University Church of Fordham University - Bronx, N.Y.
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Fordham University

Rose Hill Campus
441 East Fordham Road at East 191st Street
The Bronx, N.Y. 10458
website

University Church – St. John's Church


Organ Specifications:
► III/35 Schoenstein & Co., Op. 164 (2013) – Gallery
► II/14 Schoenstein & Co., Op. 163 (2013) – Sanctuary
► II/42 Lehigh Organ Company (1979) – Gallery
► II/21 William W. Laws (<1950) – Gallery
► II/9 William W. Laws (<1950) – Crypt
► II/ George S. Hutchings (c.1900) – Crypt
► II/10 Hilborne L. Roosevelt, Op. 48 (1879) – Gallery
• Henry Erben (1843) – Gallery


The Fordham University campus in the Bronx occupies land that was once part of the "Rose Hill" estate of Horatio S. Moat, a merchant of Brooklyn. In 1839, the manor was purchased by Bishop John Hughes, who would later become New York's first archbishop. In 1841, St. John's College was established with classes held in Horatio Moat's former country home. The Greek Revival building house is of fieldstone and is noted for its Ionic entrance porch and an octagonal cupola. Wings were added to the Moat House in 1907, and today the building is extant as the Administration Building.

St. John's Church, now known as the University Church, was built from 1841-45 to serve the seminary and Catholics in the area. William Rodrigue, a teacher at St. John's College and the brother-in-law of Bishop Hughes, designed the Gothic Revival stone church with its tall pinnacled tower. The bell in the tower, known since as "Old Edgar Allan", is said to have inspired Poe, a friend and neighbor, to write his celebrated poem, "The Bells". The windows of the nave were presented by Louis Philippe, King of the French, in 1846. The chapel was enlarged in 1928-29 when a large transept, designed by Emile Perrot, was added. A plaque placed on the church exterior by the Alumni Sodality in 1939 gives a background: "The Rev. James Roosevelt Bayley, third president of the college, a nephew of the venerable Elizabeth Seton and cousin of two presidents of the United States (Theodore and Franklin Delano Roosevelt), afterward Bishop of Newark and Archbishop of Baltimore, erected this church in 1845 as a seminary chapel. " The plaque was unveiled by FDR's mother, Mrs. James Roosevelt.

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission has designated four buildings on the Rose Hill Campus of Fordham University: Horatio Shepheard Moat House (1970); Alumni House (1981); St. John's Church (1970); and St. John's Hall, Queen's Court (1970).
             
  Gallery Case of Schoenstein & Co. organ, Op. 164 (2013)
  Gallery Console of Schoenstein & Co. organ, Op. 164 (2013)
Schoenstein & Co.
Benicia, Calif. – Opus 164 (2013)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 72 registers, 28 stops, 35 ranks

Gallery Organ



 
     
   
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
16
Diapason (ext. CH)
12
2
Fifeenth
CH
8
Grand Diapason (ext. PED)
17
2
*
 Grand Chorus IV ranks
217
8
Diapason
CH
16
*
 Bombarde (ext. Harm. Tpt.)
12
8
Harmonic Flute
CH
8
*
 Harmonic Trumpet
61
8
Chimney Flute
CH
8
*
 Corno di Bassetto
61
8
*
 Cello
61
Tremulant
CH
8
*
 Cello Céleste
61
8
Tuba Major
CH
4
Principal
CH
Chimes
digital
4
*
 Grand Octave
61
Tower Bells
digital
4
Bourdon
CH
Great 16
4
*
 Viola (ext.)
12
Great Unison Off
4
*
 Viola Céleste (ext.)
7
Great 4
2 2/3
Twelfth
CH
* enclosed
 
   
 
   
Choir Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
 
Unenclosed Stops    
Sanctuary Stops  
16
Bourdon (TC)
—
8
Open Diapason (unenc.)
8
Diapason
61
8
Harmonic Flute (unenc.)
8
Harmonic Flute
61
4
Principal (unenc.)
8
Bourdon
61
16
Bourdon
4
Principal
61
8
Salicional
4
Chimney Flute
61
8
Stopped Diapason
2 2/3
Twelfth
61
8
Echo Gamba
2
Fifteenth
61
8
Vox Angelica
8
Tuba Major (FF#)
43
4
Salicet
Tremulant
4
Flute
8
Corno di Bassetto
GT
2
Salicetina
8
Celesta Sub (enclosed)
digital
1 1/3
Mixture II-V ranks
4
Celesta (enclosed)
digital
16
Double Trumpet (TC)
Choir 16
8
Trumpet
Choir Unison Off
8
Rohrschalmei (TC)
Choir 4
Tremulant
 
   
 
   
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
Echo Bass (ext.)
12
16
Fagotto (TC)
—
8
Diapason
61
8
Trumpet
61
8
Concert Flute
61
8
Oboe
61
8
Voix sérénissime
61
8
Vox Humana f & p
61
8
Voix céleste
61
4
Clarion
61
4
Gemshorn
61
Tremulant
4
Silver Flute
61
Vox Humana Tremulant
2 2/3
Nazard (TC)
49
8
Tuba Major
CH
2
Piccolo (ext.)
12
Orchestral Harp
digital
1 3/5
Tierce (TC)
42
Swell 16
1
Fife
—
Swell Unison Off
2
Mixture III-V ranks
263
Swell 4  
16
Trombone (ext.)
12
   
 
     
   
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
Diapason (Resultant)
—
16
Bombarde
GT
32
Echo Bass (Resultant)
—
16
Trombone
SW
16
Contra Bass (wood) (ext.)
12
8
Harmonic Trumpet
GT
16
Diapason
GT
8
Trumpet
SW
16
Echo Bass
SW
4
Harmonic Clarion
GT
8
Octave
32
4
Corno di Bassetto
GT
8
Principal
SW
Tower Bells
GT
8
Harmonic Flute
CH
 
8
Celli II ranks
GT
Sanctuary Stops
8
Concert Flute
SW
32
Bourdon
8
Bourdon
CH
16
Double Bass
4
Super Octave (ext.)
12
16
Bourdon
4
Fifteenth
SW
8
Harmonic Flute
4
Harmonic Flute
CH
8
Stopped Diapason
2
Piccolo
SW
8
Echo Gamba
1
Fife
SW
4
Harmonic Flute
32
Harmonics V ranks
SW
8
Trumpet
32
Contra Trombone (ext. SW)
12
4
Rohrschalmei
 
     
   
Couplers
 
Great to Pedal 8', 4'
Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'
 
Swell to Pedal 8', 4'
Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
 
Choir to Pedal 8', 4'
Pedal to Choir
    Pedal Divide (B1 / C2)   Manuals I / II Transfer
 
Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'
Sanctuary to Swell / Off Choir
 
     
   
Adjustable Combinations (100 levels)
 
Swell Stops Pistons 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb)
Choir Stops Pistons 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb)
Great Stops Pistons 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb)
Couplers Pistons 1-2-3 (thumb)
Generals Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16 (thumb & toe)
  General Cancel (thumb)
Generals Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 (for use from Sanctuary console)
       located in swing-out box under right stop jamb
               
Reversibles
    Swell to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Swell to Choir (thumb)
    Choir to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Full Organ (thumb & toe)
    Great to Pedal (thumb & toe)   All Swells to Swell (thumb)
    Swell to Great (thumb)   Cymbelstern (thumb)
    Choir to Great (thumb)    
               
Piston Sequencer
    NEXT – (1) thumb; (1) toe lever    
    PREV – (1) toe lever      
 
     
   
Expression
    Balanced Pedal – Choir   Balanced Pedal – Swell
    Balanced Pedal – Great   Crescendo Pedal
             
  Sanctuary Case of Schoenstein & Co. organ, Op. 164 (2013)
  Sanctuary Console of Schoenstein & Co. organ, Op. 164 (2013)
  Sanctuary Case and Console
Schoenstein & Co.
Benicia, Calif. – Opus 163 (2013)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 26 registers, 10 stops, 14 ranks

Sanctuary Organ



 
     
   
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
Open Diapason
61
16
Double Trumpet (TC)
CH
8
Harmonic Flute
61
8
Trumpet
CH
4
Principal
61
8
Rohrschalmei (TC, in CH box)
37
16
Bourdon (ext. CH)
12
Tremulant
8
Stopped Diapason
CH
Great 4
2
   Mixture II-V ranks
CH
        
 
     
   
Choir Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
Salicional (common bass)
49
2
Salicetina
12
8
Stopped Diapason
61
2
Mixture II-V ranks
206
8
Echo Gamba
61
8
Trumpet
61
8
Vox Angelica
61
Choir 4
4
Salicet
12
8
Tuba Major
GalCH
4
   Flute
12
        
 
     
   
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
Double Bass (ext. Harm. Fl.)
12
4
Harmonic Flute
GT
16
Bourdon
GT
8
Trumpet
CH
8
Harmonic Flute
GT
4
Rohrschalmei
GT
8
Stopped Diapason
CH
 
 
     
   
Couplers
 
Great to Pedal 8', 4'
Choir to Great 8', 4'
 
Choir to Pedal 8', 4'
 
 
     
   
Adjustable Combinations (100 levels)
 
Choir Stops Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
Great Stops Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
Generals Pistons A-B-C-D-E-F (thumb)
Gallery Generals Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 (toe) – with indicator lights
  General Cancel (thumb)
 
     
   
Expression
    Balanced Pedal – Choir   All Swells to Swell
    Balanced Pedal – Great    
    Balanced Pedal – Swell    
 
Crescendo Pedal
 
               
  University Church of Fordham University - Bronx, N.Y.
Lehigh Organ Company
Macungie, Penn. (1979)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 33 registers, 30 stops, 42 ranks
               
Grande Orgue (Manual I) – 56 notes (61-note keyboard)
16
   Flûte courte
56
2
   Octavin
56
8
   Montre
56
     Cornet II ranks
112
8
   Bourdon à cheminée
56
     Fourniture V ranks
280
4
   Prestant
56
8
   Trompette
56
4
   Flûte à fuseau
56
        
 
      
 
      
Récit expressif (Manual II) – 56 notes (61-note keyboard), enclosed
16
   Bourdon
56
1 3/5
   Tierce
56
8
   Viole
56
1 1/3
   Larigot
56
4
   Cor de chamois
56
     Cymbale IV ranks
224
2 2/3
   Nasard
56
8
   Chalumeau
56
2
   Doublette
56
     Tremulant  
 
      
 
      
Choral Organ (floating) – 56 notes (61-note keyboard)
8
   Flute de bois
56
2
   Flûte à bec
156
4
   Prestant
56
     Plein jeu III ranks
168
4
   Flûte à cheminée
56
16
   Pedal Bourdon (ext.)
12
               
Pédale Orgue – 32 notes
16
   Principal
32
     Fourniture III ranks
96
16
   Soubasse
32
16
   Bombarde
32
8
   Octave
32
8
   Trompette
G.O.
8
   Flute
32
4
   Chalumeau
Réc.
4
   Basse de Chorale
32
        
               
Couplers
    G.O. – Pédale       Réc – G.O.  
    Récit – Pédale       G.O. – Choral  
    Choral – Pédale       Récit – Choral  
               
William W. Laws
Beverly, Mass. (<195-)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 27 registers, 19 stops, 21 ranks


Sometime before 1950, William W. Laws rebuilt the 1879 Hilborne Roosevelt organ in the gallery. The following specification was recorded by F.R. Webber (1887-1963), whose "Organ Scrapbooks" are in the possession of The Organ Historical Society Archives in Princeton, N.J. Pipecounts are estimated as it is unknown if Laws extended the manual compass to 61 notes and the pedal to 32.
               
Great Organ (Manual I)
16
   Bourdon
61
2 2/3
   Twelfth
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Major Flute
61
     Mixture III ranks
183
8
   Dulciana
61
16
   Tuba
85
8
   Melodia
61
8
   Tuba (ext.)
—
4
   Octave
61
4
   Tuba (ext.)
—
4
   Harmonic Flute
61
        
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual II) – enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason
61
4
   Flute
61
8
   Gedeckt
61
4
   Violina
61
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Oboe
61
 
      
 
      
Pedal Organ
32
   Resultant
—
8
   Gedeckt (ext.)
—
16
   Open Diapason
44
16
   Tuba
GT
16
   Bourdon
44
8
   Tuba
GT
8
   Major Flute (ext. Open. Diap.)
—
4
   Tuba
GT
                
Organ in the Crypt:

William W. Laws
Beverly, Mass. (<195-)
Mechanical? action
2 manuals, 9 stops, 9 ranks


Sometime before 1945, William W. Laws rebuilt the George S. Hutchings organ (c.1900) in the Crypt. The following specification was recorded by F.R. Webber (1887-1963), whose "Organ Scrapbooks" are in the possession of The Organ Historical Society Archives in Princeton, N.J.
               
Great Organ (Manual I)
8
   Open Diapason  
8
   Dolcissimo  
8
   Melodia  
4
   Principal  
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual II) – enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason  
4
   Flute Harmonique  
8
   Stopped Diapason          
               
Pedal Organ
16
   Bourdon          
8
   Flute          
             
Organ in the Crypt:

George S. Hutchings
Boston, Mass. (c.1900)
Mechanical? action
2 manuals


The original organ in the Crypt was built by George S. Hutchings of Boston. F.R. Webber (1887-1963), whose "Organ Scrapbooks" are in the possession of The Organ Historical Society Archives in Princeton, N.J., noted: "This organ was rebuilt by W.W. Laws some years ago. It is 9' 8" wide, 6' 6" deep and 10' high in its present state. St. John's Chapel is about a century old." Another entry by Webber stated that the builder was Hutchings. Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
               
Hilborne L. Roosevelt
New York City – Opus 48 (1879)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 10 stops, 10 ranks


The second organ in St. John's Church was built in 1879 by Hilborne L. Roosevelt of New York City. As described in Roosevelt's 1888 catalog, this instrument was a "Style Twenty-Three" with ten stops and 525 pipes.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
8
   Open Diapason
58
4
   Gemshorn
58
8
   Dulciana *
46
2
   Piccolo Harmonique
58
8
   Doppel Flöte
58
    
* lowest octave grooved to Doppel Flöte
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason
58
4
   Flute Harmonique
58
8
   Stopped Diapason
58
8
   Oboe (TC)
46
               
Pedal Organ– 27 notes
16
   Bourdon
27
        
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great       Swell to Pedal  
    Swell to Great Octaves       Great to Pedal  
               
Mechanical Accessories
    Swell Tremulant   Bellows Signal
        Eclipse Wind Indicator
               
Pedal Movements
    Great Organ Forte   Balanced Swell Pedal
    Great Organ Piano    
               
Henry Erben
New York City (1843)
Mechanical action


The first known organ for St. John's Church was built in 1843 by Henry Erben of New York. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
               
Sources:
     Dolkart, Andrew S. and Matthew A. Postal. Guide to New York City Landmarks (Third Edition). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2004.
     Fordham University Rose Hill Campus website.
     Hermalyn, Gary, Robert Kornfeld. Landmarks of The Bronx. Bronx, N.Y.: Bronx Historical Society, 1989.
     "Hilborne L. Roosevelt, Manufacturer of Church, Chapel, Concert and Chamber Organs," catalog pub. by Roosevelt Organ Works (Dec. 1888); republished by The Organ Literature Foundation, Braintree, Mass., 1978.
     Minotti, Robert. Specifications of Lehigh Organ (1979).
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Schoenstein & Co. Factory Specifications of Schoenstein & Co. organs, Op. 163 & Op. 164 (2013). Courtesy Jack Bethards.
     Webber, F.R. "Organ scrapbook" at Organ Historical Society Archives, Princeton, N.J. Specifications of Crypt Organ, rebuilt by W.W. Laws; and of the Roosevelt Organ, Op. 48, rebuilt by W.W. Laws. Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.

Illustrations:
     Fordham University Rose Hill Campus website. Undated postcard of University Church.
     Minotti, Robert. Chapel interior.
     Schoenstein & Co. Schoenstein & Co. organ, Op. 163 (2013); Op. 164 (2013).