Flatlands Reformed Church - Brooklyn, NY
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Flatlands Reformed Church

3931 Kings Highway
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11234
http://www.flatlandsreformedchurch.org/


Organ Specifications:
Present building (since 1848)
► II/13 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 11230 (1977)
► II/9 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 9836 (1964)
► II/14 Reuben Midmer & Sons (<1917)
Second building (1794-1848)
• unknown
First building "Octagon Church" (1663-1794)
• unknown


Founded in 1654, Flatlands’ tradition and history is firmly grounded in the history of Dutch immigration and settlement and Dutch Reformed liturgy and theology. The Flatlands Reformed Church shares the distinction of being the oldest church in Brooklyn with Old First Reformed Church in Park Slope and the Flatbush Reformed Church on Flatbush and Church Avenues. The three congregations were founded on February 9, 1654. There are only two other Reformed Church congregations that are older than those in Brooklyn – the Collegiate Church in Manhattan and the North Dutch Church in Albany (later renamed First Church).

The congregation has worshipped in three separate church buildings all on the same site. The “Octagon Church” was built in 1663 and was enlarged in 1762. This building was replaced altogether in 1794. The third and present building, with its simple clapboard siding, multi-paned windows, and tall steeple, is a notable example of rural Greek Revival design, was built in 1848. This building has a history of being hit by lightning as well as surviving fires; the last lighting strike in 1952 caused minimal damage, but the fire in 1974 destroyed most of the church’s interior. In each case, the congregation worshipped in the auditorium while repairs were made.

The church bell represents an important historical artifact for the congregation. It weighs in excess of 450 lbs. and in 1794 replaced an earlier smaller bell that had been brought from the Netherlands. This bell has run marked the death of every American President since George Washington. It rang to mark the signing of various peace treaties and the close of every war the nation fought following the Revolutionary War.

Flatlands Reformed Church and Graveyard - Brooklyn, NY  
In the graveyard are buried members of many noted Dutch families, including the Wyckoffs, Kouwenhovens, Lotts, Stoothoffs, Voorhees, Sprongs, and Suydams. A plaque on the church lawn identifies Kings Highway at this point as the road along which Lord Cornwallis marched his troops on the night of August 26, 1776, to outflank the Americans at the Battle of Long Island.

For most of its existence, the congregation has consisted of primarily Eurpean and middle class members. Dutch services were suspended in 1812, which allowed the congregation to include non-Dutch members and to let go of much of its emphasis on Dutch culture and tradition. Despite this de-emphasis on Dutch language, the church’s Dutch heritage is still evident in the fact that its formal name remains the Protestant Dutch Reformed Church of Flatlands.
           
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 11230 (1977)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 29 registers, 9 stops, 13 ranks
   
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
97
2
   Flute
—
8
   Principal
73
     Sesquialtera II ranks (TC)
98
8
   Gedeckt
—
  Mixture III-IV ranks
183
8
   Gemshorn
SW
    
Chimes
preparation
4
   Octave
—
     Tremolo  
4
   Gedeckt
—
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Rohrflöte
73
1 1/3
  Larigot [repeat 12 top notes]
—
8
   Gemshorn
80
16
   Contre Trompette
80
8
   Gemshorn Celeste (TC)
49
8
   Trompette
—
4
   Spitzprincipal
73
4
   Clarion [repeat 5 top notes]
—
4
   Rohrflöte
—
     Tremolo  
2
   Spitzoctave
—
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Contrebass [ext. GT Prin.]
12
4
   Octave
GT
16
   Bourdon
GT
     Mixture III ranks
GT
8
   Principal
GT
16
   Contre Trompette
SW
8
   Gedeckt
GT
8
   Trompette
SW
8
   Germshorn
SW
4
   Clarion
SW
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great          
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Great Organ
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Swell Organ
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal with indicator light (green jewel)
           
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. –Opus 9836 (1964)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 27 registers, 8 stops, 9 ranks


A new organ by M.P. Möller was installed in 1964. Known as a "Double Artiste" model, the organ had two enclosures and a detached console. This organ seems to have been destroyed or damaged after a fire in 1974.
   
Great Organ (Manual I) –61 notes, enclosed
16
   Rohrflöte (TC)
—
4
   Rohrflöte (fr. 8')
—
8
   Principal
80
2
   Super Octave [repeat 5 top notes]
—
8
   Rohrflöte
80
2
   Rohrflöte [repeat 5 top notes]
—
8
   Erzähler (TC)
49
  Mixture II ranks
122
4
   Octave (fr. Principal)
—
 
Chimes [existing Beach]
21 tubes
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) –61 notes, enclosed
8
   Gedeckt
73
16
  Contre Trompette
85
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Trompette
—
4
   Spitzprinzipal
73
4
   Clarion
—
4
   Gedeckt
—
  Tremulant
2
   Spitzoktav
—
        
               
Pedal Organ –32 notes
16
   Rohrflöte
12
4
   Rohrflöte
—
8
   Principal
—
     Mixture II ranks
—
8
   Gedeckt
—
16
   Contre Trompette
—
8
   Salicional
—
8
   Trompette
—
4
   Octave
—
4
   Clarion
—
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great          
               
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 Affecting Full Organ
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Expression Pedal –Great Organ
    Balanced Expression Pedal –Swell Organ
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal with indicator light (green jewel)
           
Reuben Midmer & Sons
Brooklyn, N.Y. (<1917)
Tubular-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 13 stops, 14 ranks


The following specification was recorded (May 1911) by Louis F. Mohr & Co., an organ service concern in the area. Mohr noted that the organ was blown by hand. Another source states that the organ had tubular-pneumatic action.
   
Great Organ (Manual I) – 56 notes
8
   Open Diapason
56
4
   Principal
56
8
   Stopped Diapason Bass
12
4
   Flute Traverso
56
8
   Melodia (TC)
44
  Mixture, 2 ranks
112
8
   Dulciana (TC)
44
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 56 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
56
4
   Violina
56
8
   Stopped Diapason Bass
12
2
   Fifteenth
56
8
   Stopped Diapason Treble (TC)
44
8
   Oboe & Bassoon
56
8
   Gamba (TC)
44
        
               
Pedal Organ – 25 notes
16
   Bourdon
25
        
               
Couplers ("Three Couplers")
    Great to Pedal       Swell to Great  
    Swell to Pedal          
               
Pedal Movement
    Balanced Swell Pedal
           
Sources:
     Dolkart, Andrew S. and Matthew A. Postal. Guide to New York City Landmarks (Third Edition). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2004.
     Flatlands Reformed Church website: http://www.flatlandsreformedchurch.org/
     Organ Historical Society Archives. Factory Specification of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 9836. Courtesy Bynum Petty.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specification of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 11230 (1977).
     Mohr, Louis F. & Co. Specification of Reuben Midmer & Sons organ. Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specification of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 11230 (1977).
     The WPA Guide to New York City: The Federal Writers Project Guide to 1930s New York. New York: The New Press, 1939.

Illustrations:
     Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection: 1954 photos of church and graveyard.