Grace Church, Brooklyn Heights, New York
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Grace Church – Brooklyn Heights
Episcopal)

254 Hicks Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201
https://gracebrooklyn.org/


Organ Specifications:
► III/69 Austin Organs Inc., Op. 2780 (2001)
► III/44 Tellers Organ Company, Op. 938-361 (1961)
• III/- Hope-Jones Organ Company (1909)
• III/32 Hilborne and Frank Roosevelt, No. 368 (1887)
• III/ Hall & Labagh; enlarged Labagh-Kemp (1877)
► III/25 Hall & Labagh (1849)


When Grace Church in Manhattan moved to its present location at Broadway and Tenth Street, the churchgoers from Brooklyn found the journey too difficult, and they planned to build a church in Brooklyn Heights. A small Episcopal congregation, called Emmanuel, already existed on Sidney Place. The rapid growth of this congregation, 120 members in one year alone, was too much for Emmanuel to assimilate, and in 1847 a new parish, called Grace Church, was incorporated. A lot was purchased on the corner of Hicks Street and Grace Court for $15,000, and the church chose Richard Upjohn to design their new building. Upjohn had recently completed Trinity Church in Manhattan, and was also the architect of the Church of the Pilgrims, and Christ Church and the Holy Family in Brooklyn. For Grace Church, Upjohn created an "English Parish Church" in 15th century Perpendicular Gothic Revival style. The church's cornerstone was laid on June 29, 1847, and the first service in the completed building was held on December 10, 1848. The total cost for the structure was $46,737.52, paid for by the loans and gifts of parishioners—as well as by a significant loan from Trinity Church, Manhattan. In order to economize, however, the large bell tower that was planned for the southwest comer of the church was eliminated from the plan. The church was consecrated on June 26, 1849. Over the years, the church was richly decorated with polychrome, stained glass and furnishings.

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission has cited Grace Church as a landmark building, and notes that it is one of architect Upjohn's most mature "Gothic designs in New York City".
           
 

Austin Organ, Op. 2780 (2001) - Grace Church, Brooklyn Heights, New York (Photo: Grace Church)

   
Austin Organs Inc.
Hartford, Conn. – Opus 2780 (2001)
Electric slider action
Solid-state combination action
3 manuals, 70 registers, 57 stops, 69 ranks




During the latter part of the 1990s, the parish conducted a major capital campaign to repair the building's windows, walls, roofs, and facades, and to build and install a new pipe organ.

Austin Organ, Op. 2780 (2001) at Grace Church - Brooklyn Heights, New York (Photo: Steven E. Lawson)  
The new instrument was designed and built by Austin Organs of Hartford, Conn. There are 59 ranks in the chancel chamber, complemented by a division of 10 ranks in the west end gallery. Some of the original Roosevelt pipes have been incorporated into the new instrument, including the facade pipes that were restored and richly decorated by Austin. The new organ was consecrated on September 30, 2001.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
  Double Open Diapason
61
1 3/5
  Seventeenth
61
8
  Open Diapason
61
1 1/3
  Mixture IV ranks
244
8
  Salicional
61
8
  Trumpet
61
8
  Harmonic Flute
61
8
  Tuba (Ch)
—
8
  Bourdon
61
8
  French Horn (Ch)
—
4
  Principal
61
8
  Grand Trumpet (West)
—
2 2/3
  Twelfth
61
 
 
Chimes
21 tubes
2
  Fifteenth
61
 
  Cymbelstern  

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Lieblich Bordun
61
16
   Double Trumpet
61
8
  Geigen Principal
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
  Viole de gambe
61
8
   Hautboy
61
8
  Voix céleste
61
8
  Vox Humana F
61
8
  Chimney Flute
61
8
  Vox Humana P
—
4
  Principal
61
4
   Clarion
61
4
  Flûte harmonique
61
    Tremulant   
2 2/3
  Nazard
61
    Swell 16'  
2
  Piccolo harmonique
61
    Swell Unison Off  
1 3/5
  Tierce
61
    Swell 4'  
2
   Chorus Mixture III ranks
183
8
   Grand Trumpet (West)
—
1
   Sharp Mixture III ranks
183
      

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Gemshorn
61
16
  Cor anglais
61
8
  Unda Maris
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
  Flûte traversière
61
8
   French Horn
61
8
  Cor de nuit
61
    Tremulant  
8
  Cor de nuit céleste (TC)
49
    Choir 16'  
4
  Gemshorn
61
    Choir Unison Off  
4
  Flute
61
    Choir 4'  
2
  Flageolet
61
8
  Tuba
61
1 1/3
   Larigot
61
8
   Grand Trumpet (West)
—
1
   Fife
61
     Chimes (Gt)

     

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
  Subbass (ext., 1-5 resultant)
7
3 1/5
  Mixture III ranks
96
16
  Open Bass
32
32
  Contra Bombard
44
16
  Principal
GT
16
  Bombard (fr. 32')
—
16
  Bourdon
32
16
  Double Trumpet (Sw)
—
16
  Lieblich Bordun (Sw)
—
8
  Trumpet
44
8
  Octave
32
4
  Clarion (fr. Trumpet)
—
8
  Flute Bass
32
8
  Grand Trumpet (West)
—
4
  Choral Bass
32
    Chimes (Gt)
—
               
West Organ (floating) – unenclosed in Gallery
Manual – 61 notes  
  Pedal – 32 notes
8
  Open Diapason
61
16
  Bourdon
32
8
  Stopped Diapason
61
       
4
  Octave
61
 
     
2
  Super Octave
61
       
2
  Mixture II-IV ranks
208
       
8
  Grand Trumpet
61
       
               
Austin Organ, Op. 2780 (2001) at Grace Church - Brooklyn Heights, New York (Photo: Steven E. Lawson) Austin Organ, Op. 2780 (2001) at Grace Church - Brooklyn Heights, New York (Photo: Steven E. Lawson) Austin Organ, Op. 2780 (2001) at Grace Church - Brooklyn Heights, New York (Photo: Steven E. Lawson)
           
Tellers Organ Company, Inc.
Erie, Penn. – Opus 938-361 (1961)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 49 registers, 35 stops, 44 ranks


In 1961, the aging Roosevelt/Hope-Jones organ underwent a major renovation by the Tellers Organ Company. At this time, a new console was placed to the right of the chancel and the pulpit was moved to its current location on the opposite side. The contract included the following statement:
“It is the desire of the Purchaser and the intention of the Organ builder to retain the character of tone of the existing Roosevelt instrument, from which most of the pipes will be reused in the new organ. With the exception of only the Swell Strings designated as “revoiced” in the stoplist, the pipework will not be recut nor will windpressures exceed 4” on the manual voices.”
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
  Contra Gemshorn * +
85
2 2/3
  Twelfth
61
8
  Principal
61
2
  Fifteenth
61
8
  Doppelgedeckt
61
    Fourniture IV ranks *
244
8
  Gemshorn (fr. 16')
—
8
   Harmonic Trumpet * +
73
4
   Octave
61
    Tremulant
4
  Gemshorn (fr. 16')
—
    
Chimes
preparation

     

 
+ enclosed in Choir
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Rohrbourdon
80
     Plein Jeu III ranks *
183
8
  Spitzflöte
68
16
  Contra Fagott *
80
8
  Concert Flute
68
8
   Trompette *
68
8
  Viole d'Gambe
68
8
  Fagott (fr. 16') *
—
8
   Voix Celeste (TC)
56
4
   Clarion *
68
4
   Principal (Diapason from TC)
68
     Tremulant  
2
   Flautino
61
       

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Geigen Diapason
61
2
  Flageolet
61
8
  Bourdon *
61
1 1/3
   Larigot *
61
8
  Dolce
61
8
  Harmonic Trumpet
GT
8
  Unda Maris (TC) *
49
8
  Clarinet
61
4
   Fugara
61
     Tremulant  
4
  Flute d'Amour
61
   
Harp
existing, restored
               
Processional Organ (floating Great and/or Choir) – 56 notes
8
   Spitzprinzipal *
56
     Mixtur II ranks *
112
4
   Prestant *
56
        

     

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
  Contra Bourdon [ext.;1-5 quint]
7
4
  Choralbasse (fr. Contrebasse)
—
16
  Contrebasse *
56
4
   Flautino (fr. Spitz Flute)
—
16
  Bourdon
32
     Mixture IV ranks *
128
16
  Gemshornbass (Gt)
—
16
  Trumpet (GT)
—
16
  Gedeckt (SW)
—
16
   Fagott (Sw)
—
8
  Octave (fr. Contrebasse)
—
8
   Trumpet (Gt)
—
8
  Spitz Flute *
44
4
   Fagott (Sw)
—
               
           
* new ranks installed by Tellers
           
Hope-Jones Organ Company
Elmira, N.Y. (1909)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 32 stops


In 1909, Robert Hope-Jone electrified the 1887 Roosevelt organ and provided a new console. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
Hilborne and Frank Roosevelt
New York City – No. 368 (1887)
Tracker-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 32 stops


In 1887, the renowned organ builders Hilbome and Frank Roosevelt (first cousins of Theodore) built and installed a new instrument. The sacristy and vestry area to the north of the chancel was given over to the pipes, and an addition was built on south of the chancel to house a new sacristy. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
         
Labagh-Kemp
New York City (1877)
Mechanical action
3 manuals


In 1877, the Hall & Labagh organ was enlarged by Labagh-Kemp. It was sold in 1892 to St. Clement's Church in Brooklyn. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
Hall & Labagh
New York City (1849); enl. Labagh-Kemp (1877)
Mechanical action
3 manuals, 23 stops, 25 ranks


The original organ in Grace Church, built in 1849 by Hall & Labagh of New York City, was installed in the chancel chamber and cost $3,000. A hydraulic motor provided power to operate the bellows, and the attached three-manual console, located where the pulpit now stands, controlled 33 stops and two octaves of pedals. When the building was expanded in 1851, the organ was removed to the west end gallery. The following specification is from the Hall & Labagh ledger book.
               
Great Organ – 54 notes
8
   Large Open Diapason
54
3
  Twelfth
54
8
  2nd Open Diapason
54
2
  Fifteenth
54
8
  Stopd Diapason Bass
12
     Sesquialtera 3 ranks
162
8
  Stopd Diapason Treble (TC0
42
8
   Trumpet
54
4
   Principal
54
      

     

 
Swell Organ – 54 notes, enclosed
16
   Double Stopd Diapason
4
   Principal
8
  Open DIapason
8
   Trumpet
8
  Stopd Diapason
8
   Hautboy
8
  Dulciana
   

     

     
Choir Organ – 54 notes
8
  Dulciana (TC)
42
2
  Fifteenth
54
8
  Stopd Diapason Bass
12
4
   Flute ("low C")
54
8
  Stopd Diapason Treble
42
8
  Cremona (TC)
42
4
   Principal
54
   

     

     
Pedals – 25 notes
16
   Double Open Diapason
25
        
16
  Double Stopd Diapason
25
        
               
Couplers
    Pedals & Great       Great & Choir  
    Pedals & Choir       Choir & Swell  
    Great & Swell      
 
           
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.
     Grace Church website: https://gracebrooklyn.org/
     Hall & Labagh Ledger Book. Specification of Hall & Labagh organ (1849), courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Ochse, Orpha. Austin Organs. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 2001.
     Tellers, Aaron M. Specification of Tellers Organ, Op. 938-361 (1961).

Illustrations:
     Grace Church. Interior showing Austin Organ, Op. 2780 (2001).
     Lawson, Steven E. Cxterior; interior; Austin Organ, Op. 2780 (2001).