St. Agnes Episcopal Chapel (Trinity Parish) - New York City
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Chapel of St. Agnes
(Episcopal)

West 92nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues
New York, N.Y. 10024


Organ Specifications:
► III/49 J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co., Op. 492 (1914)
► III/51 J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co., Op. 286 (1890)
►II/15 J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co., Op. 288 (1891) – Chapel


Following the Civil War, Trinity Church Parish decided to build a new "Chapel of Ease" and school complex in the developing "West Side" area of Manhattan. The chosen site was located in the middle of a long block bounded by 91st and 92nd Streets and between Ninth and Tenth Avenues. A competition was announced in July 1888, in which plans were solicited for a 1,500-seat church building with a clergy house and school. Competition guidelines suggested that the church should be entered from the north, due to its closer proximity to the elevated railroad station on Ninth Avenue at 93rd Street.

Six firms were each paid $1,000 to compete, including C.C. Haight, Henry M. Congdon, Frederick Clarke Withers, Richard Morris Hunt, W. Halsey Wood, and McKim, Mead & White. William A. Potter was also invited to compete, but at his own expense, since he was the half-brother of Bishop Henry Codman Potter, who was concerned about charges of nepotism. Potter won the competition for his Romanesque design, which featured a central lantern tower over the crossing, and a tall campanile tower at the west transept. The St. Agnes complex, completed in 1889, was constructed of light granite and brownstone, and was reminiscent of H.H. Richardson's Trinity Church in Boston. Despite grumblings of nepotism by others, the choice of William Potter was validated when Richard Morris Hunt wrote a congratulatory letter.

In 1943, when the adjoining Trinity School needed an athletic field, St. Agnes Chapel was closed and torn down the next year. The parish house at 121 West 91st Street is used by Trinity School and is protected as a landmark.
               
  St. Agnes Episcopal Chapel (Trinity Parish) - New York City (courtesy Larry Trupiano)
J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co.
New York City – Opus 492 (1914)
Electro-magnetic action
3 manuals, 44 stops, 49 ranks



In 1914, the Odell company replaced their 1890 instrument in St. Agnes Chapel. The new organ, although slightly smaller than its predecessor, employed electro-pneumatic action.
               
Great Organ (Manual II)
16
  Double Open Diapason  
4
  Flute Harmonique  
8
  First Open Diapason  
2 2/3
  Octave Quinte  
8
  Second Open Diapason  
2
   Super Octave  
8
  Viola di Gamba  
2
   Piccolo Harmonic  
8
   Doppel Flöte       Mixture, 4 ranks  
4
   Octave  
8
   Trumpet  
4
   Gambette  
4
   Clarion  
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual III), enclosed
16
  Bourdon  
4
   Hohl Flote  
8
  Open Diapason  
2
   Flageolet  
8
  Gamba  
  Cornet, 3 ranks  
8
  Salicional  
16
  Contra Fagotto  
8
  Vox Celestis  
8
  Cornopean  
8
  Clarionet Flute  
8
   Oboe  
4
   Octave  
8
   Vox Humana  
 
     
 
     
Choir Organ (Manual I), enclosed
16
  Lieblich Gedacht  
8
   Quintadena  
8
  Violin Diapason  
4
  Violina  
8
  Keraulophon  
4
   Rohr Flöte  
8
   Dulce d'Amour  
2
   Piccolo  
8
   Concert Flute  
8
   Clarinet  
               
Pedal Organ
32
  Contra Bourdon  
8
  Violoncelle  
16
  Open Diapason  
8
  Bass Flöte  
16
  Bourdon  
16
   Trombone  
               
  J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 286 (1890) in St. Agnes Episcopal Chapel (Trinity Parish) - New York City (Odell Company Brochure, 1896)
 
Photo in Odell brochure (1896)

J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co.
New York City – Opus 286 (1890)
Tubular-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 44 stops, 51 ranks




The following specification was recorded by F.R. Webber in one of his "Organ Scrapbooks," now in the collection of The Organ Historical Society Archives in Princeton, N.J. In 1914, the Odell Company replaced this organ with a new instrument.

               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes
16
  Double Open Diapason
58
4
  Flute Harmonique
58
8
  Open Diapason
58
2 2/3
  Octave Quinte
58
8
  Gemshorn
58
2
   Super Octave
58
8
  Viola di Gamba
58
2
   Piccolo Harmonic
58
8
   Doppel Flöte
58
     Mixture, 4 ranks
232
4
   Octave
58
8
   Trumpet [harmonic trebles]
58
4
   Gambette
58
4
   Clarion
58
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed
16
  Bourdon
58
4
   Hohl Flöte
58
8
  Open Diapason
58
2
   Flageolet
58
8
  Gamba
58
  Cornet, 5 ranks
290
8
  Salicional
58
16
  Contra Oboe
58
8
  Vox Celestis
58
8
  Cornopean
58
8
  Clarionet Flute
58
8
   Oboe
58
4
   Octave
58
8
   Vox Humana
58
 
     
 
     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
16
  Lieblich Gedacht
58
8
   Quintadena
58
8
  Violin Diapason
58
4
  Violina
58
8
  Keraulophon
58
4
   Rohr Flöte
58
8
   Dulce d'Amour
58
2
   Piccolo
58
8
   Concert Flute
58
8
   Clarinet
58
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
32
  Contra Bourdon
30
8
  Violoncelle
30
16
  Open Diapason
30
8
  Bass Flöte
30
16
  Bourdon
30
16
   Trombone
30
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal   Swell to Great
    Swell to Pedal   Choir to Great
    Choir to Pedal   Swell to Choir
               
Mechanical Registers, &c
    8 pneumatic combinations to Great Organ
    8 pneumatic combinations to Swell Organ
    2 composition pedals to Great Organ
    [Swell Tremulant]
    [Choir Tremulant]
    Balanced Swell Pedal
               
Organ installed in the Morning Chapel:

J.H. & C.S. Odell
New York City – Op. 288 (1891)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 14 stops, 15 ranks


The Morning Chapel contained a two-manual mechanical action organ, built in 1891 by the Odell Company.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
8
  Open Diapason
58
4
  Hohl Flöte
58
8
  Dulciana
58
4
   Principal
58
8
  Melodia [stop bass]
58
2
   Fifteenth
58
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
  Open Diapason [stop bass]
58
4
   Principal
58
8
  Salicional
58
2 2/3
  Mixture, 2 ranks [12-15]
116
8
  Stopped Diapason
58
8
  Oboe & Bassoon
58
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
  Bourdon
30
8
  Bass Flöte
30
               
Composition Pedals on Great Organ
    Piano          
    Forte          
               
Mechanical Registers, &c
    Swell to Great       Bellows Signal  
    Swell to Pedal       Tremulant  
    Great to Pedal       Balance Swell Pedal  
               
Sources:
     Dunlap, David. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Odell Company Opus List, compiled by Sand Lawn. Courtesy David Scribner.
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Scofield, Jeff. J.H. & C.S. Odell & Company brochure, "Metropolitan Churches", 1896.
     Stern, Robert A.M., Thomas Mellins, and David Fishman. New York 1880: Architecture and Urbanism in the Gilded Age. New York City: The Monacelli Press, 1999.
     "Third Generation Active," The Diapason, November, 1914. Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Contract of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 288 (1891).
     Webber, F.R. "Organ scrapbook" at Organ Historical Society Archives, Princeton, N.J. Stoplist of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 286 (1890). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.

Illustrations:
     J.H. & C.S. Odell & Company brochure, "Metropolitan Churches," pub. 1896. Interior.
     New York 1880: Architecture and Urbanism in the Gilded Age. Exterior, c.1896.
     Trupiano, Larry. Photo showing pulpit and façade of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 492 (1914).