Three years of toil comes to fruition this weekend when the completely rebuilt organ of St. Paul's Church in Paget bursts into sound with a special celebratory concert.

It is, says St. Paul's organist and choirmaster Adrian Ridgeway, who has designed and rebuilt it, now the largest pipe organ in Bermuda, of concert-size proportions.

It is, however, he emphasises, totally proportioned for the size of the church.

Wayne Marshall, frequent Bermuda Festival guest artist, will be returning to the Island to play in the Dedicatory Recital, a programme that will include such favourites as Widor's 6th Symphony and a selection of his own transcriptions, including the William Tell Overture.

"That,'' grins Mr. Ridgeway, "should put it through its paces!'' Wayne Marshall, one of Britain's outstanding young organists, was formerly organ scholar at St. George's Chapel, Windsor, where he played for several royal occasions, notably the christening of Princess Anne's daughter.

His career to date has included a dazzling array of engagements at international music festivals, and concerts in such venues as London's Barbican Hall, Salzburg and at the Hollywood Bowl.

He has also worked as chorus director for the Royal Opera House's recently televised production of `Porgy and Bess' where he also played the role of Jasbo Brown.

Mr. Ridgeway, who studied under the same professor as Marshall at the Royal College of Music, has been the mastermind behind the ambitious project, designing the specifications, and then meticulously rebuilding, to provide 66 racks of pipes from a real 32-foot pedal reed to complete mixture choruses.

The sound is impressive. Emphasising that the new organ can be -- and is -- used at only a fraction of the volume for regular church services, Mr.

Ridgeway says it now also boasts a new Bombarde Tromba Real, a high-pressure stop of "great power'', specifically designed for solo and ensemble work "which crowns the full organ in a thrilling way.'' The transmission system now fully computerised, along with new cabling, and power supply units, makes this the most technically advanced organ of its type in Bermuda, he says.

Manuals are of polished ebony and English beech, with the keys constructed in rosewood and ebony to withstand Bermuda's climate and, as Mr. Ridgeway explains, "so that the player's hands aren't sliding all over the place in very humid weather.'' The $40,000 project was undertaken free of charge by Mr. Ridgeway, with materials and parts supplied at a special rate by his company, the Bermuda Pipe Organ Services Company.

This, says Mr. Ridgeway, was done in memory of two previous St. Paul's rectors, Canon George Beecy and his grandfather, Rev. N.V. Ridgeway.

The massive undertaking has not been without its problems, however. Says Mr.

Ridgeway, "I have been disappointed by the lack of support from some quarters in the church. The project, which was agreed on in 1990, seems to have a certain amount of dispute, especially from those who said it was a waste of money. This is very sad, for those of us who have devoted literally thousands of hours to this project at no cost. My entire life, outside of my job, has been here! But we shan't let this ruin a wonderful occasion. I have had great support from church wardens Cecil Downs and Harold Dunstan, and for that I'm very grateful. I think the instrument will speak for itself.'' The organ was originally built in 1901 in London for the Anglican Cathedral of Bermuda, but because it was only one-third of the size required for the new large building, it was installed, instead in St. Paul's.

In 1952, a new console was added and some tonal modifications which were subsequently found to be ineffective. By 1968 it had become unplayable, so Thad Outerbridge of Boston and Bermuda undertook further work and the provision of another console.

Piecemeal repairs ever since had convinced a committee set up for the purpose in 1990, that a complete rebuild was necessary.

The Dedicatory Recital will take place at St. Paul's this Sunday, October 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets at $20 ($15 for seniors and students) are available from Opus 1 on Reid Street, or telephone 293-0354.

HITTING THE RIGHT NOTES -- Organist Adrian Ridgeway, seated at St. Paul's Church organ, which he has completely rebuilt during the past three years.

NEW ORGAN -- Another view of St. Paul's Church organ, showing the spectacular new pipes that have been installed to elevate the instrument to concert standards.