Convent Avenue Baptist Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
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Convent Avenue Baptist Church
420 West 145th Street at Convent Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10031
www.conventchurch.org


Organ Specifications:
► IV/79 Southfield Organ Builders (1992-onward)
► IV/45 M.P. Möller, Op. 10390 (1968)
• unknown (c.1898)
             
Convent Avenue Baptist Church was founded on February 4, 1942 by Dr. John W. Saunders, formerly pastor of the Walker Memorial Baptist Church. Two years earlier, Dr. Saunders, already in his seventies, had formed a group known as the "Kingdom Builders." The Kingdom Builders held services in the former Congress Casino Dance Hall and the old Baptist Temple in Harlem.

Convent Avenue Baptist Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)  
In 1942, the Kingdom Builders, with a $50,000 mortgage, purchased the former Washington Heights Baptist Church, located on the southeast corner of Convent Avenue and 145th Street. Built from 1897-99 to designs by Lamb & Rich, the Neo-Gothic edifice is faced in blocks of Georgia white marble. The façade includes a porch with three entrances, above which is a large stained glass window; to the left of the porch is a crenulated square tower with rounded corners. The spacious auditorium was planned to accomodate about 1,000 persons in oak pews on the main floor and three galleries. Behind the pulpit platform is oak paneling, three sections of which could be retracted to reveal a stained glass screen (which is extant). As originally built, a portion of the pulpit floor could be lowered by mechanical device and slid underneath the front to reveal the baptismal pool below. An arched alcove behind the pulpit platform contains the organ and choir loft.

Convent Avenue Baptist Church is the site of an annual commemoration of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose last appearance in New York was at this church on March 26, 1968, nine days before he was assassinated.
           
  Southfield Organ at Convent Avenue Baptist Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Southfield Organ Builders, Inc.
Springfield, Mass. (1992-onward)
Electro-pneumatic slider and unit action
Digital stops by Walker Digital
4 manuals, 107 stops, 79 pipe ranks



Beginning in 1992 and continuing as funding was available, the 1968 Möller organ has been rebuilt and enlarged by Southfield Organ Builders of Springfield, Mass. New electro-pneumatic slider chests have been installed in the Great and Swell divisions, allowing more room for additional ranks, and the old Antiphonal has been transformed into a Gallery Great division that includes a vintage 16' Open Wood rank that is playable in the pedal. Southfield built a new four-manual console in the style of Aeolian-Skinner that incorporates Harris drawknobs and solid state control systems. Owing to a lack of space in the two small chancel chambers, digital stops have been used for the entire Solo division, Pedal 32s, percussions, and others; the digital stops are by Walker Technical Company of Zionsville, Pa. As designed, the Southfield "hybrid" or "combo" organ will have 128 ranks and 114 speaking stops when completed.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Diapason
prep.
1 1/3
   Fourniture IV ranks
244
8
   Principal
61
16
   Basson
prep.
8
   Bourdon
61
8
   Trompette
61
8
   Flute Harmonique
61
4
   Clairon
prep.
8
   Geigen
prep.
     Tremolo  
8
   Geigen Celeste
prep.
     Chimes [25 notes]
digital
4
   Octave
61
    
Harp
CH
4
   Koppelflöte
61
    
Sub
  
4
   Spitz Geigen
prep.
     Unison Off  
2 2/3
   Twelfth
61
     Super  
2
   Fifteenth
61
     MIDI on Great  
2
  Blockflöte
61
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Lieblich Gedeckt [unit]
73
2
  Waldflöte
61
16
   Gambe [unit]
73
1 3/5
   Terz
61
8
  Open Diapason
61
1 1/3
   Larigot
61
8
  Rohrflöte
—
2
   Dolce Mixture III-V ranks
?
8
   Flauto Dolce
73
1 1/3
   Plein Jeu IV ranks
244
8
   Flute Celeste [TC]
61
16
   Contre Trompette
61
8
   Gamba
—
8
   Trompette
61
8
   Gamba Celeste
61
8
   Hautbois
61
8
   Viole
digital
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Viole Celeste
digital
4
   Clairon
61
4
   Principal
61
     Tremolo  
4
   Traverse Flute
61
     Harp
CH
4
   Flauto Dolce [ext.]
—
     Sub  
4
   Flute Celeste [ext.]
—
     Unison Off  
2 2/3
   Nasat
61
     Super  

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed [currently unplayable]
16
   Echo Diapason
digital
1 3/5
   Tierce
61
16
   Spitzflöte
digital
1 1/3
   Larigot
61
8
   Viola Pomposa
61
2/3
   Zimbel III ranks
183
8
   VIola Celeste
61
16
   Dulzian
61
8
   Concert Flute
61
8
   Petite Trompette
61
8
   Flute d'Orchestre
61
8
   Cromorne
prep.
8
   Erzähler
73
4
   Rohr Schalmei
61
8
   Erzähler Celeste [TC]
61
     Tremolo  
8
   Viol d'Amore
digital
     Chimes
GT
8
   Viol Celeste
digital
     Harp [61 notes]
digital
4
   Spitz Principal
61
     Sub  
4
   Flute d'Amore
61
     Unison Off  
4
   Kleine Erzähler [ext.]
—
     Super  
4
   Kleine Celeste [ext.]
—
     MIDI on Choir  
2 2/3
   Nasard
61
     Zimbelstern
digital
2
   Zauberflöte
61
        
               
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Geigen Diapason
digital
8
   Orchestral Oboe
digital
8
   Doppelflöte
digital
8
   Corno di Bassetto
digital
4
   Flute Triangulaire
digital
8
   Cor Anglais
digital
2 2/3
   Flute Conique
digital
     Tremolo
digital
8
   Orchestral Trumpet
digital
     Chimes
GT
8
   French Horn
digital
     Harp
CH
8
   Oboe d'Amore
digital
     Carillon [25 notes]
digital
               
Gallery Great Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, unenclosed
8
   Montre
61
8
   Cornet V ranks
305
8
   Cor de Nuit
61
1 1/3
   Cymbale IV ranks
244
8
   Violon
61
8
   Krummhorn
61
8
   Gemshorn
73
     Tremolo  
8
   Gemshorn Celeste
73
     Sub  
4
   Prestant
61
     Unison Off  
4
   Flute Couverte
61
     Super  
4
   Spitz Octave [ext.]
—
16
   Festival Trumpet
prep.
4
   Octave Celeste [ext.]
—
8
   Festival Trumpet
prep.
2 2/3
   Quinte
61
4
   Festival Trumpet
prep.
2
   Doublette
61
     Zimbelstern
digital
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Contre Diapason
digital
8
   Geigen
prep.
32
   Contre Bourdon
digital
4
   Choral Bass
prep.
32
   Contre Gambe
digital
4
   Nachthorn
prep.
16
   Principal
32
2
   Principal
prep.
16
   Open Wood [Gallery]
44
2
   Mixture III ranks
prep.
16
   Diapason
GT
32
   Contra Trombone
digital
16
   Echo Diapason
CH
32
   Contre Fagotto
digital
16
   Bourdon [Gallery]
prep.
16
   Trombone [unit]
56
16
   Spitzflöte
CH
16
   Contre Trompette
SW
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
16
   Basson
GT
16
   Gambe
SW
16
   Dulzian
CH
8
   Principal
prep.
8
   Tromba
—
8
   Diapason [Gallery]
—
8
   Trompette
GT
8
   Bourdon [Gallery]
prep.
8
   Cromorne
CH
8
   Spitzflöte
CH
4
   Clairon
—
8
   Rohrflöte
SW
4
   Rohr Schalmei
CH
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Gal. Great to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Pedal to Great 8'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Choir to Swell 16', 8', 4'
    Solo to Pedal 8', 4'   Solo to Swell 16', 8', 4'
    Gal. Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Gal. Great to Swell 16', 8', 4'
    Pedal Divide   Great to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'   Solo to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Solo to Great 16', 8', 4'   Gal. Great to Choir 16', 8', 4'
               
Adjustable Combinations (32 memory levels)
   
Solo Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb)
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb)
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb)
Choir Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb)
Gallery Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb) 5-6-7-8 (thumb & toe)
Entire Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb)
Entire Organ Pistons 11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20 (thumb & toe)
  General Cancel (thumb)
  Set (thumb)
               
Reversibles
    Great to Pedal (thumb & toe)   32' Contre Trombone (thumb & toe)
    Swell to Pedal (thumb & toe)   32' Contre Fagotto (toe)
    Choir to Pedal (thumb & toe)   32' Contre Diapason (thumb)
    Solo to Pedal (thumb & toe)   32' Contre Bourdon (thumb)
    Gal. Great to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Festival Trumpets on Solo Express.
    Swell to Great (thumb)   Festival Trumpets to Solo (thumb)
    Choir to Great (thumb)   Festival Trumpets to Swell (thumb)
    Gal. Great to Great (thumb)   Festival Trumpets to Great (thumb)
    Solo to Great (thumb)   Festival Trumpets to Choir (thumb)
    Solo to Swell (thumb)   Festival Trumpets to Pedal (thumb)
    Swell to Choir (thumb)   Gal. Great Tutti (thumb & toe)
    Gal. Great to Choir (thumb)   Tutti (thumb & toe)
    Solo to Choir (thumb)   All Swells to Swell (thumb)
         
Silencer Controls (with indicator lights)
    Tremolos Off   Mixtures Off
    Celestes Off   Reeds Off
    Pedal 32s Off   Harp Dampers On
    Manual 16s Off   Harp Forte
    4' Couplers Off   Carillon Forte
               
Miscellaneous Controls (rocking tablets above top manual)
    All Swells to Swell   Festival Trumpets on Solo Express.
    Chancel (green)   Festival Trumpets on Solo
    Both (black)   Festival Trumpets on Swell
    Gallery (red)   Festival Trumpets on Great
    Tower Carillon   Festival Trumpets on Choir
    Sanctuary Carillon   Festival Trumpets on Pedal
    Both    
               
Expression
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Balanced Solo Pedal
    Balanced Choir Pedal   Crescendo (4 levels)
         
Southfield Organ at Convent Avenue Baptist Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)  
Southfield Organ at Convent Avenue Baptist Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
  
Southfield Organ at Convent Avenue Baptist Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
         
Southfield Organ at Convent Avenue Baptist Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
  
Southfield Organ at Convent Avenue Baptist Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
           
M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 10390 (1968)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 47 stops, 45 ranks


In 1968, M.P. Möller was contracted to build a new organ for the church. The enclosed Swell and Choir divisions were installed in chambers that opened into the choir loft, and in front of the chamber openings were cantilevered chests for the exposed pipes of the Great division. In the rear gallery was the exposed and unenclosed Antiphonal division that included a Festival Trumpet on 6" pressure. The four-manual drawknob console was installed in the center of the chancel choir loft.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, unenclosed and exposed (3½" pressure)
8
  Principal
61
  Fourniture IV ranks
244
8
  Bourdon
61
8
   Trompette
61
4
  Octave
61
 
Chimes
CH
4
  Spitzflöte
61
    Great Unison Off  
2
   Doublette
61
     Great 4'  

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (4" pressure)
16
  Rohrflöte [unit]
73
8
   Trompette
61
8
  Rohrflöte
—
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
  Viole de Gambe
61
4
   Clairon
61
8
  Viole Celeste [GG]
54
  Tremulant
4
  Principal
61
  Swell 16'
2
  Waldflöte
61
  Swell Unison Off
  Plein Jeu IV ranks
244
  Swell 4'
16
   Basson [L/2]
61
     

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (3½" pressure)
8
   Gedeckt
61
8
   Krummhorn
61
8
   Erzähler
61
  Tremulant
8
   Erzähler Celeste [TC]
49
 
Chimes
25 tubes
4
   Koppelflöte
61
  Choir 16'
2 2/3
  Nazard
61
  Choir Unison Off
2
   Blockflöte
61
  Choir 4'

1 3/5
   Tierce
61
 
Zimbelstern
4 bells
               
Antiphonal Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, unenclosed and exposed (3½" pressure)
8
   Bourdon
61
8
   Festival Trumpet [6" w.p.]
61
8
   Salicional
61
  Antiphonal Unison Off
4
   Octave
61
     Antiphonal 4'  
    Mixture II-IV ranks
190
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes (3½" and 4" pressure)
16
   Contrebasse [unit]
44
4
   Rohrflöte
SW
16
   Bourdon [unit]
44
2
   Octavin
—
16
   Rohrgedeckt
SW
     Mixture II ranks
64
10 2/3
  Quint [fr. Bourdon]
—
32
   Bombarde [unit, 1-12 L/2]
56
8
   Principal
—
16
   Bombarde
—
8
   Bourdon
—
16
   Basson
SW
8
   Rohrflöte
SW
8
   Bombarde
—
4
   Choralbass [unit]
44
4
   Basson
SW
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8   Choir to Great 16, 8, 4
    Swell to Pedal 8, 4   Antiphonal to Great 8, 4
    Choir to Pedal 8, 4   Antiphonal to Swell 8
    Antiphonal to Pedal 8   Swell to Choir 16, 8, 4
    Swell to Great 16, 8, 4   Antiphonal to Choir 8
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Antiphonal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Choir Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb & toe)
General Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb & toe)
  General Cancel (thumb)
  Setter (thumb)
               
Reversibles
    Great to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Antiphonal to Pedal (thumb & toe)
    Swell to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Sforzando (thumb & toe)
    Choir to Pedal (thumb & toe)    
               
Mechanicals
    Balanced Pedal – Choir   Crescendo Indicator Light (green)
    Balanced Pedal – Swell   Sforzando Indicator Light (red)
    Crescendo Pedal    
             
Sources:
     Convent Avenue Baptist Church web site: www.conventchurch.org/
     Dolkart, Andrew S. and Gretchen S. Sorin. Touring Historic Harlem: Four Walks in Northern Manhattan. New York: New York Landmarks Conservancy, 1997.
     Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004 .
     Hickman, Cynthia. Harlem Churches At the End of the 20th Century. New York City: Dunbar Press, 2001.
     Melrose, David. Planned specifications of Southfield Organ. Courtesy Jeff Scofield.
     Scofield, Jeff. Factory Specification of M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 10390 (1968).
     Trupiano, Larry. Console layout drawing of M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 10390 (1968).
     "The Washington Heights Baptist Church to be Formally Opened," The New York Times (Oct. 8, 1898).

Illustrations:
     Lawson, Steven E. Exterior; interior; Southfield Organ.