Church of the Divine Paternity on Fifth Avenue at 45th Street - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
 
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Fourth Universalist Society
(Unitarian Universalist Association)

160 Central Park West at 76th Street
New York, N.Y. 10023
http://www.4thu.org


Organ Specifications:
160 Central Park West at 76th Street (since 1898)
► IV/61 Ernest M. Skinner Co., Op. 271 (1917)
► IV/60 George S. Hutchings & Co., Op. 431 (1898)
588 Fifth Avenue at 45th Street (1866-1898)
• J.H. & C.S. Odell (>1887)
548 Broadway (1852-1866) – orig. Church of the Divine Unity
• III/33 E. & G.G. Hook, Op. 65 (1844)
Murray Street (1847-1852) – orig. South Reformed Dutch Church
• Henry Erben (1838)


Founded in 1838, the Fourth Universalist Society in New York originally met in the former South Reformed Dutch Church on Murray Street. In 1848, the Rev. Edwin Hubbel Chapin (1814-1880) was installed as the pastor of the Fourth Universalist Society, where he remained for 32 years, preaching broad church Christianity and becoming one of the most popular preachers in the city. By 1852, the congregation had increased in number such that a larger church was needed. The former Church of the Divine Unity at 548 Broadway near Spring Street was purchased, and on the first Sunday evening service over 2,000 attended and hundreds were turned away.

Church of the Divine Paternity on Fifth Avenue at 45th Street - New York City (eBay.com)  
Church of the Divine Paternity
Fifth Avenue at 45th Street
 
In 1866, the Fourth Universalist Society moved to a new building on the southwest corner of Fifth Avenue and 45th Street, and took the name of The Church of the Divine Paternity. John Correja designed the 1,800-seat church, described by Robert A. M. Stern as a rather unscholarly version of the Perpendicular Gothic style and having two towers of unequal height.

 
Fourth Universalist Society - New York City
 
Church of the Divine Paternity
Central Park West at 76th Street
By the late 1890s, the area in midtown had become a busy business district and many churches followed their congregations uptown. The Church of the Divine Paternity purchased lots on Central Park West at 76th Street, and William A. Potter was commissioned to design the new church, which was built in 1897-98. As a foil to the classicism of the New York Historical Society across 76th Street, the Church of the Divine Paternity was designed in late English Gothic style and features a tower modeled after that in Magdalen College at Oxford University in England. Its interior includes an altar by Louis Comfort Tiffany and a relief sculpture by Augustus St. Gaudens.

In the 1980s, the church was approached by developers that wanted to raze the church, resulting in the society forming a neighborhood alliance called SOUL (Save Our Universalist Landmark) that solicited community financial pledges for repairs and maintenance while the church agreed not to exercise its development rights.
           
 
George S. Hutchings Organ, Op. 431 (1898) in Church of the Divine Paternity - New York City (American Architect and Building News, May 1899)
Ernest M. Skinner Company
Boston, Mass. – Opus 271 (1917)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 57 registers, 52 stops, 61 ranks



This contract was for work on the existing 1904 Hutchings-Votey Organ, Op. 431 (1898). Since 1917, the organ has been extensively rebuilt and revised.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Flute Harmonique
61
8
   Gross Floete
61
2 2/3
  Twelfth
61
8
   Gamba
61
2
   Super Octave
61
8
   Doppel Floete
61
     Mixture III-IV ranks
232
8
   Gemshorn
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Bourdon
61
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Double Dulciana
61
4
   Celestina (wood)
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2
   Flageolet
61
8
   Geigen Diapason
61
     Mixture III-V ranks
232
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
16
   Contra Fagotto
61
8
   Hohl Floete
61
8
   Cornopean
61
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Viole Celeste II ranks
122
4
   Clarion
61
8
   Aeoline
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
4
   Octave
61
     Tremolo  
4
   Flute Harmonique
61
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
61
    
"The following are with the Choir stops but are from a Solo organ and may be played separately from the Choir organ."
8
   Violin Diapason
61
    
8
   Concert Flute
61
    
8
   Quintaton
61
    
8
   Spitz Floete
61
8
   Flauto Traverso
61
4
   Fugara
61
8
   Tuba
61
4
   Flute d'Amour
61
8
   Orchestral Oboe
61
2
   Piccolo Harmonique
61
8
   Orchestral Clarinet
61
               
Echo Organ (Manual IV and playable from Swell) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Flute Dolce
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Voix Celeste II ranks
122
     Carillon (F to FFF)  
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
32
   Contra Bourdon [resultant]
—
8
   Violoncello
30
16
   Open Diapason
30
8
   Flute
30
16
   Violone
30
16
   Trombone
42
16
   Gedackt
30
16
   Contra Fagotto
SW
16
   Dulciana
SW
8
   Tromba (fr. Trombone)
—
16
   Bourdon (ext. SW St. Diap.)
12
        
           
  Church of the Divine Paternity - New York City
George S. Hutchings & Co.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 431 (1898)
Tubular-pneumatic action; elec. Hutchings-Votey (1904)
4 manuals, 58 registers, 51 stops, 60 ranks






Batwing-style console of George S. Hutchings Organ, Op. 431 (1898) in Church of the Divine Paternity - New York City
  
The original organ in the present building was given by Andrew Carnegie in memory of his wife's parents. Built in 1898 by George S. Hutchings & Co. of Boston, the $20,000 organ was installed on both sides of the chancel with an Echo organ at the east end of the church. In 1904 the organ was electrified by the Hutchings-Votey Company.

The following specification was recorded by Lynnwood Farnam, noted concert organist of the early 20th century. Mr. Farnam's journals are kept at The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Mechanical Appliances and Pedals were taken from specifications listed in a booklet of A Series of Five Lenten Organ Recitals, offered on Thursday afternoons at four o'clock in 1904.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed with Choir and Solo
16
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Flute Harmonique
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Gross Flute
61
2 2/3
  Twelfth
61
8
   Gamba
61
2
   Super Octave
61
8
   Doppel Flöte
61
     Mixture 3 and 4 ranks
232
8
   Gemshorn
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Bourdon
61
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Double Dulciana
61
4
   Celestina (wood)
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2
   Flageolet
61
8
   Geigen Principal
61
     Mixture 3, 4 and 5 ranks
269
8
   Hohl Floete
61
16
   Contra Fagotto
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
8
   Cornopean
61
8
   Viole Celeste II ranks
122
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Salicional
61
4
   Clarion
61
8
   Aeoline
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
4
   Flute Harmonique
61
     Tremolo  
4
   Octave
61
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
61
8
   Flauto Traverso *
61
8
   Concert Flute
61
8
   Orchestral Oboe *
61
8
   Spitz Flöte
61
8
   Orchestral Clarinet *
61
8
   Quintatön
61
8
   Tuba *
61
8
   Viol di Gamba
61
     Tremolo  
4
   Flute d'Amour
61
    
* These stops, on heavy wind, form a Solo Organ and may be played separately from the Choir keyboard.
4
   Fugara
61
    
2
   Piccolo (Harmonic)
61
    
               
Echo Organ (Manual IV and playable from Swell) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Voix Celeste II ranks
122?
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Flauto Dolce
61
    
Tremolo
4
   Flauto Traverso **
61
    
Carillons [F to FFF]
2 octaves
           
** not listed in Farnam's specifications
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
32
   Contra Bourdon [resultant]
—
8
   Gedeckt (fr. Bourdon)
—
16
   Open Diapason
42
8
   Flute (fr. Open Diap.)
—
16
   Violone
42
16
   Contra Fagotto
SW
16
   Bourdon
42
16
   Trombone
42
16
   Dulciana
SW
8
   Tromba (fr. Trombone)
—
8
   Violoncello (fr. Violone)
—
        
               
Couplers (Stop Knobs over keyboard)
    Great to Pedal   Swell to Great Sub
    Swell to Pedal   Swell to Great Super
    Choir to Pedal   Swell Super
    Echo to Pedal   Choir Sub
    Pedal Octaves   Choir Super
    Swell to Great   Choir to Great Sub
    Choir to Great    
    Swell to Choir  
{ Solo on, Choir off
}
  
    Great to Swell  
{ Choir and Solo on
}
 Pistons
    Swell to Echo  
{ Choir on, Solo off
}
  
               
Combination Pistons (Adjustable)
   
Swell and Pedal Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5, Release
Great and Pedal Pistons No. 1-2-3-4, Release
Solo, Choir and Pedal Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7, Release
Entire Organ Pistons No. 1-2-3, Release
  General Release
  Pedal Release
               
Pedal Movements
1.
   Balanced Swell Pedal
2.
   Balanced Great and Choir Pedal
3.
   Balanced Echo Pedal
4.
   Balanced Crescendo Pedal
5.
   Sforzando (Full Organ)
6.
   Great to Pedal Reversible.
7.
   Four Fixed Lock Pedals operating on Pedal Organ
8.
   Swell Mezzo and Forte Fixed Lock Pedals
9.
   Great Mezzo and Forte Fixed Lock Pedals
10.
   Release for all Lock Pedals
11.
   Crescendo Indicator
12.
   Recorder Board
     
    "Electro-pneumatic action throughout. Electric motor for blowing organ."
           
Organ in previous church on Fifth Avenue at 45th Street:

Unknown Builder (possibly J.H. & C.S. Odell)


Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
Organ in previous church at 548 Broadway (orig. Church of the Divine Unity):

E. & G.G. Hook
Boston, Mass. – Opus 65 (1844)
Mechanical action
3 manuals, 33 stops


Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
Organ in previous church on Murray Street (orig. South Reformed Dutch Church:

Henry Erben
New York City (1838)
Mechanical action


Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
Sources:
     Aeolian-Skinner Archives web site: http://home.cfl.rr.com/aeolianskinner/
     "Church of Divine Paternity," The New York Times (Oct. 26, 1898).
     The City Review website, www.thecityreview.com
     Dunlap, David. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Farnam, Lynnwood. "Organ Notebook," specification of George S. Hutchings organ, Op. 431. John de Lancie Library, The Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia; Sally Branca, Archivist. Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
     Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List. New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     "New Universalist Church," The New York Times (Nov. 15, 1897).
     "Organ for the Universalist Church of the Divine Paternity," The New York Times (July 1, 1897).
     Stern, Robert A.M., Thomas Mellins, and David Fishman. New York 1880: Architecture and Urbanism in the Gilden Age. New York: The Monacelli Press, Inc., 1999.
     Trupiano, Larry. "A Series of Five Lenten Organ Recitals by J. Warren Andrews" at the Church of the Divine Paternity in 1904.
     Unitarian Universalist Association web site: http://www.uua.org/
     Unknown source. Specifications of George S. Hutching Organ, Op. 431 (1898). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Van Pelt, William T., comp. The Hook Opus List, 1829-1916 in Facsimile. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1991.
     Webber, F.R. "Organ Scrapbook," specifications of Ernest M. Skinner organ, Op. 271. Organ Historical Society Archives, Princeton, N.J. Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.

Illustrations:
     American Architect and Building News (May 27, 1899). Chancel.
     eBay.com. Exterior of Fifth Avenue church.
     eBay.com. 1897 proposal for chancel by William A. Potter, architect.
     Lawson, Steven E. Color exterior of present church
     Lewis, James. Console of George S. Hutchings organ, Op. 431 (1898).
     Trupiano, Larry. Exterior drawing (c.1898) of present church.