the organ considerably. In 1960 Verschueren from Heythuysen took over the maintenance of the organ and carried out major repairs in 1961. Then in 1987 the organ was restored by Verschueren to its original concept of 1854, including a complete second manual, using Smits pipes from 1836 from the organ in Dungen.

Participants in the restoration (1987 - 1988)

Organ: Verschueren Orgelbouw b.v., Heythuysen
Architect: Walter Kramer, Amersfoort
Balcony: Smits' Metalen Ramen, Beers
Woodworks.: Nico de Bont, Nieuwkuijk
Painting: Bert Jonker, Zwolle
Artwork: G. de Wit, Waddinxveen
Electricity : P. Linsen, Beers

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