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This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

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Final recital to take place this weekend at Crystal Cathedral in Orange County on one of world largest's church organs

In this Oct. 27, 2011 file photo, the Crystal Cathedral stands in Garden Grove, Calif.
In this Oct. 27, 2011 file photo, the Crystal Cathedral stands in Garden Grove, Calif.
(
Jae C. Hong/AP
)

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Final recital to take place this weekend at Crystal Cathedral in Orange County on one of world largest's church organs

The last formal recital is tomorrow at the Crystal Cathedral in Orange County, home to one of the largest church organs in the world.

The ministry - best known for its Hour of Power TV program - is getting ready to leave its longtime campus next month.

The Hazel Wright Memorial Organ at Crystal Cathedral is so big it's actually made up of 14 smaller organs. There are more than 16,000 individual wind pipes.

"Depending on what list you look at, this will be the second largest pipe organ in a Roman Catholic Cathedral in the world,” said Msgr. Arthur Holquin, who’s overseeing the restoration of the organ for the Diocese of Orange.

The instrument is more than 30 years old and needs work, but the restoration won't be easy or cheap.

Much of the organ has to be shipped to its original manufacturer in Italy.

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"It's actually going to be restored in two places, both in Padua, Italy and here in the United States,” said Holquin.

This weekend's concert kicks off an effort to raise $2 million in restoration funds.

Internationally acclaimed organist Hector Olivera will perform.

Meanwhile, the financially-troubled  Crystal Cathedral Ministry is moving to a decidedly more modest church in Garden Grove. It will be called  "Shepherd's Grove."

The ministry sold its iconic glass-paned cathedral to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange more than a year ago through a bankruptcy proceeding.

You can see a video of the organ from last year below.

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