Chapel of the Good Shepherd - Roosevelt Island (NYC), N.Y.
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Chapel of the Good Shepherd
(Protestant Episcopal)

543 Main Street
Roosevelt Island, N.Y. 10044


Early Drawing of Episcopal Chapel of the Good Shepherd - Blackwell's Island, New York City  
   
Episcopal Chapel of the Good Shepherd - Blackwell's Island, New York City (Library of Congress)  
   
Early Drawing of Episcopal Chapel of the Good Shepherd - Blackwell's Island, New York CityFrank Roosevelt Organ, Op. 405 (1888) in the Episcopal Chapel of the Good Shepherd - Blackwell's Island, New York CityInterior of Episcopal Chapel of the Good Shepherd - Blackwell's Island, New York City  












The Chapel of the Good Shepherd was established by the Protestant Episcopal Mission Society to serve Protestant inmates of the almshouses on Blackwell's Island. As designed in a Gothic style by Englsh-born Frederick Clarke Withers (1828-1901), whose best-known building is his Jefferson Market Courthouse in Greenwich Village, the chapel had separate entrances for males and females, and could seat up to 400 people. On the lower level were the island's first library and a vestry room. The completed chapel opened in 1889. After the institutions closed or left the island, the chapel was closed in 1958.

Good Shepherd Chapel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

After being vacant for 17 years, the chapel was restored and renovated in 1975 to serve as a community center and a place of worship for both Protestants and Catholics.

Originally named Blackwell's Island, the name was changed to Welfare Island in 1921, and renamed Roosevelt Island in 1973.
           
Frank Roosevelt
New York City – Opus 405 (1888)
Mechanical action
1 manual, 6 stops, 6 ranks




The organ in Good Shepherd Chapel was built in 1888 by Frank Roosevelt of New York City. Pipecounts below are suggested, based on similar Roosevelt organs.
               
Manual Organ – 58 notes
8
   Open Diapason
58
4
   Gemshorn
58
8
   Salicional *
46
8
   Trumpet, Treble
29
8
   Doppel Flute
58
8
   Trumpet, Bass
29
           
* 1-12 grooved to Doppel Flute
Pedal Organ – 27 notes
16
   Bourdon
27
        
               
Couplers
    Manual Octaves          
    Manual to Pedal          
               
Pedal Movement
    Balanced Swell Pedal      
           
Sources:
     Berdy, Judith and the Roosevelt Island Historical Society. Images of America: Roosevelt Island. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2003.
     Glück, Sebastian. Specification of Frank Roosevelt organ, Op. 405 (1888).
     Roosevelt Island Historical Society: http://www.correctionhistory.org/rooseveltisland/index.html

Illustrations:
     Episcopal Diocese of New York Archives. Exterior drawing; interior; choir and organ.
     Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online. Exterior.
     Wikipedia.com. Color exterior (2005). Credit: 'paytonic'