Broadway Baptist Church

2720 Broadway at 104th Street
New York, N.Y. 10025


Organ Specifications:
► II/19 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 479 (1912)
• II/20 William H. Davis (c.1892)


Broadway Baptist Church can trace its roots back to 1842 with the organization of the Laight Street Baptist Church. Located south of Canal Street between Broadway and the Hudson River, the church purchased an edifice originally built in 1842 as the Laight Street Presbyterian Church. In 1870, the Laight Street Baptist Church was sold to business interests, and the congregation relocated to a new church building on Forty-second Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. By 1882, the membership declined and the church merged into the MacDougall Street Baptist Church. In 1885, through the efforts of the Baptist City Mission, the Laight Street Baptist Mission Sunday School was organized, and the name was changed to Hope Baptist Church. The downtown field soon became too narrow for the new Baptist church and it was decided in 1890 to move uptown to 104th Street and the Boulevard (later known as Broadway). In 1917 the name was changed to Broadway Baptist Church. In 1918, the Broadway Baptist Church, which was seeking a new location, merged with and moved to the Fort Washington Baptist Church at 124 Wadsworth Avenue, between 179th and 180th Streets.

After Broadway Baptist Church left its building, it was taken over by a group known as the Metropolitan Tabernacle. In 1921, plans were filed to build a skyscraper church and hotel, designed by Carrère & Hastings and Shreve, Lamb & Blake. The 1890 church was razed, and it seems that only the hotel portion was built.
             
J.H. & C.S. Odell
New York City – Opus 479 (1912)
Tubular-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 19 stops, 19 ranks


This organ was built in 1912 for Hope Baptist Church by J.H. & C.S. Odell of New York City. In 1922, prior to the demolition of the church building, the organ was moved by the Odells to the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church at 505 West 155th Street.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Flute Harmonique
61
8
   Gamba
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Dulciana
61
8
   Super Octave
61
8
  
Melodia
61
8
   Trumpet
61
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  
Bourdon
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
8
  
Open Diapason
61
4
   Rohr Flote
61
8
  
Salicional
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Aeoline
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Vox Celestis [TC]
49
        
 
      
 
      
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
  
Double Open Diapason
30
        
16
  
Bourdon
30
        
               
Couplers (Tilting Tablets over Manual Keys)
    Great to Pedal       Great 16', 4'  
    Swell to Pedal       Swell 16', 4'  
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'       Pedal to Pedal Octaves  
               
Mechanical Accessories
    Swell Tremulant  

  Wind Indicator  
            Crescendo Indicator
             
Piston Combination Movements
    Great Organ Forte       Swell Organ Forte
    Great Organ Mezzo       Swell Organ Mezzo
    Great Organ Piano       Swell Organ Piano
             
Pedal Movements
    Grand Crescendo Pedal     Great to Pedal Reversible
    Pedal Organ Forte     Balanced Swell Pedal
    Pedal Organ Piano      
             
William H. Davis
New York City (c.1892)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 20 stops


The original organ in Hope Baptist Church was built c.1892 by William H. Davis of New York City. The organ had two manuals and 20 stops. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
             
Sources:
     Dunlap, David W. and Joseph J. Vecchione. Glory in Gotham: Manhattan's Houses of Worship, A Guide to Their History, Architecture and Legacy. New York: City and Company, 2001.
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications for J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 479 (1912).