All Angels Episcopal Church - New York City
 
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All Angels Church
(Episcopal)

255 West 80th Street at West End Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10024
http://www.allangelschurch.com


Organ Specifications:
255 West 80th Street (since 1979) – Parish House
• Rodgers Instruments electronic with Ruffatti pipes (1979)
428 West End Avenue (1890-1979)
Second building (1890-1979)
► III/39 Estey Organ Company, Op. 3261 (1960)
► IV/57 Reuben Midmer & Son (1921)
► III/26 Frank Roosevelt, Op. 471 (1890)
First building (1858-c.1888)
• I/ Ferris & Stuart (1871)


All Angels Protestant Episcopal Church was established in 1846 by St. Michael's Episcopal Church as a Sunday School mission for "aborigines and cross-breed Indians" living in Seneca Village on land which would later become part of Central Park. The small community had two other churches: the African Union Methodist Church, and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Branch Militant. There were also cemeteries, a school, and, in 1853, plans to build a second school. In 1849, All Angels' rector, Rev. Thomas McClure Peters, opened a wooden church built on land donated by four women on a site now corresponding to Central Park West and 85th Street. About one-third of the congregation was white and mostly German; the rest were African American. Fr. Peters described the small church as a place "in which white and black and all intermediate shades worshipped harmoniously together."

In 1856, Seneca Village was condemned by the city in preparation for the new park, and the occupants were forced to relocate. A new All Angels' Church was built two years later at 428 West End Avenue and West 80th Street.

In 1873, the Rev. Dr. Charles F. Hoffman became the rector of All Angels' Church. Dr. Hoffman and his brother, the Rev. Dr. Eugene Augustus Hoffman, Dean of the General Theological Seminary, were at the time reputed to be the wealthiest clergymen in the country, each being worth about $15,000,000. After about a year, the rector proposed a plan to his parishioners that if they would raise sufficient funds to defray the church's expenses for the next two years and pay for the demolition of the old church and the excavation of the new, he would himself bear the expense of a new church, to cost not less than $100,000. Thus, a new church was designed, built and paid for as a memorial to Dr. Hoffman's mother and father. A few years earlier, Dr. Eugene Hoffman endowed the General Seminary's Chair of Pastoral Theology with $80,000, and on the death of his father, Samuel Yerplanek Hoffman, his mother contributed $125,000 for the building of the Chapel of the Good Shepherd as a memorial to her husband.

Demolition in 1979 of All Angels Episcopal Church - New York City  
Demolition of the Church (1979)
  
Samuel B. Snook of J.B. Snook & Sons designed the neo-Gothic cruciform-shaped church, which was built of bluestone, Indiana limestone and brick from 1888 to 1890. Anchored by a massive tower, the 140-foot-long building was diagonally oriented on the 100-by-102 foot plot. By all accounts, its interior was spectacular. Among its treasures were a two-and-a-half-story Tiffany window and a pulpit ringed with limestone angels that wrapped around the banister and paraded toward the top. There, a carved wooden angel leaned out and blew his trumpet into the center of the sanctuary. The mosaic altar was surmounted by a gilded baldachin and beautifully illuminated, and the sanctuary lamp was a celtic four-armed cross of brass that was brought from Venice by the rector. The stalls for the clergy and choir were arranged on each side of the chancel, and in a recess above on the gospel side was the organ presented by five gentlemen of the parish.

  Parish House of All Angels Episcopal Church - New York City
 
All Angels' Parish House
The parish house was designed by architect Henry J. Hardenbergh and built in 1904 at 251 West 80th Street. Hardenbergh (1847-1918) was known as a leading architect for Edwardian hotels, including the Waldorf, Astoria, Martinique and Plaza hotels in New York; the Willard in Washington, D.C.; and the Copley Plaza in Boston. He also designed the Dakota Apartments in New York, and Kirkpatrick Chapel at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the church "suffered a decline, as did many churches in the neighborhood," as the church's official history notes. By 1976, the church had only 150 members and could no longer afford to maintain and operate their facilities, despite allowing four other congregations to use the buildings. Services were moved into the parish house, and the large chuch was demolished in 1979 and replaced by a 21-story apartment building.
               
Rodgers Instruments LLC
Hillsboro, Ore. (1979)
Digital tonal production plus Ruffatti pipe ranks
Unknown size


Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
               
Estey Organ Company
Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 3261 (1960)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 35 stops, 39 ranks


The last pipe organ for All Angels' Church was also the last organ built by the Estey Organ Company of Brattleboro, Vermont. Estey retained some pipework from the 1921 Midmer organ but did not make the extant Echo Organ playable from the three-manual stop-key console. The entire organ was voiced on 3" pressure. When the church was razed in 1979, the Estey organ was dispersed by Mann & Trupiano of Brooklyn. The church moved their services to the parish house and acquired a Rodgers electronic instrument.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
8
  Diapason
61
2
   Octave
61
8
  Bourdon *
61
     Fourniture IV ranks
244
8
  Salicet *
61
     Great to Great 16'  
4
  Octave
61
     Unison Off  
4
   Flute d'Amour *
61
     Great to Great 4'  
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Stopped Diapason *
61
16
   Fagotto [unit]
73
8
  Viole de Gamba *
61
8
   Oboe
—
8
  Voix Celeste * [TC]
49
4
   Clarion
61
4
  Principal *
61
     Tremolo  
4
  Quintadena *
61
     Swell to Swell 16'  
    Sesquialtera II ranks *
122
     Unison Off  
2
   Blockflöte
61
     Swell to Swell 4'  
    Plein Jeu V ranks
305
        
 
     
 
     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Rohrflöte *
61
8
   Krummhorn
61
8
  Dolce *
61
     Tremolo  
4
  Spitzflöte *
61
     Choir to Choir 16'  
2
  Waldflöte
61
     Unison Off  
    Mixture II ranks
122
     Choir to Choir 4'  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  Open Diapason [unit] *
44
4
  Gedeckt
SW
16
  Subbass *
32
2
  Choralflute [ext.]
—
16
  Zartbass [from Subbass]
—
     Mixture III ranks *
96
8
  Principal *
—
16
  Posaune
32
8
  Gedeckt
SW
4
  Oboe
SW
4
   Choralbass [unit] *
—
        
           
* retained from previous organ
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'       Swell to Great 16, 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'       Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'       Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
             
Adjustable Combinations
    The Estey Shop Order indicates that there were divisional and general pistons but the total number for each were not given.
             
Reversibles
    Great to Pedal (thumb & toe)   [Choir to Pedal (thumb & toe)]
    Swell to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Sforzando (thumb & toe)
             
Expression Pedals
    Balanced Swell Pedal    
    Balanced Choir Pedal    
    Crescendo Pedal    
               
Reuben Midmer & Son
Merrick, N.Y. (1921)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 102 stops, 57 ranks


The 1890 Roosevelt organ, which had been rebuilt by Jardine in 1897?, was enlarged to four manuals and fifty-seven ranks by Reuben Midmer & Son in 1921.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes (5" wind pressure)
16
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   First Open Diapason
61
4
   Hohl Flöte
61
8
   Second Open Diapason
61
     Mixture III ranks
183
8
   Viola da Gamba
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Doppel Flöte
61
8
   Vox Humana
EC
8
   Gross Flöte
61
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (5" wind pressure)
16
   Bourdon
73
8
   Stopped Diapason
73
8
   Open Diapason
73
4
   Flute Harmonique
73
8
   Violin Diapason
73
2
   Flautina [upper 37 tierce]
61?
8
   Spitz Flöte
73
16
   English Horn
73
8
   Viole d'Orchestre
73
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Echo Salicional
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Voix Celeste
73
8
   Vox Humana
73
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed as noted (5" wind pressure)
    Enclosed:       Screen Choir on open chest:
8
   Open Diapason
73
8
   Philomela (p)
61
8
   Concert Flute
73
8
   Geigen Principal
61
8
   Dulciana
73
8
   Aeoline (pp)
61
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
61
4
   Salicet
61
8
   Quintadena
73
4
   Flute d'Amour
61
4
   Flauto Traverso
73
        
2
   Piccolo
61
        
8
   Clarinet
73
        
               
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed (10" wind pressure)
8
   Stentorphone
73
4
   Rohr Flöte
73
8
   Major Flute
73
8
   Tuba Mirabilis [unit]
85
8
   Gross Gamba
73
8
   Cor Anglais
73
8
   Gamba Celeste [TC]
61
4
   Clarion
—
               
Echo Organ (at West end) – 61 notes, enclosed (5" wind pressure)
16
   Pedal Lieblich Gedeckt
30
8
   Echo Gedeckt
61
8
   Viole Aetheria
61
4
   Fern Flöte
61
8
   Vox Angelica
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Cor de Nuit [open flute]
61
     Chimes  
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
32
   Resultant
—
8
   Octave
—
16
   Open Wood [unit]
42
8
   Flute
—
16
   Violone
30
16
   Trombone [unit]
42
16
   Bourdon [unit]
42
8
   Trumpet
—
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
30
16
   Horn
SW
               
Couplers
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Swell 16', 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8'   Choir to Choir 16', 4'
    Great to Pedal 8'   Solo to Solo 16', 4'
    Solo to Pedal 8', 4'   Echo to Echo 16', 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Coupler release:
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'   Solo Unison
    Solo to Great 16', 8', 4'   Swell Unison
    Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'   Choir Unison
    Solo to Choir 8'   Echo Unison
    Solo to Swell 8'    
    Swell to Solo 8'   Echo on
    Great to Solo 8'   Choir on
    Great to Great 4'   Both on
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Great & Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 (thumb)
Swell & Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 (thumb)
Choir & Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
Solo & Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Entire Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb & toe)
  Adjustor piston (under Great manual)
  Coupler release
               
Accessories
    Adjustor for blow of chime hammers
    Echo Unison On & Off
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced swell pedal for Ch., Solo & Echo   Great to Pedal reversible
    Balanced swell pedal for Swell   Solo to Pedal reversible
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal   Solo to Great reversible
        Sforzando Pedal
               
  Frank Roosevelt organ, Op. 471 (1890) in All Angels Episcopal Church - New York City (photo: Wurts Bros., 1910)
Frank Roosevelt
New York City – Opus 471 (1890)
Tracker-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 26 stops, 26 ranks


The original organ in the second church was built in 1890 by Frank Roosevelt of New York City. Below are the specifications of this organ, as recorded by Lynnwood Farnam (1885-1930), noted concert organist of the early 20th century. Unusually, Farnam did not indicate the manual and pedal compasses for this instrument, but he noted it was "Re-built with electro-pneumatic action by Geo. Jardine. 1887 [sic] (No. 1234)." It seems likely that Farnam meant to type 1897. Mr. Farnam's journals are in the collection of The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed with Swell
8
   Open Diapason
58
4
   Octave
58
8
   Viola da Gamba
58
4
   Hohl Flöte
58
8
   Spitz Flöte
58
2
   Piccolo
58
8
   Doppel Flöte
58
8
   Trumpet
58
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
58
8
   Voix Celeste [TC]
46
8
   Violin Diapason
58
4
   Gemshorn
58
8
   Stopped Diapason
58
4
   Flute Harmonique
58
8
   Dolce
58
8
   Oboe
58
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
8
   Philomela
58
4
   Flute a Cheminéee
58
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
58
2
   Flageolet
58
8
   Aeoline
58
16
   English Horn [TC]
46
4
   Salicet
58
8
   Clarinet
58
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Open Diapason
30
        
16
   Bourdon
30
        
               
Couplers (stops over Swell)
    Pedal Octave       Great Super  
    Great to Pedal       Swell to Choir  
    Swell to Pedal       Choir to Great Sub  
    Choir to Pedal       Great to Pedal *  
    Swell to Great       Swell Tremulant *  
    Choir to Great       Choir Tremulant *  
           
* located on side
               
Accessories
    Great to Pedal reversible     Full Organ pedal
    2 comp. pedals adj. to Great     All couplers reversible
    2 comp. pedals adj. to Swell     Balanced pedal to Swell & Great
    Sforzando pedal     Balanced crescendo pedal
               
Organ in previous church:

Levi U. Stuart
New York City (1871)
Mechanical action
1 manual


Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
               
Sources:
     "A Gift From the Rector," The New York Times (Sep. 30, 1890).
     All Angels Episcopal Church web site: http://www.allangelschurch.com
     "All Angels' Here Marks 100 Years," article in The New York Times (Jan. 12, 1959).
     Carnahan, John. Factory Shop Order for Estey Organ, Op. 3261 (1960).
     "Church Demolished," The New York Times (July 20, 1979).
     Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     The Estey Pipe Organ web site: www.esteyorgan.com
     Farnam, Lynnwood. "Organ Notebook" with specification of Roosevelt Organ, Op. 471 (1890) (p. 1328) and specification of Reuben Midmer & Son Organ (1921) (p. 1330). John de Lancie Library, The Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia; Sally Branca, Archivist. Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Trupiano, Larry. Specification details of Reuben Midmer & Son Organ (1927).

Illustrations:
     Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Online: exterior (ca.1890)
     Starts and Fits web site: http://www.startsandfits.com/hardenbergh/all_angels.html (parish house)
     Wurts Bros. (New York, N.Y.). 1910 photo showing Frank Roosevelt organ, Op. 471 (1890). Museum of the City of New York Collection.