St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Flatbush - Brooklyn, N.Y. (vintage postcard)
Click on most images to enlarge
St. Paul's Church in the Village of Flatbush
(Episcopal)

157 St. Paul's Place at St. Paul's Court
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11226


Organ Specifications:
Present building (since 1874)
► III/47 Estey Organ Company, Op. 3232 (1956)
• III/36 Hutchings-Votey Organ Co. (1902)
First building (1836-1874)
• II/ Reuben Midmer & Sons (<1901)
• Henry Crabbe (1850s)



Original St. Paul's Episcopal Church-in-the-Village-of-Flatbush - Brooklyn, N.Y. (Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection)  
St. Paul's Church-in-the-Village-of-Flatbush was organized in 1836, and the first church was erected on what is today St. Paul's Place. The first church, a simple wooden building with steeple, was torn down in 1874.

The present church, in Gothic style with crenelated towers, was built on the same site and consecrated in 1877.
               
 
 
Chancel facade
Estey Organ Company
Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 3232 (1956)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 47 registers, 36 stops, 47 ranks



Estey Organ, Op. 3232 (1956) in St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Flatbush) - Brooklyn, N.Y.  
Original console
 
Estey Organ, Op. 3232 (1956) in St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Flatbush) - Brooklyn, N.Y. (Estey Organ Co.)  
Gallery division
 







By the 1950s, the 1902 Hutchings organ was no longer adequate or reliable. Robert Arnold, associate organist of Trinity Church in Manhattan, was engaged as consultant and plans were made for the purchase of an organ. Mr. Arnold analyzed the old organ and decided that 19 of the original 32 ranks could, with expert treatment, be used in a new instrument. The Estey Organ Company was chosen to rebuild the organ because its staff at the time was headed by George Steinmeyer, the son of the noted organbuilder of Germany.

On the rebuilt organ, the Great division and pedal reed were exposed on the west gallery, freeing up space for two enclosed divisions in the chancel. Estey provided a luminous drawknob console that was located in the chancel.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes (3" pressure) – in Gallery
8
  Principal
61
2
  Octavin
61
8
  Bourdon
61
    Fourniture IV ranks
244
4
  Octave
61
8
  Trompette
61
4
  Rohrflöte
61
   
Chimes
25 tubes
2 2/3
  Quinte
61
       

 

     

 

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (3½" pressure) – in Chancel
16
  Lieblich Gedeckt
80
2 2/3
  Nasard
61
8
  Geigen Principal
68
2
  Flute
61
8
  Gedeckt (fr. 16')
—
     Mixture III ranks
183
8
  Gamba
68
16
  Bassoon
80
8
  Gamba Celeste (AA)
59
8
  Trumpet
68
8
  Unda Maris II ranks
124
8
  Oboe (fr. Bassoon)
—
4
  Spitz Principal
68
4
  Clarion
68
4
  Flauto Traverso
68
    Tremulant  

 

     

 

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (3½" pressure) – in Chancel
8
  Concert Flute
68
2
  Piccolo
61
8
  Quintadena
68
    Cornet III ranks
183
8
  Dulciana
68
8
  Bombarde
68
4
  Geigen Octave
68
8
  Cromorne
68
4
  Flute Couverte
68
    Tremulant  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes (4" pressure)
32
  Resultant
—
4
  Super Octave
44
16
  Major Bass
32
4
  Flute Couverte (fr. Bourdon)
—
16
  Diapason
32
2
  Doublette (fr. Super Octave)
—
16
  Bourdon
56
     Mixture III ranks
96
16
  Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
16
  Trombone
56
8
  Principal
32
8
  Trumpet (fr. Trombone)
—
8
  Flötenbass (fr. Bourdon)
—
4
  Clarion (fr. Trombone)
—
8
  Still Gedeckt
SW
    Chimes
GT
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Great 16', Unison Off, 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', Unison Off, 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir 16', Unison Off, 4'
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'    
               
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Swell Organ (thumb)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Great Organ (thumb)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Choir Organ (thumb)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Pedal Organ (thumb & toe)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Full Organ (thumb & toe)
    General Cancel          
    Manual to Pedal pistons Onoroffs for Great, Swell and Choir  
               
Reversibles
    Great to Pedal (toe)   Choir to Pedal (toe)
    Swell to Pedal (toe)   Full Organ (thumb & toe)
               
Expression
    Swell Expression Pedal    
    Choir Expression Pedal    
    Crescendo Pedal    
               
 
Hutchings-Votey Organ Co.
Boston, Mass. (1902)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 36 stops


Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
               
Organ in first building at present location:

Reuben Midmer & Sons
Brooklyn, N.Y. (before 1901)
Unknown action
2 manuals


Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
               
Organ in first building at present location:

Henry Crabbe
New York City (1850s)
Mechanical action


Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
               
Sources:
     The American Organist (July 1957). Specifications of Estey Organ, Op. 3232 (1956).
     "Brooklyn" column, The New York Times (June 1, 1877).
     The Estey Pipe Organ website: www.esteyorgan.com

Illustrations:
     The American Organist (July 1957). Console of Estey Organ, Op. 3232 (1956).
     Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection. Original church building
     eBay.com. Vintage (undated) postcard of church exterior
     The Estey Pipe Organ website. Gallery and Chancel photos of Estey Organ, Op. 3232 (1956)