Clinton Avenue Congregational Church - Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Brooklyn Eagle, 1923 - Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection)
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Cadman Memorial Church
(Congregational)

350 Clinton Avenue, corner Lafayette Avenue
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11238


Organ Specifications:
Present building (since 1923)
► III/31 M.P. Moller, Inc., Op. 3579 (1923)
First building (1855-1923)
► III/39 Hilborne L. Roosevelt, Op. 293 (1885)
• III/22 E. & G.G. Hook, Op. 197 (1856)


Clinton Avenue Congregational Church - Brooklyn, N.Y. (1890 artist's rendering)  
Clinton Avenue Congregational (1890)  
The Cadman Memorial Church was formed in 1942 with the merger of the Clinton Avenue Community Church and Central Congregational Church. Located in the Clinton Hill area of Brooklyn, the present edifice was built in 1922-23 for the Clinton Avenue Congregational Church.

Organized in 1848, the Congregational society held services in a meeting house, but within a few years had outgrown the facilities. A new church, costing about $80,000, was designed in the Romanesque style with "suggestions here and there of the gothic," and was opened for services on December 10, 1855. The church was radically altered in 1890 to designs by John R. Hinchman, who provided amphitheatre-style curved pews and galleries, and new facades on both avenues.

In 1935, during the Depression years, the society was joined by members of the Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church, and the federated church was renamed Clinton Avenue Community Church. In 1942, the federated society merged with Central Congregational Church, of 25 Hancock Street, and became the Cadman Memorial Church, in honor of Dr. S. Parkes Cadman, longtime pastor of Central Congregational Church.
               
  Clinton Avenue Congregational Church - Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Brooklyn Eagle, 1923 - Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection)
 
Interior, ca.1940
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 3579 (1923)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 42 stops, 31 ranks






The organ in the present church building was built in 1923 by M.P. Möller, of Hagerstown, Md. This description appeared in the February 1923 issue of The Diapason:
"The Clinton Avenue Congregational Church of Brookyn, N.Y., is to have a new three-manual organ, the contract for which has been awarded to M. P. Moller. Walter Wild, FRCO, is the organist of the church and looks forward to the completion of the instrument.

"The old church, which was built sixty years ago [c.1863], was torn down last summer, the last service being held there in March, 1922. The new church is expected to be dedicated Easter Sunday of this year.

"The organ specifications were drawn up by R. Huntington Woodman and Mr. Wild. Everything looks favorable, with a fine new church, an excellent organ chamber having two arches, one opening into the chancel, 22 feet high, and a smaller one opening into the church proper."
In 2006, the organ was found to be extant.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes (7" wind pressure)
8
  Open Diapason
73
4
  Harmonic Flute
73
8
  Small Open Diapason
73
16
   Tuba Profunda (10" wind)
73
8
  Major Flute
73
8
  Tuba [ext.]
12
8
   Gamba
73
     Tremulant  
8
   Gemshorn
73
    
Chimes
20 notes
4
   Octave
73
        
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (7" wind pressure)
16
  Bourdon
73
4
  Violina [ext. Sal.]
12
8
  Open Diapason
73
  Dulciana Mixture III ranks
73
8
  Stopped Diapason
73
16
  Double Oboe
73
8
  Viole d'Orchestre
73
8
  Cornopean
73
8
  Viole Celeste
73
8
   Oboe [ext.]
12
8
   Quintadena
73
8
   Vox Humana *
73
8
   Echo Salicional
73
     Tremulant  
4
   Flauto Traverso
73
    
* enc. in separate box
 
     
 
     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (7" wind pressure)
8
  Geigen Principal
73
4
   Celestina [ext. Dulciana]
12
8
   Melodia
73
2
   Harmonic Piccolo
73
8
   Dulciana
73
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Flute Celeste
73
     Tremulant  
4
   Flute d'Amour
73
8
   Tuba
GT
 
     
 
     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Resultant Bass
—
8
   Bass Flute [ext.]
12
16
   Open Diapason
32
8
   Dolce Flute
SW
16
   Bourdon
32
8
   Cello (GT Gamba)
GT
16
   Dolce Bourdon
SW
16
   Tuba Profunda
GT
8
   Octave [ext.]
12
16
   Double Oboe
SW
               
Hilborne L. Roosevelt
New York City – Opus 293 (1885)
Tubular-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 34 stops, 39 ranks


In 1885, Hilborne L. Roosevelt of New York City built a new organ for the Clinton Avenue church, installing it in the gallery opposite the pulpit. The imposing organ case, which was grained to imitate oak, included many decorated front pipes arranged in symmetrical towers and flats, and measured 23' 3" wide, 11' 4" deep and 28' high. Attached to the center front of the case were the three overhanging keyboards, projecting sufficiently to allow the organist to properly hear the instrument. Roosevelt retained and overhauled the Choir windchest "and some of its sweetest toned pipes" from the previous E. & G.G. Hook organ, and provided an independent swell-box for that division. The bellows feeders were powered by a "Jaques Improved Hydraulic Engine" situated in the basement.

The Inaugural Recital of this organ took place on Wednesday evening, December 9, 1885. Performing were organists Samuel P. Warren (Grace Church, NYC), Henry Eyre Browne (Brooklyn Tabernacle), Harry Rowe Shelley (Plymouth Church, Brooklyn), and Frank Taft, organist of the church.

Following are the specifications published in the Inaugural Recital programme. The specifications were also recorded by F.R. Webber (1887-1963), whose "Organ Scrapbooks" are in the possession of The Organ Historical Society Archives in Princeton, N.J.

When the new church was built in 1923, this Roosevelt organ was moved to St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Long Island City, by the M.P. Möller Company as their Op. 3596 (1923).
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, partially enclosed
16
   Double Open Diapason
58
4
   Flute Harmonique
58
8
  Open Diapason
58
2 2/3
   Octave Quint *
58
8
  Viola di Gamba
58
2
   Super Octave *
58
8
   Doppel Flöte
58
  Mixture, 3 and 4 ranks *
196
4
   Octave
58
8
   Trumpet *
58
   
   
* enclosed in Choir box
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed
16
  Bourdon
58
4
  Octave
58
8
  Open Diapason
58
4
  Hohl Flöte
58
8
  Salicional
58
  Cornet, 3 ranks
174
8
  Dolce
58
8
  Cornopean
58
8
  Vox Celeste
58
8
   Oboe
58
8
   Stopped Diapason
58
8
   Vox Humana
58
 
     
 
     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
  Open Diapason
58
4
   Gemshorn
58
8
   Keraulophon
58
4
   Flute d'Amour
58
8
   Dulciana
58
2
   Piccolo Harmonique
58
8
   Melodia
58
8
   Clarinet
58
 
     
 
     
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Open Diapason
30
16
   Bourdon
30
16
   Gamba
30
8
   Violoncello
30
               
Couplers ("On" and "Off" thumb pistons under manual affected)
    Swell to Great       Swell to Pedal  
    Swell to Great Octaves       Great to Pedal  
    Choir to Great       Choir to Pedal  
    Swell to Choir          
               
Mechanical Accessories
    Swell Tremulant   Eclipse Wind Indicator
    Bellows Signal   Hydraulic Engine Starter
               
Pedal Movements
    Two adjustable combination pedals, affecting (but not moving) Great stops  
    Two adjustable combination pedals, affecting (but not moving) Swell and Pedal stops
    Great to Pedal Reversible Coupler      
    Balanced Swell Pedal      
    Balanced Choir Pedal      
               
E. & G.G. Hook
Boston, Mass. – Opus 197 (1856)
Mechanical action
3 manuals, 28 registers


The original organ for the Clinton Avenue Congregational Church was built in 1856 by the E. & G. G. Hook Company of Boston. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
               
Sources:
     "Altered and Enlarged: Clinton Avenue Congregational Edifice Radically Changed," The Brooklyn Eagle (Nov. 16, 1890).
     "Churches Propose Cadman Memorial," The New York Times (Nov. 9, 1942).
     The Diapason (Feb. 1923). Stoplist of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 3579 (1923). Courtesy Jeff Scofield.
     Inaugural Recital programme (Dec. 9, 1885) of Hilborne L. Roosevelt organ, Op. 293 (1885). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     The Keraulophon (Sep. 1978), pub. by New York City Chapter of Organ Historical Society. Specifications of Hilborne L. Roosevelt Organ, Op. 293 (1885). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Van Pelt, William T., comp. The Hook Opus List, 1829-1916 in Facsimile. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1991.
     Webber, F.R. "Organ scrapbook" at Organ Historical Society Archives, Princeton, N.J. Specifications of Roosevelt organ, Op. 293 (1885). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.

Photos:
     Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection. Brooklyn Eagle. Exterior and interior.