Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit - New York City
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Church of the Holy Spirit
(Episcopal)

775 Madison Avenue at 66th Street
New York, N.Y. 10021


Organ Specifications:
775 Madison Avenue at 66th Street (1883-1890)
► III/34 Hilborne L. Roosevelt, Op. 149 (1883)
123 East 57th Street (1878-1883)
► II/18 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 161 (1878)


Church of the Advent (Episcopal) - New York City (1877 Engraving; NYPL Collection)  
Church of the Advent (1877)  
The Protestant Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit was organized in 1878 by the Rev. Edmund Guilbert who had amassed a nucleus of a congregation in that same year. Under Dr. Guilbert's leadership as rector, the new society acquired the edifice erected in 1870 by the Church of the Advent, an Episcopal congregation that had split over the introduction of a reformed Prayer Book. After enlarging and refitting the building, the 600-seat church was formally opened on March 10, 1878.

Three years later, on June 18, 1881, the cornerstone was laid for a new edifice on the northeast corner of Madison Avenue and 66th Street. Occupying three city lots, the buildings had a frontage on the avenue of 69 feet, with a depth of 100 feet. Architect R. H. Robinson of New York designed a Romanesque Revival complex with a large church that could seat 950, plus a chantry and rectory. The stone walls were of a brownish tint, relieved by horizontal courses of stones of a lighter hue, and at the corner was an octagonal tower capped by a conical steeple.

In 1889, the Church of the Holy Spirit was absorbed by All Souls' Episcopal Church – also known as Anthon Memorial – whose congregation desired to move to the more fashionable Madison Avenue. As there was no shortage of Episcopal churches in the area, and the Diocesan Standing Committee forbade the erection of a church building within the territory of another parish, the rector of All Souls, the Rev. Dr. R. Heber Newton, approached Dr. Guilbert about merging the two congregations. All Souls Church had no property to speak of but was a wealthy congregation, while Holy Spirit had a splendid building but was heavily in debt. An agreement was made where the combined congregations would be known as All Souls Church, with Dr. Newton serving as rector. Dr. Guilbert retired with a severence of four years' salary, or $10,000, in recognition of his excellent work. The All Souls congregation remained on Madison Avenue until 1905, when they relocated to St. Nicholas Avenue in Harlem.
           
Hilborne L. Roosevelt
New York City – Opus 149 (1883)
Tracker-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 32 stops, 34 ranks


For their new building on Madison Avenue, the Church of the Holy Spirit contracted with Hilborne L. Roosevelt to move the two-manual organ built in 1878 by J.H. & C.S. Odell (Op. 161) for their previous church at 123 East 57th Street. Roosevelt enlarged the organ to three manuals for a consideration of $8,000.

In 1890, the Roosevelt organ was replaced by a new three-manual organ built by J.H. & C.S. Odell (Op. 283). (See page on All Souls Church.) In 1892, Odell sold and moved the Roosevelt organ to St. Patrick's Church, Columbus, Ohio, where it was rebuilt to serve in its new location at a cost of $3,600.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 56 notes
8
   Open Diapason
56
4
   Principal
56
8
   Keraulophon [1-12 grooved]
56
4
   Flute [TC]
44
8
   Viola di Gamba
56
2
   Fifteenth
56
8
   Stopped Diapason
56
8
   Trumpet
56
8
   Clarabella [1-12 grooved]
56
        

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 56 notes, enclosed
16
   Open Diapason [TC]
44
4
   Flute Harmonique
56
8
   Open Diapason
56
2 2/3
   Octave Quint
56
8
   Stopped Diapason
56
2
   Super Octave
56
8
   Salicional [1-12 grooved]
56
     Cornet 3 ranks
168
8
   Dolce
56
8
   Cornopean
56
4
   Octave
56
8
   Oboe [TC]
44
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 56 notes, enclosed
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt [TC]
44
4
   Fugara
56
8
   Open Diapason
56
2 2/3
   Twelfth
56
8
   Dulciana
56
2
   Piccolo
56
8
   Stopped Diapason
56
8
   Clarionette [TC]
44
               
Pedal Organ – 25 notes
16
   Open Diapason
25
8
   Violoncello
25
16
   Bourdon
25
    
               
Couplers
    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   Bellows Signal
   
      Eclipse Wind Indicator  
               
Pedal Movements
    Great Organ Forte   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Great Organ Piano   Balanced Swell Pedal
    Swell Organ Forte   Balanced Choir Pedal
    Swell Organ Piano    
           
Organ in church located at 123 East 57th Street:

J.H. & C.S. Odell
New York City – Opus 161 (1878)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 18 stops, 18 ranks


"Specification of an Organ for Rev. Mr. E. Gilbert [sic] Church 57th Street, N.Y.
To have two Manuals and a Pedal
Compass of Manuals from CC to G 56 notes
Compass of Pedals from CCC to C 25 notes
To be enclosed in a case of appropriate style, and design made of chestnut trimed [sic] with walnut — with large speaking pipes in front — handsomely decorated in gold & color and to contain the following stops and arrangements. Viz.

"Some parts of this organ to be made from an old organ taking such parts as are good and making new where new is needed. The entire Manual & Pedal action to be new. The Keys and all the couplers to be new and of the latest and most modern [Pat...]."
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 56 notes
8
   Open Diapason
56
4
   Principal
56
8
   Keraulophon [TC]
44
4
   Flute [TC]
44
8
   Stop Diapason Bass
12
2
   Fifteenth
56
8
   Stop Diapason Treble [TC]
44
8
   Cherubina [free reed] [TC]
44
8
   Clarabella [TC]
44
8
   Trumpet [TC]
44

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 56 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon [TC]
44
4
   Principal
56
8
   Open Diapason [TC]
44
3
   Twelfth
56
8
   Dulciana
56
2
   Fifteenth
56
8
   Stop Diapason Bass
12
8
   Oboe [TC]
44
8
   Stop Diapason Treble [TC]
44
     Tremulant  
               
Pedal Organ – 25 notes
16
   Grand Bourdon
25
        
               
Couplers &c
    Swell to Great       Bellows Signal  
    Swell to Pedal       [Swell Pedal]  
    Great to Pedal          
           
Sources:
     "Church of the Holy Spirit," The New York Times (June 19, 1881).
     "Church Openings," The New York Times (Mar. 11, 1878).
     "Church Societies Unite," The New York Times (Nov. 6, 1889).
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Shinn, The Rev. George Wolfe, D.D. King's Handbook of Notable Episcopal Churches In the United States. Boston: Moses King Corporation, 1889.
     Trupiano, Larry. Articles of Agreement (Jan. 2, 1892) by J.H. & C.S. Odell with specifications of Hilborne L. Roosevelt Organ, Op. 149 (1883).
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specification of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 161 (1878).

Illustrations:
     Engraving (Feb. 24, 1877) of Church of the Advent (Episcopal). New York Public Library Collection.
     Shinn, Rev. George Wolfe. King's Handbook of Notable Episcopal Churches In the United States. Drawing of 1883 church building.