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Christ Church, Cobble Hill
(Episcopal)

326 Clinton Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11231


Organ Specifications:
► III/30 M.P. Moller, Inc., Op. 6837 (1940)
► III/37 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 310 (1893)
• Henry Erben (1845)
• Unknown builder (1837)


Christ Church (in the Fourth Ward of Brooklyn), was organized on 18 May 1835, one year after the incorporation of Brooklyn as a city, as the fourth Episcopal congregation in Brooklyn. Designed by the renowned architect and member of the parish, Richard Upjohn, who designed Trinity Church, Wall Street in New York and the gates of Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, the current building was consecrated in 1842. The interior of the church was completely renovated and decorated in 1916 by Louis Comfort Tiffany, now remembered primarily for his artistry in forming lampshades out of glass, but better known in Brooklyn for his church windows. The Christ Church redecoration was his last personal commission and may be seen as the summation of his decorative church work.

Christ Church, Cobble Hill - Brooklyn, New York  
Early on Sunday morning, 26 February 1939, the church building was destroyed by fire. Although it was eventually rebuilt, all but six widows in the nave were destroyed. One of the windows not lost in the fire, the window depicting the Annunciation, had originally been in the side splays of the windows above the High Altar. Tiffany had moved that window and placed it behind the Baptistery to make way for his new Adoration of the Magi window, which, sadly, was destroyed in the fire. The Annunciation window remains behind the Baptistery and dates to the origin of the building. The basic interior is still Tiffany's, especially evident in the sanctuary, High Altar, Pulpit, and Lectern, where his use of uncut semi-precious stones and iridescent tile treats the eye to a variety of colors from different angles, the magnificent Wheel of Elijah executed in mother of pearl in the wall above and High Altar, and the High Altar Cross and Candlesticks.

In 1969 the building was accorded landmark status by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
           
  Möller Organ, Op. 6837 (1940) - Christ Church, Cobble Hill - Brooklyn, New York
   
   
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 6837 (1940)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 46 registers, 27 stops, 30 ranks


The Möller organ at Christ Church, Cobble Hill, was installed early in 1942. In addition to the main console, there was a supplementary two-manual console in the chapel to play the Great, Choir, and Pedal organs, with tone transmitted by microphone and loudspeaker equipment furnished by Möller. The organ has been altered since its original installation.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed with Choir (3½" presure)
16
   Bourdon
73
2
   Super Octave
61
8
   Diapason I
73
8
   Tromba
73
8
   Diapason II
73
 8
   French Horn
CH
8
   Hohl Flute
85
8
  
Chimes
21 tubes
8
   Gemshorn
73
8
   Harp (TC)
—
4
   Octave
73
4
  
Harp-Celesta
49 bars
4
   Flute (fr. Hohl Flute)
—
     Tremulant  

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (4" pressure)
16
   Lieblich
97
     Mixture IV ranks
244
8
   Diapason
73
     Aeoline Chorus V ranks
derived
8
   Stopped Diapason (fr. 16')
—
     Cornet III ranks [St. Diap.]
derived
8
   Spitzfloete
73
16
   Cornopean
97
8
   Flute Celeste (TC)
61
8
   Cornopean (fr. 16')
—
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Voix Celeste (TC)
49
8
   Vox Humana
73
8
   Aeoline
73
4
   Cornopean (fr. 16')
—
4
   Flute (fr. Lieblich)
—
     Tremulant  
2 2/3
   Nazard (fr. Lieblich)
—
        
2
   Flute (fr. Lieblich)
—
    
* orig. engraved Lieblichbourdon
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (6" pressure)
8
   Diapason
73
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Melodia
85
8
   French Horn
73
8
   Dulciana
73
8
   Harp
GT
8
   Unda Maris (TC)
61
4
   Harp-Celesta
GT
4
   Flute (fr. Melodia)
—
     Tremulant  

     

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes, enclosed with Choir (4" pressure)
32
   Resultant
derived
8
   Bourdon
GT
16
   Diapason
44
8
   Lieblichbourdon
SW
16
   Bourdon
GT
32
   Cornopean Resultant
derived
    Blank  
16
   Trombone
44
16
   Lieblichbourdon
SW
8
   Trombone (fr. 16')
—
8
   Diapason (fr. 16')
—
     Chimes
GT
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'     Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'     Great to Great 16', Unison, 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'     Swell to Swell 16', Unison, 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'     Choir to Choir 16', Unison, 4'
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'      
               
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Great Stops (thumb)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 affecting Swell Stops (thumb)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Choir Stops (thumb)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Pedal Stops (thumb & toe)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 affecting All Stops (thumb)
               
Reversibles
    Great to Pedal Reversible   Full Organ
    Swell to Pedal Reversible   All Shutters to Swell Shoe
    Choir to Pedal Reversible    
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal – Great & Choir Organs      
    Balanced Swell Pedal – Swell Organ      
    Register Crescendo Pedal      
               
Möller Organ, Op. 6837 (1940) - Christ Church, Cobble Hill - Brooklyn, New York   Möller Organ, Op. 6837 (1940) - Christ Church, Cobble Hill - Brooklyn, New York
           
J.H. & C.S. Odell
New York City – Opus 310 (1893)
Tubular-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 32 stops, 37 ranks


The contract (Feb. 15, 1893) between J.H. & C.S. Odell and Christ Church states that Odell agreed to install a three-manual organ "in the recess adjoining and South of the chancel". The church was to furnish and set up either a Crocker-Wheeler Electric Motor or a Ross Water Motor, depending on whether the proper electric current could be obtained. Odell further agreed to "accept the old Organ now in Christ Church, with all its faults and defects, in part payment of the new Organ, and to allow and credit a sum of Fifteen hundred dollars ($1500) for the same." Odell would also remove the old Organ. The cost of the new organ was $6,500, together with the old Organ at $1,500.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes
16
   Double Open Diapason
58
4
   Flute Harmonique
58
8
   Open Diapason
58
2 2/3
   Octave Quint
58
8
   Viola di Gamba
58
2
   Super Octave
58
8
   Doppel Flöte
58
     Mixutre, 4 ranks
232
4
   Octave
58
8
   Trumpet [harm. treble]
58

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
58
4
   Hohl Flöte
58
8
   Open Diapason
58
2
   Flautina
58
8
   Salicional
58
     Cornet, 3 ranks
174
8
   Vox Celestis
58
8
   Vox Humana
58
8
   Clarinet Flute
58
8
   Cornopean [harm. treble]
58
4
   Violina
58
8
   Oboe
58

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
8
   Geigen Principal
58
4
   Rohr Flöte
58
8
   Keraulophon
58
2
   Piccolo
58
8
   Dulce d'Amour
58
8
   Clarinet
58
8
   Concert Flute
58
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Open Diapason
30
8
   Violoncello
30
16
   Bourdon
30
        
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great       Swell to Pedal
    Choir to Great       Choir to Pedal  
    Swell to Choir       Reversible Swell to Great
    Great to Pedal       Reversible Great to Pedal
               
Mechanical Accessories
    Swell Tremulant       Wind Indicator  
    Bellows Signal       Balance Swell Pedal  
               
Pedal Movements
    Great Organ, Forte     Swell Organ, Forte
    Great Organ, Mezzo     Swell Organ, Piano
   
Great Organ, Piano
      
           
Henry Erben
New York City (1845)
Mechanical action


Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
Sources:
     The Diapason (June 25, 1942). Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 6837 (1940). Courtesy Jeff Scofield.
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Petty, Bynum. J.H. & C.S. Odell Annotated Opus List.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specification (Feb. 15, 1893) of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 310.
     Vogel, Robert. Specification of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 6837 (1940).

Illustrations:
     Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection. Exterior (c.1940)
     Vogel, Robert. Photos of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 6837 (1940).