Sainte Marie Church was built in the 1890s to replace a wooden chapel lost in a fire and to serve the French Catholics on the West Side of Manchester, New Hampshire. The final enhancement to the new building was the installation of its magnificent organ in 1899 by the Boston firm of Woodberry & Cole. One of their larger instruments, originally costing $15,000, this organ features forty-six ranks of pipes divided into two sections: forty ranks in the main gallery and six ranks in the north transept. This was likely designed to imitate the French cathedrals, notably Notre-Dame de Paris, in their ability to separately make use of the Grande Orgue (grand organ) and the Orgue de Choeur (choir organ). Both pipe organs at Ste. Marie can be operated at the main console, or independently as self-contained instruments.

By the 1990s, having reached the 100th anniversary of its installation, the Woodberry & Cole organ at Ste. Marie was in severe decline as critical components within the organ were failing. It was left almost unplayable. Through the efforts of Father Marc Montminy and his restoration committee, the organ was partially releathered and the wind chests were repaired, allowing for its continued operation today. While the organ has been well tended, it is now in need of its centennial restoration, in which all pipework, wind chests, and mechanics are restored to full function. Such a vital intervention will ensure that this historic instrument can continue to serve its church and the Manchester community for many years to come.