Flatbush Seventh-day Adventist Church - Brooklyn, NY
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Flatbush Seventh-day Adventist Church

261 East 21st Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11226
http://www.flatbushsda.org/


Organ Specifications:
261 East 21st Street (since 1982)
► III/46 Hook & Hastings, Op. 2561 (1928); reb. (1987)
► III/41 Hook & Hastings, Op. 2561 (1928)
2017 Beverley Road at Ocean Avenue (1973-1982)
• III/24 Austin Organs Inc., Op. 2252 (1955)


The Flatbush Seventh-day Adventist Church was organized in the fall of 1972, after meeting as a mission since 1969. With consistent growth, the fledgling group sought more space, at first relocating to a street level unit of a commercial building and then to the Zion Lutheran Church. In 1973, Pastor Lionel Arthur negotiated an agreement to meet at St. Mark's Methodist Church and moved his flock to worship there.

Third Church of Christ, Scientist - Brooklyn, NY (Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection)  
In 1982, the congregation purchased the former Third Church of Christ, Scientist, located on East 21st Street near Albemarle Road, and held their first service there on July 31, 1982. The Greek Revival-style building was designed in 1927 by Cherry & Matz of New York City and can accomodate 1000 people in the auditorium. With the arrival of Pastor Hope Ashmeade, the new facilities were enhanced and the sanctuary was refurbished. Sister Elizabeth McIntosh, a nurse, proposed a plan that required each nurse within the congregation to contribute $100.00 towards buying a baby grand piano. Members of other health care disciplines in the church were asked to give $50.00. Sister Violet Dixon engaged her energies in promoting the proposal and in short order a full-sized grand piano was purchased instead. Pastor Ashmead focused attention on a major and costly project to restore the practically non-functional Hook & Hastings pipe organ, and refurbished the Youth Auditorium. Other repairs were effected and, in August 1990, the mortgage was paid in full.
           
  Rebuilt console of Hook & Hastings Organ, Op. 2561 (1928) in the Flatbush Seventh-day Adventist Church - Brooklyn, NY
Hook & Hastings
Boston, Mass. – Opus 2561 (1928); reb. (1987)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 52 stops, 46 ranks





The original 1928 Hook & Hastings organ in Flatbush Seventh-day Adventist Church was rebuilt in 1987. Several stops were changed and the console was refitted with stopkeys. The specification that follows was recorded (Nov. 9, 1992) by John Klauder and John Tully, organbuilders in Brooklyn. Pipecounts were not given but are suggested below, based on the original specifications. The rebuilt organ was dedicated on December 12, 1987.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes [originally enclosed with Choir]
16
   Principal
61
4
   Harmonic Flute
61
8
   Principal
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Diapason
61
     Mixture V ranks
305
8
   Doppel Flute
61
     Cornet II ranks
122
8
   Gamba
EC
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Gamba Celeste
EC
     Tremolo  
4
   Octave
61
     Chimes  
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bass Flute
73
2
   Principal
61
8
   Diapason
73
     Scharff IV ranks
244
8
   Concert Flute
73
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Salicional
73
8
   English Horn
73
8
   Voix Celeste [TC]
61
4
   Oboe Clarion
73
4
   Principal
73
8
   Vox Humana
73
4
   Traverse Flute
73
     Tremolo  
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason
73
2
   Block Flute
61
8
   Gedackt
73
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Dulciana
73
     Tremolo  
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
61
     Harp  
4
   Rohr Flute
73
        
               
Echo Organ – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Lieblich Flute
73
2
   Principal
61
8
   Gamba
73
     Tremolo  
8
   Gamba Celeste [TC]
61
8
   Tuba
73
4
   Wald Flute
73
        
 
      
 
      
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Principal
12
8
   Octave
—
32
   Bourdon
12
8
   Violone
—
16
   Principal
GT
8
   Flute
—
16
   Diapason [unit?]
44
8
   Bourdon
—
16
   Violone [unit]
56
4
   Violone
—
16
   Bourdon [unit]
56
4
   Bourdon
—
16
   Bass Flute
SW
16
   Trumpet [ext. GT]
12
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Echo to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Echo to Swell 16', 8', 4'
    Echo to Pedal 8', 4'   Great to Great 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Swell to Swell 16', 4', Unison Off
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir to Choir 16', 4'
    Echo to Great 16', 8', 4'    
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 (thumb)
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-0 (thumb)
Choir Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-0 (thumb)
Entire Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
  General Release (thumb)
  Adjustor (thumb)
               
Reversible Pistons
    "4 Reversibles"          
               
Balanced Pedals
    Balanced Echo Pedal (removed)
    Balanced Choir Pedal
    Balanced Swell Pedal
    Crescendo Pedal
         
  Hook & Hastings Organ, Op. 2561 (1928) - Third Church of Christ, Scientist - Brooklyn, NY
Hook & Hastings
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 44 stops, 40 ranks


The Hook & Hastings organ was built in 1928 for the Third Church of Christ, Scientist. Pipes and mechanisms of the main divisions were installed in a chamber behind the Readers' Desk and spoke through a large plaster grill. The three-manual rocker tablet console was situated on the main floor, to the right of the Readers' Desk. Hook & Hastings published a catalog in 1927 that included a drawing of the console for this organ.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed with Choir
16
   Open Diapason
73
4
   Flute Harmonic
61
8
   Diapason F
61
2 2/3
   Twelfth
61
8
   Diapason M
—
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Doppel Flute
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Gamba
61
     Tremolo  
8
   Viol d'Amour
61
    
Chimes
EC
4
   Octave
61
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
73
4
   Flute Traverso
73
8
   Open Diapason
73
4
   Violina
73
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
73
     Dolce Cornet III ranks
183
8
   Vox Celeste [TC]
61
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Gedeckt
73
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Aeoline
73
     Tremolo  
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   String Diapason
73
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   Melodia
73
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Dulciana
73
     Tremolo
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
61
     Harp  
4
   Flute d'Amour
73
     Harp Damper Off  
               
Echo Organ (playable on Great) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Wald Flute
73
8
   Cor Anglais
73
8
   Muted Viol
73
     Tremolo  
8
   Echo Celeste [TC]
61
    
Chimes
20 tubes
4
   Lieblich Gedeckt
73
     Chimes Damper Off  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Open Diapason (wood)
12
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
16
   Open Diapason [unit]
44
8
   Bass Flute
—
16
   Violone [unit]
44
8
   Violoncello
—
16
   Bourdon
32
16
   Trumpet [ext. GT]
12
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Swell 16', 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8'   Choir to Choir 16', 4'
    Echo to Pedal 8'   Echo to Echo 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4', 2-2/3', 1-3/5'   Swell Release
    Choir to Great 8', 4'   Great/Echo On & Off
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 (thumb)
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-0 (thumb)
Choir Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-0 (thumb)
Entire Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
  General Release (thumb)
  Adjustor (thumb)
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal   All Couplers
    Balanced Choir & Great Pedal   Release Octave Couplers
    Balanced Echo Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Crescendo Pedal   Sforzando Reversible
           
Organ in the original St. Mark Methodist Church at 2017 Beverley Road at Ocean Avenue:

Austin Organs Inc.
Hartford, Conn. – Opus 2252 (1955)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 24 stops


Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
           
Sources:
     Flatbush Seventh-day Adventist Church web site: http://www.flatbushsda.org/
     Klauder, John and John Tully. Specifications (as of Nov. 9, 1992) of Hook & Hastings Organ, Op. 2561 (1928). Courtesy Barry Kloda.
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Ochse, Orpha. Austin Organs. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 2001.
     Trupiano, Larry. Specifications of Hook & Hastings Organ, Op. 2561 (1928).
     Van Pelt, William T., comp. The Hook Opus List, 1829-1916 in Facsimile. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1991.

Illustrations:
     The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection. Architect's rendering of Third Church of Christ, Scientist (c.1927).
     Flatbush Seventh-day Adventist Church web site. Console of Hook & Hastings Organ, Op. 2561 (1928) as rebuilt in 1987.
     Google.com Street View. Exterior.
     Van Pelt, William T., comp. The Hook Opus List, 1829-1916 in Facsimile. Console of Hook & Hastings Organ, Op. 2561 (1928).