First Baptist Church - New York City (credit: Jeff Tsuruoka)
  Click on images to enlarge
First Baptist Church

265 West 79th Street at Broadway
New York, N.Y. 10024
http://www.firstbaptist-nyc.org

Organ Specifications:
267 West 79th Street at Broadway (since 1893)
► III/69 M.P. Möller, Op. R-169 (1985) – installed 2006-07
► III/24 Hall Organ Company, Op. 677 (1937)
• I/8 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 602 (1950) – Gallery
• III/ George Jardine & Son (1892)
Park Avenue at 39th Street (1871-1893)
► III/36 Henry Erben (1872)
Broome and Elizabeth Streets (1841-1871)
• unknown
Gold Street (1802-1841)
• unknown
35 Gold Street (1760-1801)
• unknown

The First Baptist Church can trace its roots to 1745 when 13 believers gathered to worship in the home of Jeremiah Dodge. In 1753, they moved to a rigging loft on William Street, and six years later the society bought a lot on Gold Street and built the first church building, holding their first service there on March 14, 1760. In 1762 the church was formally constituted as “The First Baptist Church in the City of New York” and John Gano was called to be its first pastor. The church grew from 27 to over 200 members in only three years. Rev. Gano’s ministry was interrupted by the Revolutionary War, during which he served as Chaplain to General George Washington; it is said that Gano baptized Washington at the general's request while at camp in Newburgh. Returning from the war, Rev. Gano regathered his scattered flock and restored the building. Later, he helped found Brown University.

First Baptist Church at Broome & Elizabeth Streets (1842-71) - New York City  
Broome & Elizabeth Sts. (1842-1871)
In 1801, the original church building was torn down and a new structure, also on Gold Street, was erected from 1801-02. At this location the society's inhospitality to a group of African visitors resulted in the establishment of the Abyssinian Baptist Church, today one of the most prominent Black Baptist churches in the country.

As the city residents continued to move to newer dwellings uptown, the congregation purchased land for its third church building on the corner of Broome and Elizabeth Streets. On this site an early Gothic Revival building was constructed from 1841-42.

  First Baptist Church on Park Avenue & 39th Street (1871-90) - New York City
  Park Ave. & 39th St. (1871-1893)
In the years following the tragedies of Civil War, business interests overtook residential areas and city citizens again relocated to uptown neighborhoods. First Baptist sold its building on Broome Street to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Matthew, and used the proceedings to purchase property on Park Avenue at 39th Street. The society's fourth church building, a new brownstone Gothic structure, was built in 1871.

Drawing (c.1893) of First Baptist Church - New York City  
Broadway & 79th Street
 
The present edifice, located on the northwest corner of Broadway and 79th Street, was built from 1890-93. Designed by George M. Keister, the sanctuary is set at an angle to the corner and features a facade with Biblically related symbolism. The taller tower represents Christ as the head of the church and the light of the world, while the shorter tower represents the church that will remain incomplete until the return of Christ. Flanking the main entrance are two side buildings that provide space for the Sunday School classrooms and meetings.
           

M.P. Möller organ, Op. R-169 (1985/2006) in First Baptist Church - New York City (credit: Sebastian Glück)
  Photos: Sebastian M. Glück
  M.P. Möller organ, Op. R-169 (1985/2006) in First Baptist Church - New York City (credit: Sebastian Glück)
M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus R-169 (1985)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 63 registers, 47 stops, 69 ranks









The present organ in First Baptist Church was originally built in 1985 by M.P. Möller for St. James' Church (Episcopal) on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. In 2005, the organ became available and it was purchased by First Baptist Church. Meloni & Farrier moved and rebuilt the organ, installing all but six Pedal stops due to space restrictions in its new location. The three-manual drawknob console, which originally also controlled a 34-register Antiphonal organ at St. James' Church, was not modified to reflect its current configuration.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Gedackt Pommer
61
     Scharf IV ranks
237
8
   Principal
61
     Grand Cornet IV-V ranks
293
8
   Bordun
61
16
   Bombarde
73
8
   Flute Harmonique
61
8
   Trompette (fr. 16')
—
4
   Octave
61
4
   Clairon
61
4
   Spitzflöte
61
     Tremolo  
2 2/3
   Quinte
61
    
Chimes
25 tubes
2
   Super Octave
61
     Great Unison Off
    Mixure IV ranks
244
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Flute Conique
73
     Cymbale IV ranks
237
8
   Principal
61
     Cornet II ranks (TC)
98
8
   Rohrflöte
61
16
   Basson
61
8
   Viole
61
8
   Trompette
61
8
   Viole Celeste
61
8
   Hautbois
61
8
   Flute Conique (fr. 16')
—
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Flute Céleste (TC)
49
4
   Clairon
61
4
   Octave
61
     Tremolo  
4
   Flute Triangulaire
61
     Swell 16'  
2
   Blockflöte
61
     Swell Unison Off  
1 1/3
   Larigot
61
     Swell 4'  
    Plein Jeu IV-V ranks
280
        
               
Positiv Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Gedackt Pommer
61
1 3/5
   Tierce
61
8
   Gamba
61
1
   Sifflöte
61
8
   Flûte Conique
SW
     Zimbel IV-V ranks
261
8
   Flûte Céleste
SW
16
   Holzregal
61
4
   Spitzprincipal
61
8
   Schalmei
61
4
   Lochgedackt
61
     Tremolo   
2 2/3
   Nazard
61
     Positiv Unison Off  
2
   Principal
61
        

     

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Principal
32
2
   Nachthorn (fr. 4')
—
16
   Subbass
44
32
   Basson (ext. SW)
12
16
   Gedackt (ext. POS)
12
16
   Contre Bombarde
44
16
   Flûte conique
SW
16
   Basson
SW
8
   Octave
32
16
   Holzregal
POS
8
   Bordun (fr. 16' Subbass)
—
8
   Bombarde (fr. 16')
—
8
   Flûte conique
SW
8
   Basson
SW
5 1/3
   Quinte (SW Flûte Conique)
—
4
   Holzregal
POS
4
   Nachthorn
44
        
               
Adjustable Combinations (Solid State – Four Memories)
   
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb)
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb)
Positiv Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb & toe)
Entire Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 (thumb & toe)
  General Cancel (thumb)
  Setter Piston (thumb)
  Memory Selector A-B-C-D
  Combination Lock
               
Reversibles
    Great to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Tutti (thumb & toe)
    Swell to Pedal (thumb & toe)   32' Basson (thumb & toe)
    Positiv to Pedal (thumb & toe)    
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Swell Organ
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal with indicator light
           

Hall Organ, Op. 677 (1937) in First Baptist Church - New York City (credit: Eric Birk)
  Photos: Eric Birk
  Hall Organ, Op. 677 (1937) in First Baptist Church - New York City (credit: Eric Birk)
Hall Organ Company
West Haven, Conn. – Opus 677 (1937)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 26 registers, 22 stops, 24 ranks









After more than four decades of service, the 1892 Jardine organ with mechanical action was replaced by an organ having electro-pneumatic action built in 1937 by the Hall Organ Company of West Haven, Conn. Hall retained the Jardine display pipes and some of the old stops, including the Great Mixture III that contained a "tierce" rank sounding the major third. In 1999, this mixture was replaced with new pipes (but without a tierce rank) built by von Beckerath of Germany and installed by Meloni & Farrier. The detached three-manual stop-key console was located with the choir seating to the left of the chancel.
               
Great Organ(Manual II) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
73
     Mixture III ranks *
183
8
   Stopped Diapason
73
    
Chimes
preparation
8
   Dolce Conique
73
     Great to Great 16'  
4
   Octave
73
     Great to Great 4'  
2
   Fifteenth
61
* orig. tierce mixture from 1892 Jardine organ; replaced with von Beckerath mixture by Meloni & Farrier (1999)
       
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Flute Conique
73
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Geigen Principal
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Gedeckt
73
     Tremolo  
8
   Salicional
73
     Swell to Swell 16'  
8
   Voix Celeste (TC)
61
     Swell Unison Off  
4
   Lieblich Flute
73
     Swell to Swell 4'  
2
   Flautina
61
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Viola
73
8
   Unda Maris (TC)
61
8
   Orchestral Flute
73
     Tremolo  
8
   Gemshorn
73
     Choir to Choir 16'  
4
   Silver Flute
73
     Choir to Choir 4'  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Contra Bass
56
8
   Octave (fr. Contra Bass)
—
16
   Bourdon
32
8
   Flute
SW
16
   Flute Conique
SW
4
   Super Octave (fr. Contra Bs)
—
               
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'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
               
Combination Pistons
   
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
Choir Organ Pistons 1-2-3 (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3 (thumb & toe)
Entire Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
               
Reversibles
    Great to Pedal (thumb & toe)    
    Sforzando (thumb & toe)      
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Pedal – Swell Organ      
    Balanced Pedal – Choir Organ      
    Register Crescendo Pedal      
           
Indicators
    Crescendo    
    Sforzando    
    Motor    
           
J.H. & C.S. Odell
Yonkers, N.Y. – Opus 602 (1950)
Electro-pneumatic action
1 manual, 6 stops, 8 ranks


The J.H. & C.S. Odell Company provided an 8-rank unit organ for the gallery. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
         
George Jardine & Son
New York City (1892)
Mechanical action
3 manuals


The original organ in the present church was built in 1892 by George Jardine & Son of New York City. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
Organ in previous church at Park Avenue and 39th Street

Henry Erben
New York City (1872)
Mechanical action
3 manuals, 32 stops, 36 ranks


For their new building on Park Avenue and 39th Street, the church engaged Henry Erben & Co. of New York City to build a new organ. The three-manual organ was installed in a Gothic case of black walnut, measuring 15 by 30 feet and 47 feet high, of which the center section came down to within 15 feet of the choir floor in order to show the large circular stained glass window in the rear.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes
8
   Open Diapason
58
2 2/3
   Twelfth
58
8
   Gamba
58
2
   Fifteenth
58
8
   Melodia
58
     Mixture, 3 ranks
174
8
   Stopped Diapason
58
8
   Trumpet
58
4
   Octave
58
4
   Clarion
58
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
58
4
   Flute Harmonic
58
8
   Open Diapason
58
     Cornet, 3 ranks
174
8
   Viol d'Amour
58
2
   Piccolo
58
8
   Stopped Diapason
58
8
   Cornopean
58
4
   Violono
58
8
   Hautbois
58
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
8
   Gemshorn
58
4
   Flauto Traverse
58
8
   Clarabella
58
4
   Principal
58
8
   Dulciana
58
2
   Flageolet
58
8
   Stopped Diapason
58
8
   Clarionette
58
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Double Open Diapason
30
8
   Violoncello
30
16
   Bourdon
30
16
   Trombone
30
               
Couplers
    Pedal and Great   Pedal and Swell
    Pedal and Choir   Great and Choir
    Great and Swell   Choir and Swell
               
Pedal Movements
    1. Brings on full Great Organ
    2. Throws in chorus stops on Great Organ
    3. Throws in Clarion, Trumpet and Mixture on Great Organ
    4. Reversible movement on Pedal and Great coupler
     
    Vox Tremolo
    Balanced Swell Pedal
           
Sources:
     Birk, Eric. Specification of Hall Organ, Op. 677 (1937), from dedication service program.
     Cone, Spencer H. "Sketch of The First Baptist Church, New York City," The New York Chronicle (Vol. I). New York: Holman & Gray, 1849.
     Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     First Baptist Church web site: http://www.firstbaptist-nyc.org
     "The Organ," The New York Weekly Review (Sept. 21, 1872). Specifications of Henry Erben organ (1872). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.

Illustrations:
     Birk, Eric. Console and display pipes of Hall Organ, Op. 677 (1937).
     First Baptist Church web site. Church building on Park Avenue.
     Glück, Sebastian M. Sanctuary and console of M.P. Möller organ, Op. R-169 (1985/2006).
     The New York Chronicle (Vol. I). New York: Holman & Gray, 1849. Drawing of church on Broome Street.
     Tsuruoka, Jeff. Exterior (2011).