Episcopal Church of the Crucifixion - New York City
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Church of the Crucifixion
(Episcopal)

459 West 149th Street at Convent Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10031
www.churchofthecrucifixion.org


Organ Specifications:
459 West 149th Street (since 1937)
Present building (since 1969):
► III/30 Skinner Organ Co., Op. 598 (1926)
First building (1937-burned 1963)
► III/25 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 623 (1961)
► II/17 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 433 (1907)
41 West 140th Street (1920-1937)
• unknown


The Church of the Crucifixion was founded in 1916 by West Indians who had immigrated from the Caribbean and did not feel welcomed in the established Episcopal churches in the Harlem area. In 1920, a building located at 41 West 140th Street was purchased and services were held there for more than seventeen years. On June 30, 1937 the mortgage of the building at 41 West 140th Street was satisfied.

Postcard (c.1910) of Hamilton Grange Reformed Church - New York City (MCNY)  
Harmilton Grange Reformed Church  
Soon after, the congregation purchased the former Hamilton Grange Reformed Dutch Church, a red brick Gothic building at the corner of 149th Street and Convent Avenue. On the First Sunday in Advent in 1937, Bishop Manning, assisted by the Rev. Egerton E. Hall, conducted the formal opening service in the new church home. Once being free of debt, on the “Feast of Finding of the Holy Cross,” May 3, 1945, the church was consecrated.

  Episcopal Church of the Crucifixion - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
On the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 1963, a fire destroyed the church building. Under the leadership of Fr. Forsyth, Mr. John S. Bayley, the Senior Warden, and Ms. Vera V. Haywood, the Treasurer, the parishioners were determined that they would rebuild their church.

The doors to the Church of the Crucifixion were reopened in April 1969, in a very unique and modern building which was designed by the talented Greek architect, Mr. Costa Machlouzarides.
             
  Rebuilt Skinner Organ, Op. 598 (1926) in Church of the Crucifixion - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
   
  Rebuilt Skinner Organ, Op. 598 (1926) in Church of the Crucifixion - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Skinner Organ Company
Boston, Mass. – Opus 598 (1926); rev.
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 29 stops, 30 ranks



The organ in the Church of the Crucifixion, installed on a shelf above and behind the altar, is semi-visible through a wooden slat screen that defines the chancel. Many of the organ's components are from the Skinner Organ (Op. 598, 1926) that was originally installed in the gallery of St. Thomas Chapel (now All Saints Episcopal Church), located at 230 East 60th Street. The three-manual detached drawknob console is from the Aeolian-Skinner organ (Op. 1077, 1945) that was formerly in the chapel of St. George's Church, Stuyvesant Square.

Installation and additional pipes were Steve Empson. The organ has since been revised by Randolph Gilberti and David Schmauch.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, unenclosed
8
   Diapason
61
4
   Flute Harmonique
61
8
   Claribel Flute
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Gedackt
61
     Mixture II-IV ranks
208
4
   Principal
61
8
   Trumpet
61
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Hohl Flute [unit]
85
2
   Flautino
—
8
   Salicional
61
     Scharf III ranks
183
8
  Voix Celeste
61
8
   Corno d'Amore
61
4
   Flute
—
8
   Vox Humana
61
2
   Principal
61
     Tremolo [in coupler rail]  

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, unenclosed
8
  Lieblich Gedackt
61
     Cornet II ranks
122
4
  Wald Flute
61
8
   Cromorne
61
2
   Italian Principal
61
     Tremolo [in coupler rail]  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Sub Bass [unit]
68
8
   Gedackt [Sub Bass]
—
16
   Major Bass
32
8
   Stille Gedackt [Echo Lieb.]
—
16
   Bourdon
—
4
   Flute [Sub Bass]
—
16
   Echo Lieblich [unit]
44
        
               
Couplers and Mechanicals (rocking tablets above Swell manual)
    Great to Pedal 8'   Swell 16', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Choir 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8'    
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Cimbelstern [rep. SW-Ped 4']
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'   Swell Tremolo [rep. CH-Ped 4']
    Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'   Choir Tremolo [rep. Choir 16']
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 & Cancel (thumb)
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 & Cancel (thumb)
Choir Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 & Cancel (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (toe)
General Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
               
Pedal Movements
    Great-Choir Expression Pedal   Great to Pedal Rev. (thumb & toe)
    Swell Expression Pedal   Full Organ (toe)
    Crescendo Pedal    
           
Organ in first building at present location:

J.H. & C.S. Odell
New York City – Opus 623 (1961)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 34 stops, 25 ranks


The Articles of Agreement (Dec. 31, 1959) between J.H. & C.S. Odell and the Church of the Crucifixion state that Odell would rebuild the existing Odell organ (1907, Op. 433) in the chancel and enlarge it with the addition of a new Choir division in the gallery. Odell cleaned, repaired, and revoiced the pipes in the chancel, and retained the existing blower, casework and display pipes. The church authorities opted to have the Choir 8' Tuba installed on the rear gallery wall instead of inside the organ chamber. Odell provided a new three-manual drawknob console in the gallery that included preparations for future additions. The total cost of the project was $15,500, with completion promised by Easter Day 1961. This organ burned with the church in 1963.
               
CHANCEL DIVISION
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, unenclosed
8
   Open Diapason
61
 
Fourniture III ranks
preparation
8
   Viol d'Gamba
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Doppel Flute
61
 
Chimes
preparation
8
   Dulciana
61
  Great to Great 16
4
   Octave
61
  Great Unison Off
2 2/3
   Harmonic Quint
61
  Great to Great 4
 
Blank Stopknob
future addition
     
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
61
 
Plein Jeu III ranks
preparation
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
  Vox Celeste [TC]
49
 
Blank Stopknob
future addition
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
  Tremulant
8
   Aeoline
61
  Swell to Swell 16
4
   Rohr Flute
61
  Swell Unison Off
2
   Piccolo
61
  Swell to Swell 4
 
Blank Stopknob
future addition
     
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Resultant
—
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
32
16
   Open Diapason [ext. GT]
12
 
Blank Stopknob
future addition
16
   Bourdon
32
     
               
GALLERY DIVISION
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Principal
85
  Cornet III ranks
183
8
   Concert Flute
73
8
   Tuba
61
8
   Viol d'Amour
61
  Tremulant
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
49
  Choir to Choir 16
4
   Principal [from 8']
—
  Choir Unison Off
4
   Harmonic Flute [from 8']
—
  Choir to Choir 4  
2
   Fifteenth [from 8']
—
     

     

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
8
   Principal
CH
  Cornet
CH
8
   Flute
CH
16
   Tuba [ext. CH]
12
4
   Super Octave
CH
8
   Tuba
CH
               
Couplers (stop tablets above Swell manual)
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
Choir Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb & toe)
General Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
  General Cancel (thumb)
               
Accessories
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Crescendo Indicator lights (4)
    Balanced Choir Pedal   Sforzando Indicator light
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal   Current Indicator light
    Great to Pedal Reversible   Selenium Rectifier for organ current
    Swell to Pedal Reversible   Blower for Choir Gallery Organ
    Choir to Pedal Reversible   Fluorescent Music Rack light
    Sforzando Reversible    
           
Organ in first building at present location:

J.H. & C.S. Odell
New York City – Opus 433 (1907)
Tubular-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 17 stops, 17 ranks


The organ in the former Hamilton Grange Reformed Church was built in 1907 by J.H. & C.S. Odell of New York City at a cost of $3,330. Odell rebuilt this organ from 1960-61 as Op. 623. The following stoplist is deduced from the Factory Specifications of Op. 623.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Viol d'Gamba
61
4
   Harmonic Flute
61
8
   Doppel Flute
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Dulciana
61
   
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Rohr Flute
61
8
   Salicional
61
2
   Piccolo
61
8
  Vox Celeste [TC]
49
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
  Tremulant
8
   Aeoline
61
   
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Bourdon
30
   
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
30
     
             
Sources:
     Aeolian-Skinner Archives web site: htttp://aeolian-skinner.110mb.com/
     Article of Agreement (Dec. 31, 1959) for J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 623. Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Church of the Crucixion web site: www.churchofthecrucifixion.org
     Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     J.H. & C.S. Odell Ledger Book (May 16, 1907 - Feb. 18, 1911) regarding Odell organ in Hamilton Grange Reformed Church. Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List. New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.

Illustrations:
     Lawson, Steven E.: exterior; interior; Skinner Organ, Op. 598 (1926); rev.
     Wilkerson, Thaddeus. Postcard (c.1910) of Hamilton Grange Reformed Church. Collection of the Museum of the City of New York.