 |
Click on images to enlarge |
Church of the Holy Communion
(Episcopal)
47 West 20th Street at Sixth Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10016
The Protestant Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion was founded in 1844 by Rev. William Augustus Muhlenberg (1796-1877), a clergyman who would later be called "a living epitome" of the Episcopal Church's history. A native of Philadelphia, Dr. Muhlenberg established St. Paul's College in Flushing, L.I., an institution he had founded in 1828 and would lead for nearly twenty years. He possessed a keen sense of social responsibility at a time when the Episcopal Church was not yet involved. Following the death of his brother-in-law, John Rogers, whose dying wish was to establish a house of God "where rich and poor might meet together," his sister, Anna C. Rogers, financed the new church as a memorial to her husband.
Land was procured on the northeast corner of Sixth Avenue and West 20th Street, at that time a second-rate residential district surrounded by fields. On July 25, 1844, the cornerstone was laid for a church designed by Richard Upjohn and built from 1844-1846. Upjohn's small building resembled a small medieval English parish church and was noted for being the first asymmetrical rustic Gothic Revival edifice in the United States, a design that would be copied by many churches throughout the country. Dr. Muhlenberg, a leader in the evangelical Catholic movement of the Episcopal Church, was closely involved with the design, suggesting the use of transepts and other features that were more typical of Roman Catholic churches. The completed church was consecrated on December 13, 1846. Upjohn would add a rectory and parish house in 1850, and the Sisters' House in 1853.
The Church of the Holy Communion was the first church in New York to have free pews. It was also one of the first to have weekly communion services. Its sisterhood of women church works, begun in 1852, opened new fields of church social ministry for women. In 1883, the church hosted the first convention of black Episcopal clergymen.
By the mid-20th century, the area around the church had become highly industrialized and the congregation decreased in size and wealth. In 1966, through the efforts of its rector, the Church of the Holy Communion (Episcopal) Complex was designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. In 1976, the dwindling congregations of Calvary, Holy Communion, and St. George's churches were combined, after which Holy Communion's building was vacated and deconsecrated. The building was then used as a drug-rehabilitation center by the Odyssey Institute. In 1980, the building complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1983, Odyssey sold the building to Peter Gatien, who transformed the buildings into the infamous Limelight disco. After being linked with widespread drug trafficking, the Limelight was closed in 1996. The club was reopened in 2002 as Avalon, but that effort was short-lived. In 2010, the building was again transformed, this time into a shopping mall. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schantz Organ Company
Orrville, Ohio – Opus 1200 (1972)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 39 registers, 31 stops, 39 ranks
In 1972, the Schantz Organ Company was selected to build an entirely new three-manual organ for Church of the Holy Communion. Schantz installed the organ in the chancel chamber formerly occupied by the 1926 Skinner organ. When the church was slated to be closed, the Schantz organ was moved to St. Aeden's Roman Catholic Church in Jersey City, N.J. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
|
16 |
|
Quintaton |
61 |
4 |
|
Octave |
61 |
8 |
|
Principal |
61 |
2 |
|
Super Octave |
61 |
8 |
|
Bourdon |
61 |
|
|
Fourniture IV ranks |
244 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
|
16 |
|
Rohrflöte |
61 |
1 3/5 |
|
Tierce |
61 |
8 |
|
Viola |
61 |
|
|
Plein Jeu IV ranks |
244 |
8 |
|
Viola Celeste |
61 |
16 |
|
Contra Fagotto |
73 |
4 |
|
Principal |
61 |
8 |
|
Trompette |
61 |
4 |
|
Koppelflöte |
61 |
8 |
|
Fagotto (fr. 16') |
— |
2 2/3 |
|
Nasard (TC) |
49 |
4 |
|
Clairon |
61 |
2 |
|
Waldflöte |
61 |
|
|
Tremulant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
|
8 |
|
Holzflöte |
61 |
2 |
|
Principal |
61 |
8 |
|
Flauto Dolce |
61 |
1 1/3 |
|
Larigot |
61 |
8 |
|
Flute Celeste (TC) |
49 |
8 |
|
Cromorne |
61 |
4 |
|
Gemshorn |
61 |
|
|
Tremulant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
|
32 |
|
Resultant |
— |
4 |
|
Gedackt (fr. 8') |
— |
16 |
|
Principal |
32 |
2 |
|
Gedackt (fr. 8') |
— |
16 |
|
Subbass |
32 |
|
|
Mixture III ranks |
96 |
16 |
|
Quintaton |
GT |
16 |
|
Posaune |
32 |
8 |
|
Octave |
44 |
16 |
|
Contra Fagotto |
SW |
8 |
|
Gedackt |
56 |
4 |
|
Fagotto |
SW |
4 |
|
Choralbass (fr. 8' Octave) |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Couplers
|
|
|
"Standard couplers less Gt to Gt 16' " |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Skinner Organ Company
Boston, Mass. – Opus 185-A (1926)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 45 registers, 32 stops, 35 ranks
In 1926, the Skinner Organ Company returned to rebuild their Op. 185 from 1911, under the supervision of Lynnwood Farnam, organist of the church. In 1928, Mr. Farnam presented 40 recitals in twenty programs of the complete organ works of J.S. Bach. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
|
16 |
|
Bourdon (ext. PED) |
17 |
8 |
|
Erzahler |
61 |
8 |
|
Diapason One |
61 |
4 |
|
Octave |
61 |
8 |
|
Diapason Two |
61 |
4 |
|
Flute |
61 |
8 |
|
Philomela |
PED |
2 |
|
Fifteenth |
61 |
8 |
|
Soft Flute |
61 |
8 |
|
Tuba |
SO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
|
16 |
|
Bourdon |
61 |
1 3/5 |
|
Tierce * |
58 |
8 |
|
Gedeckt |
61 |
|
|
Mixture III ranks |
183 |
8 |
|
Gamba |
73 |
16 |
|
English Horn (TC) |
49 |
8 |
|
Salicional |
73 |
8 |
|
Cornopean |
61 |
8 |
|
Voix Celeste (TC) |
61 |
8 |
|
Oboe |
61 |
8 |
|
Echo Dulcet |
61 |
8 |
|
Vox Humana |
61 |
8 |
|
Spitzfloete |
61 |
|
|
Tremolo |
|
4 |
|
Flute |
61 |
|
|
* notes 1-33 are 2' pitch |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
|
16 |
|
Gamba |
61 |
8 |
|
Clarinet |
61 |
8 |
|
Concert Flute |
61 |
|
|
Tremolo |
|
8 |
|
Quintadena |
61 |
8 |
|
|
8 |
|
Unda Maris II ranks |
110 |
|
|
Blank |
|
1 1/3 |
|
Larigot |
61 |
|
|
Blank |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
|
8 |
|
Philomela |
PED |
|
|
Blank |
|
16 |
|
Ophicleide ** |
61 |
|
|
Blank |
|
8 |
|
Tuba ** |
61 |
|
|
Blank |
|
4 |
|
Clarion ** |
61 |
|
|
** enclosed in Choir |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
|
16 |
|
Open Wood |
44 |
32 |
|
Bombarde ++ |
4 |
16 |
|
Pedal Pipes + |
6 |
16 |
|
Ophicleide |
SO |
16 |
|
Bourdon |
56 |
8 |
|
Tuba |
SO |
16 |
|
Second Bourdon |
SW |
4 |
|
Clarion |
SO |
16 |
|
Gamba |
CH |
|
|
|
|
8 |
|
Octave (fr. 16' Op. Wd.) |
— |
|
|
+ CCC, CCC#, DDD, DDD#, EEE, AAA |
8 |
|
Gedeckt (fr. 16' Bdn.) |
— |
|
|
++ GGGG, AAAA, AAAA#, BBBB |
8 |
|
Cello |
CH |
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
Bourdon (fr. 16') |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
From The American Organist (January 1931):
The organ was originally installed in 1911 with 29 ranks, a rebuild of the church's Roosevelt. Following are notes by the church's organist, Lynnwood Farnam, on some of the changes in the 1928 work: |
|
|
|
1. |
|
The Pedal Pipes stop was added in the north transept in 1928 as a "booster" for certain pipes of the Pedal Open Wood, whose effect in the church is weak. |
|
2. |
|
Pedal Bourdon 4' (formerly Quint 10 2/3') rewired to its present most useful purpose in 1925. |
|
3. |
|
The four Bombarde pipes in the north transept, added in February 1929, in place of the four Bourdon 32' pipes. |
|
4. |
|
Great Fifteenth 2' added December 1928, the pipes and chest being the gift of Mr. William H. Barnes of Chicago. |
|
5. |
|
Swell Gamba replaced Diapason in 1924. |
|
6. |
|
Swell Echo Dulcet added in 1928. |
|
7. |
|
Swell Tierce (formerly Flautino 2') transposed pipes in treble. |
|
8. |
|
Choir Larigot (formerly Piccolo 2') transposed pipes in treble. |
|
9. |
|
All pistons move registers, excepting Great 5, 6, 7, which are adjustable at switch-board. |
|
10. |
|
Crescendo pedal gives a moderate full combination without manual 16' tone. |
|
11. |
|
The 16' tone on "Sforzando" pedal is provided by the coupler 16' Swell to Great, none of the straight 16' manual stops being included. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Ernest M. Skinner Co.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 185 (1910)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 45 registers, 28 stops, 29 ranks
In 1910, The Ernest M. Skinner Co., of Boston, rebuilt
the 1891 two-manual Roosevelt organ, enlarging it to four manuals and
a total of 29 ranks, with preparations
for many additional ranks. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
|
16 |
|
Bourdon (ext. PED) |
17 |
8 |
|
|
8 |
|
First Diapason |
61 |
4 |
|
Octave |
61 |
8 |
|
Second Diapason |
61 |
4 |
|
Flute |
61 |
8 |
|
Philomela |
61 |
|
|
Mixture III ranks |
preparation |
|
8 |
|
Soft Flute |
61 |
8 |
|
Tuba |
61 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
|
16 |
|
Bourdon |
61 |
|
|
Mixture IV ranks |
preparation |
|
8 |
|
Diapason |
61 |
16 |
|
Horn [TC, 1-12 prep.] |
49 |
8 |
|
Spitz Flute |
61 |
8 |
|
Cornopean |
61 |
8 |
|
Gedackt |
61 |
8 |
|
|
8 |
|
Salicional |
61 |
4 |
|
|
8 |
|
Voix Celestes II ranks |
122 |
8 |
|
Vox Humana [old type] |
61 |
4 |
|
Flute |
61 |
|
|
Tremolo |
|
2 |
|
Flautino |
61 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
|
16 |
|
Gamba |
61 |
2 |
|
|
8 |
|
Concert Flute |
61 |
8 |
|
Clarinet |
61 |
8 |
|
Dulcet II ranks |
preparation |
|
8 |
|
Orchestral Oboe |
61 |
8 |
|
Quintadena |
61 |
|
|
Tremolo |
|
8 |
|
Unda Maris II ranks |
122 |
8 |
|
|
4 |
|
Flute |
61 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed with Choir
|
8 |
|
Philomela |
GT |
8 |
|
Orchestral Oboe |
CH |
8 |
|
Concert Flute |
CH |
16 |
|
Ophecleide |
85 |
4 |
|
Flute |
CH |
8 |
|
Tuba (fr. Ophec.) |
— |
8 |
|
Clarinet |
CH |
4 |
|
Clarion (fr. Ophec.) |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pedal Organ – 32 notes ("Augmented")
|
32 |
|
|
8 |
|
Octave (fr. 16' Diap.) |
— |
16 |
|
Diapason |
44 |
8 |
|
Gedackt (fr. 1st Bdn.) |
— |
16 |
|
First Bourdon |
44 |
8 |
|
'Cello |
CH |
16 |
|
Second Bourdon |
SW |
16 |
|
Ophecleide |
SO |
16 |
|
Gamba |
CH |
8 |
|
Tuba |
SO |
10 2/3 |
|
Quinte (fr. 1st Bdn.) |
— |
4 |
|
Clarion |
SO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Couplers
|
|
|
Swell to Pedal 8', 4' |
|
Solo to Great |
|
|
Great to Pedal 8' |
|
Swell to Choir |
|
|
Choir to Pedal 8', 4' |
|
Solo to Choir |
|
|
Solo to Pedal 8', 4' |
|
Swell to Swell 16', 4' |
|
|
Swell to Great 16', 8', 4' |
|
Choir to Choir 16', 4' |
|
|
Choir to Great 16', 8' |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjustable Combinations ("Visibly Operating the Draw Stop Knobs, and adjustable at Console.")
|
|
|
Swell Organ |
1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb) |
Great Organ |
1-2-3-4 (thumb) |
Choir Organ |
1-2-3-4-5 (thumb) |
Solo Organ |
1-2-3-4 (thumb) |
Entire Organ |
1-2-3-4 (toe) Fixed Manual and Pedal Combinations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pedal Movements
|
|
|
Balanced Swell Pedal |
|
|
Solo to Pedal Reversible (toe) |
|
|
Balanced Choir & Solo Pedal |
|
|
Great to Pedal Reversible (toe) |
|
|
Balanced Crescendo |
|
|
Swell to Pedal Reversible (toe) |
|
|
Sforzando (toe) |
|
|
Choir to Pedal Reversible (toe) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank Roosevelt
New York City – Opus 493 (1891)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 28 ranks
In 1891, Frank Roosevelt rebuilt his brother's Opus 1 organ. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hilborne L. Roosevelt
New York City – Opus 1 (1873)
Tracker-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 30 registers, 25 stops, 28 ranks
Hilborne L. Roosevelt's first organ was built in 1873 for the Church of the Holy Communion, of which his family were members. The following description is from the contract:
The Pneumatic Lever is applied to Great, Swell and Couplers. The Twelfth, Fifteenth, Mixture, Trumpet and Clarion of the Great stand in the Swell Box.
It has been the object of the builder to endeavor to combine in this instrument, the best points in the English, French, and German Schools of Organ Building. The "Sound Boards" and "Combination Pedals" are constructed on Walker's principles.
The "Regulator" for supplying a steady pressure of wind; and the more extensive use of metal in the construction of the "Action" are of French origin; as are also the "Reed Stops."
The "Diapasons" are of the English School.
Among the novelties introduced, the most curious is the "Electro-Melody" Organ—(an invention of the builder)—which is especially useful in leading congregational singing, as the Melody of the Upper Note is heard above the rest of the harmony. Most novel Crescendo and Diminuendo effects are produced by the used of the "Balanced Swell Pedal."
Especial attention is called to the "Pneumatic Action" of this organ, which renders the touch, even with all the "Couplers" drawn, as light as that of a Pinao, though some of the pipes are forty feet from the keys.
The builder has endeavored to give to each stop a decided character of tone. Pure Tin is used in the "Reeds" and "Gambas."
The entire interior is finished in varnish, which not only addes to its appearance, but serves to protect it to a great extent from the action of the weather. The Case and Decorations were designed by Mr. Robert H. Robertson, No. 56 Wall Street.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes, partially enclosed with Swell
|
16 |
|
Open Diapason |
58 |
2 2/3 |
|
Twelfth * |
58 |
8 |
|
Open Diapason |
58 |
2 |
|
Fifteenth * |
58 |
8 |
|
Dulciana |
58 |
|
|
Mixture, 4 ranks * |
232 |
8 |
|
Rohrflöte |
58 |
8 |
|
Trumpet * |
58 |
8 |
|
Gamba |
58 |
4 |
|
Clarion * |
58 |
4 |
|
Principal |
58 |
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
Harmonic Flute |
58 |
|
|
* enclosed with Swell |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electro-Melody Organ (Manual I) – affecting selected stops of Great Organ
|
8 |
|
Open Diapason |
|
2 |
|
Fifteenth |
|
8 |
|
Gamba |
|
8 |
|
Trumpet |
|
4 |
|
Flute |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed
|
8 |
|
Open Diapason |
58 |
4 |
|
Principal |
58 |
8 |
|
Keraulophon |
58 |
2 |
|
Flageolet |
58 |
8 |
|
Stopped Diapason |
58 |
8 |
|
Trumpet |
58 |
8 |
|
Harmonica |
58 |
8 |
|
Oboe |
58 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pedal Organ – 27 notes
|
16 |
|
Open Diapason |
27 |
8 |
|
Violoncello |
27 |
16 |
|
Bourdon |
27 |
4 |
|
Principal |
27 |
16 |
|
Contrebass |
27 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Couplers
|
|
|
Great to Pedal |
|
Swell to Great |
|
|
Swell to Pedal |
|
Great Octaves on itself |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pedal Movements
|
|
|
Full Organ Combination |
|
|
|
Full Swell Combination |
|
|
|
Full Great Combination |
|
|
|
Mezzo Swell Combination |
|
|
|
Mezzo Great Combination |
|
|
|
Balanced Swell Pedal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hall & Labagh
New York City (1846)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 22 stops
The American Musical Directory of 1861 shows that this organ had "2 banks keys, 22 stops, 1½ octaves pedals" and was "Built by Hall & Labagh, in 1846." Specifications for this organ have not yet been located. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sources:
Aeolian-Skinner Archives website: http://aeolianskinner.organsociety.org/
American Musical Directory. New York: Thomas Hutchinson, 1861.
The American Organist (Jan. 1931). Specifications of Skinner Organ, Op. 185-A (1928).
Armentrout, Don S. and Robert Boak Slocum, eds. An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church. New York: Church Publishing Inc., 2000.
Blanchard, Homer D. "The Organ in the United States: A Study in Design." Specifications of Hilborne L. Roosevelt Organ, Op. 1 (1873). The Bicentennial Tracker. Richmond: Organ Historical Society, Inc., 1976, p. 50.
Appleton, Floyd. Church Philanthropy in New York: A Study of the Philanthropic Institutions of the Protestant Episcopal Churches in the City of New York. New York: Doctoral Thesis, Columbia University, 1906.
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.
Dunlap, David. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
Hawke, H. William. "Some Farnam Registrations," The American Organist (July 1956). Specifications of Hilborne L. Roosevelt Organ, Op. 1 (1873).
Holden, Dorothy. The Life and Work of Ernest M. Skinner. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1987.
"Holy Communion Church Rededicated," The New York Observer (Oct. 6, 1910):443-44.
Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List (New Revised Edition). Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.
Lossing, Benson J. History of New York City, Embracing an Outline Sketch of Events From 1609 to 1830, and a Full Account of its Development from 1830 to 1884. New York: The Perine Engraving and Publishing Co. 1884.
Ogasapian, John. Organ Building in New York City: 1700-1900. Braintree: The Organ Literature Foundation, 1977.
Schantz Organ Company. Specifications of Schantz Organ, Op. 1200 (1972).
"Stop, Open and Reed – a Periodical Presentation of Pipe Organ Progress." Boston: Skinner Organ Company, 1922-1927.
Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of Ernest M. Skinner Organ, Op. 185 (1910).
Wilson, James Grant, ed. The Centennial History of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of New York 1785–1885. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1886, p.441-442.
Wilson, James Grant, ed. The Memorial History of the City of New York from Its First Settlement to the Year 1892. New York: New-York History Company, 1893.
Illustrations:
Owen, Robert Dale. Hints on Public Architecture. New York: George P. Putnam, 1849. Lithograph, by Ackerman, of Church of the Holy Communion.
Schantz Organ Company advertisement featuring Schantz organ, Op. 1200 (1972). The American Organist (Nov. 1973).
Episcopal Diocese of New York Archives: 1901 and 1946 photos of interior. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|