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Bedford-Central Presbyterian Church

1200 Dean Street at Nostrand Avenue
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11216
http://www.bedfordcentral.org/


Organ Specifications:
1200 Dean Street at Nostrand Avenue (since 1898)
Church building (since 1910)
► III/80 Allen Organ Company electronic (2002)
► III/29 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 1029 (1909)
Chapel–Sunday School building (since 1898)
• II/6 Wicks Organ Company, Op. 3055 (1950)
• unknown (c.1898)
Classon Avenue, near Park Place (1875-1898)
• unknown
Baltic Street and Classon Avenue (1871-1875)
• unknown
Atlantic and Grand Avenue (1868-1871)
• unknown


The Bedford-Central Presbyterian Church can trace its roots to an apple tree in a field at Vanderbilt and Atlantic Avenues where Henry Newcomb ministered to children who had little or no education. This eventually led to the creation of a school on July 4th of 1852. After outgrowing an attic, the school moved to a barn on Dean Street and Underhill Avenue which became Mt. Prospect Mission School, under the leadership of SuperintendentSilas Davenport.

Worship services were held at the Atlantic Avenue chapel of the Clinton Avenue Congregation Church under the leadership of A. S. Barnes. A chapel was built in 1871 at Classon Avenue, between Park and Sterling place. This new Congregational Church of the Covenant had two pastors, first Dr. Brothwall and then Dr. Henry Waite. The church was later renamed Trinity Congregational Church in 1892.

In February 1894, the congregation affiliated with the Presbyterian denomination and was renamed Bedford Presbyterian Church. What is now the chapel was then used for worship services but the membership outgrew its 600 seating capacity.

Allen Organ (2002) and case of the M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 1029 (1909) in Bedford-Central Presbyterian Church - Brooklyn, NY (Allen Organ Studios)  
Present interior showing 1909 Möller organ case  

By 1909, the congregation had grown from 101 to 742 members, while the Sunday school grew from 81 to 900, hence, the necessity for the building that is now the main Sanctuary. Through the sacrificial giving of the congregation, the entire cost of $100,000 was paid in full. The three-manual electric-action organ cost an additional $10,000 and the rose window in the back was donated by the Sunday School at a cost of $500. The entire structure was dedicated in 1910.

Central Presbyterian Church united with Bedford on January 1, 1944, taking the name Bedford-Central Presbyterian Church. On May 1, 1961, Classon Avenue Presbyterian Church merged into Bedford-Central Church.

           
  Allen Organ (2002) in Bedford-Central Presbyterian Church - Brooklyn, NY (Allen Organ Studios)
Allen Organ Company
Macungie, Penn.(2002)
Electronic tonal production (Renaissance Model)
3 manuals, 80 stops



The present organ is an electronic instrument built in 2002 by the Allen Organ Company.
           
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, expressive
16
  Double Diapason
16
   Double Trumpet
16
   Bourdon
8
   Tromba
8
  Diapason     Tremulant
8
  Bourdon     Chimes
8
  Harmonic Flute     Solo on Great
8
   Gamba      
4
  Octave     Second Voices
4
  Spitzflute
16
   Quintaten
2 2/3
   Twelfth
8
   Prinzipal
2
   Fifteenth
8
   Metalgedackt
2
   Waldflute
4
   Oktav
    Mixture IV ranks     Sesquialtera II ranks
    Sharp Mixture III ranks     Carillon

         
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, expressive
16
  Bourdon doux     Swell to Swell 16'
8
  Geigen Diapason     Swell Unison Off
8
  Bourdon     Swell to Swell 4'
8
  Flute Celeste II ranks     Solo on Swell
8
   Salicional     English Swell
8
   Voix Celeste      
4
   Octave Geigen     Second Voices
4
   Traverse Flute
8
   Open Diapason
2 2/3
   Nasard
8
   Viole d'Orchestre
2
  Piccolo
8
   Viole Celeste
1 3/5
   Tierce
8
   Erzähler Celeste
    Fourniture IV ranks
4
   Octave
16
   Contre Trompette     Mixture V ranks
8
   Trompette
16
   Double Trumpet
8
   Hautbois
8
   Trumpet
8
   Voix Humaine
8
   Orchestral Oboe
4
   Clairon
8
   Vox Humana
    Tremulant
4
   Clarion
    Celesta (SO)      
           
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, expressive
16
   Contra Viole
1 1/3
   Quintflöte
8
  Holzgedackt     Cymbale III ranks
8
  Viole
16
   Rankett
8
  Viole Celeste
8
   Cromorne
4
  Prinzipal     Tremulant
4
   Koppelflöte     Choir Unison Off
4
   Violes II ranks     Solo on Choir
2
   Oktav      
           
Solo Organ (Floating) – 61 notes, expressive
16
   Gamba Celeste II ranks
8
   French Horn
8
  Flauto Mirabilis
8
  Corno d'Bassetto
8
  Solo Gamba
8
   Cor Anglais
8
  Gamba Celeste
4
   Octave Mirabilis
4
   Gambette Celeste II ranks     Tremulant
16
   Tuba Mirabilis     Harpsichord
8
   Tuba Mirabilis     Celesta
           
Pedal Organ – 32 notes, expressive
64
   Resultant     Mixture IV ranks
32
   Contre Bourdon
32
   Contre Bombarde
32
   Contra Violone
32
   Contre Double Trumpet (GT)
16
  Diapason
16
   Bombarde
16
  Bourdon
16
   Double Trumpet (GT)
16
  Bourdon doux (SW)
8
   Trompette
16
   Contra Gamba (SO)
4
   Clarion
16
   VIolone     Solo on Pedal
8
   Octave      
8
   Gedacktflöte     Second Voices
8
   Gamba (SO)
16
   Prinzipal
4
   Choralbass
16
   Posaune
4
   Flute
8
   Oktav
           
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'     Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'     Choir to Great 8'
    Choir to Pedal 8'     Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
         
  M.P. Moller organ, Op. 1029 (1909) in Bedford Presbyterian Church - Brooklyn, N.Y.
   
M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 1029 (1909)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 37 stops, 29 ranks


The original organ in the present church was built in 1909 by M.P. Möller of Hagerstown, Md. From the handwritten copy of the contract (dated July 21, 1909), we read that Möller agreed to "build an organ complete and ready for use on or before the 1st day of December A.D. 1909 or as soon thereafter is possible." Additional notes indicate that the organ was actually shipped on two dates: December 24th and January 19, 1910. The total cost of the organ was $8,000 with Möller receiving "the old organ now in the church together with the electrical motor and other appurtenances at the completion of the organ."

This organ was tonally changed in 1980 and then removed in 2002 when an Allen electronic organ was installed.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, partially enclosed with Choir
16
   Double Open Diapason
61
8
   Gemshorn *
61
8
   1st Open Diapason
61
4
   Principal
61
8
   2nd Open Diapason
61
16
   Tuba Major * [unit]
85
8
   Doppel Floete *
61
8
   Tuba Mirabilis *
—
8
   Gross Floete
61
4
   Tuba Clarion *
—
           
* enclosed in Choir box
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Lieblich Gedackt
73
4
   Flute Harmonique
73
8
   Open Diapason
73
     Dolce Cornet III ranks
219
8
   Gedackt
73
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Quintadena
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
73
8
   Vox Humana
73
8
   Viol Celeste
73
     Tremulant  
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Geigen Principal
73
4
   Flute d'Amour
73
8
   Concert Flute
73
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Dulciana
73
     Tremulant  
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
32
   Resultant
—
8
   Octave
—
16
   Open Diapason [unit]
42
8
   Flute
—
16
   Bourdon [unit]
42
16
   Ophecleide
GT
16
   Violone [Dbl. Op. Diap.]
GT
8
   Tuba
GT
16
   Lieblich Gedackt
SW
4
   Clarion
GT
               
Couplers (Tilting tablets, except as noted)
    Great to Pedal 8'       Swell 16', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8'       Choir 16', 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8'       Compound Coupler Cancel **
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'       Swell Unison Separation [key jamb]
    Choir to Great 16', 8'       Great Unison Separation [key jamb]
    Swell to Choir 8'      
Choir Unison Separation [key jamb]
       
** operated by pistons under Swell & Great
               
Mechanicals
    [Swell Tremulant]   Wind Indicator
    [Choir Tremulant]   Crescendo Indicator
               
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Swell & Pedal stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Great & Pedal stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Choir & Pedal stops
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Expression Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Choir Expression Pedal    
    Grand Crescendo Pedal    
         
Wicks Organ Company
Highland, Ill. – Opus 3055 (1950)
Direct-Electric ® action
2 manuals, 6 ranks


Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
           
Sources:
     Allen Organ Studios (Mineola, N.Y.) web site: http://www.allenorgans-nyc.com/
     Bedford-Central Presbyterian Church web site: http://www.bedfordcentral.org/
     "Church of the Covenant," Brooklyn Eagle (Feb. 17, 1872).
     "Have a Pastor," Brooklyn Eagle (Sep. 17, 1891).
     "A New Building," Brooklyn Eagle (Feb. 20, 1897).
     "New Presbyterian Chapel," Brooklyn Eagle (Jan. 16, 1897).
     "Opening a New Chapel," Brooklyn Eagle (Feb. 8, 1898).
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications for M.P. Möller organ, Op. 1029 (1909).
     "Will Erect a New Church," Brooklyn Eagle (May 3, 1897).

Illustrations:
     Allen Organ Studios web site: Allen Organ Company Renaissance Console (2002).
     Organ Historical Society Archives. M.P. Möller organ, Op. 1029 (1904). Courtesy Bynum Petty.