Church of the Holy Apostles (Episcopal)


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Church of the Holy Apostles
(Episcopal)

296 Ninth Avenue at 28th Street
New York, N.Y. 10011
http://www.holyapostlesnyc.org/

Organ Specifications:
► III/37 J.J. van den Heuvel Orgelbouw (1994); installed (1996)
► IV/43 Casavant Frères, Ltée., Op. 1446 (1931)
► III/18 A.B. Felgemaker Co., Op. 1247 (1917)
► III/33 George Jardine (1853); moved by Wm. H. Davis (1895)
• II/ Levi U. Stuart (1867)
• I/ Levi U. Stuart (1859)
• II/18 Hall & Labagh (1847)

The prominent octagonal spire of the Church of the Holy Apostles is a welcoming landmark among the industrial buildings and red brick towers in the far western blocks of Chelsea. Reputedly a stop on the Underground Railroad, the church has continued its embrace of the unwelcome by starting a soup kitchen in 1982, now the largest in New York City, which serves up to 1000 meals each weekday to the homeless and downtrodden. In 1973, the socially-active and diverse congregation helped establish Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, a gay and lesbian synagogue which still uses Holy Apostles for its Friday evening service. In 1977, the first woman priest in the New York diocese was ordained at Holy Apostles. The Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay priest to be consecrated as a bishop of the Episcopal Church, celebrated and preached on Gay Pride Sunday 2005.

Established in 1836 as a Sunday School, the present building was constructed from 1846-48 to designs of Minard Lefever. In 1853, the Italianate-style structure was extended to the east by 24 feet to provide a chancel, and in 1858 the transepts were added by Richard Upjohn & Son. The wooden spire was covered with slate and the belfry clad in copper in 1908. William Jay Bolton, the noted artist who created the stained glass windows in Brooklyn's Church of St. Ann and the Holy Trinity, fabricated the Tuscan-hued stained glass windows, several of which survived the devastating fire in 1991 that gutted the church interior and destroyed part of the roof and the organ. Following the fire, the congregation decided to rebuild the nave as a flexible space without pews so that it could be used for the soup kitchen. The Church of the Holy Apostles was designated a landmark in 1966 by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.

J.J. van den Heuvel organ (1994) at Church of the Holy Apostles - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)

J.J. van den Heuvel – Orgelbouw
Dordrecht, The Netherlands (1994)
Moved by Manuel Rosales Organ Builders, Inc. (1996)
Mechanical key action
Electric stop action
3 manuals, 33 registers, 29 stops, 37 ranks

The organ in Holy Apostles Church was originally built in 1994 for the salon of Castle Shiloah, the residence of Joseph and Marla Mooibroek in Fairview, Texas. In 1996, the castle and organ were offered for sale. Holy Apostles acquired the organ to replace the previous four-manual Casavant Frères organ that had been destroyed by a disastrous fire in 1990. The organ was moved by Manuel Rosales Organ Builders, Inc., of Los Angeles, California.

The Dutch Baroque-style case is made of African Mahogany with hand carvings of French Linden. It is an instrument that tonally is in the French early Romantic style and features a variety of unusual tonal colors. Located in the north transept, the organ has 29 stops distributed over three manuals and pedals, and over 2,400 pipes.

Grand Orgue (Manual I) – 61 notes

Bourdon

Doublette

Montre

Plein-jeu 3-5 rgs.

Flûte à cheminée

Cornet 5 rgs. (MC)

185

Flûte harmonique

Trompette

Prestant

Tremolo

Positif (Manual II) – 61 notes, expressif

Bourdon

Piccolo

Salicional

Clarinette

Unda Maris

Trumpet Royal (horizontal)

Flûte à fuseau

Tremolo

Flageolet

Chimes

1 3/5

Tierce

Zimbelstern

Récit (Manual III) – 61 notes, expressif

Flûte traversière

Octavin

Viole de Gambe

Basson-Hautbois

Voix céleste

Voix humaine

Flûte octaviante

Tremolo

Pédale – 32 notes

Bourdon

digital

Violoncelle

[blank knob]

Basson

Soubasse (1-24 from G.O.)

Chalumeau

Flûte

Couplers

Grand Orgue – Pédale

Positif – Grand Orgue

Positif – Pédale

Récit – Grand Orgue

Récit – Pédale

Récit – Positif

Adjustable Combinations

Generals 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15 (1-6 thumb & toe; 7-15 thumb only)

Sequencer UP (thumb & toe)

Sequencer DOWN (thumb)

Expression

Balanced Pedal – Positif

Balanced Pedal – Récit

Crescendo Pedal

Casavant Frères, Limitée
St. Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada – Opus 1446 (1931)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 46 registers, 39 stops, 43 ranks

In 1931, a new four-manual and pedal organ was built at a cost of $21,195 by Casavant Frères of Québec. As described in the Casavant Factory Specifications (Mar. 30, 1931), the organ had electro-pneumatic action and a detached console with organist's bench, but no case, screen or display pipes. Dr. T. Tertius Noble, organist of St. Thomas Church, played the dedicatory recital on Monday, February 29, 1932. The new organ was a success, eliciting words of praise from notable organists including Lynnwood Farnam, Seth Bingham, Dr. David McK. Williams, and Clarence Dickinson. Unfortunately, the Casavant organ eventually fell into disrepair, losing its console and much of the Gallery Antiphonal. In 1991, a devastating fire destroyed the church interior, and damaged the organ with smoke, water, and fallen plaster.

Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes

Bourdon *

Grave Mixture II ranks

122

First Diapason

Tuba (enc. in CH)

Second Diapason

Chimes

Hohl Flöte

Celesta Sub (TC)

Principal

Celesta

Harmonic Flute

* shares bottom octave of Pedal Bourdon

Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed

Contra Salicional

Mixture III ranks

183

Diapason

Double Trumpet

Rohr Flute

Trumpet

Salicional

Oboe

Voix Celeste (TC)

Vox Humana

Violina

Clarion

Flute Triangulaire

Tremulant

Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed

Gamba

Clarinet

Concert Flute

Tremulant

Dulciana

Celesta Sub (TC)

—

Flauto d'Amore

Celesta

61 bars

2 2/3

Nazard

Antiphonal Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed

Stentorphone

Tuba Mirabilis

Gross Flute

French Horn

Principal

Tremulant

Echo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed

Cor de Nuit

Vox Humana

Vox Angelica II ranks

146

Tremulant

Fernfloete

Chimes

25 tubes

Pedal Organ – 32 notes

Resultant

—

Salicional

Diapason

Flute (fr. 16' Bourdon)

—

Bourdon

Trombone

Salicional

Trumpet

Octave (fr. 16' Diapason)

—

Chimes

Gedeckt (fr. 16' Bourdon)

—

Couplers

Great to Pedal 8', 4'

Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'

Swell to Pedal 8', 4'

Echo to Choir 8'

Choir to Pedal 8', 4'

Great to Echo 8'

Echo to Pedal 8', 4'

Swell to Echo 8'

Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'

Swell to Swell 4', 16'

Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'

Choir to Choir 4', 16'

Echo to Great 16', 8', 4'

Echo to Echo 4', 16'

Echo to Swell 8'

All Swells

Adjustable Combinations

Swell Organ	Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
Great Organ	Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
Choir Organ	Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
Echo-Antiphonal Organ	Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
Pedal Organ	Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb & foot)
Entire Organ	Pistons 1-2-3 (foot)
General Cancel	(thumb)
Adjuster	(thumb)

Reversibles

Swell to Pedal (thumb)

Echo to Pedal (thumb)

Great to Pedal (thumb)

Sforzando (foot)

Choir to Pedal (thumb)

Balanced Pedals

Swell Expression

Echo-Antiphonal Expression

Choir Expression

Crescendo

A. B. Felgemaker Co. Erie, Penn. – Opus 1247 (1917) Tubular-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 20 registers, 18 stops, 18 ranks In 1917, Archer Gibson, the private organist of Mr. Charles M. Schwab, was engaged to play for a wedding at Holy Apostles. Gibson found the "old rattle-bang" Jardine organ to be unsatisfactory and complained to the Rector. With Gibson's assistance, the Carnegie Fund was convinced to provide approximately half the $5000 cost of a new organ, which was built by the A.B. Felgemaker Co. of Erie, Pennsylvania. The three-manual and pedal organ had tubular-pneumatic action, but as the Choir was only prepared for, the organ functioned as a modest two-manual instrument of eighteen ranks. In less than ten years, however, the Felgemaker organ began to fail, and an appeal sought funds to repair and complete the instrument. Money was raised toward that goal, but ultimately, it seemed best to build an entirely new organ. The Felgemaker was sold for $500 to Grace Church on City Island.

Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
8	Open Diapason	73	4	Flute d'Amour	73
8	Dulciana	73	4	Octave	73
8	Viola da Gamba	73	8	Trumpet	73
8	Doppel Floete	73

Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16	Bourdon	73	8	Aeoline	73
8	Violin Diapason	73	4	Flute Harmonic	73
8	Stopped Diapason	73	8	Oboe	73
8	Salicional	73	8	Vox Humana	73
8	Voix Celeste (TC)	61

Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
	(console preparation only)

Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16	Open Diapason	30	16	Lieblich Gedeckt	SW
16	Bourdon	42	8	Flute (fr. 16' Bourdon)	—

Couplers
	Great to Pedal 8'			Swell to Swell 4', 16'
	Swell to Pedal 8'			Great Separation
	Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'			Swell Separation
	Great to Great 4', 16'			All Couplers "Off"

Adjustable Combinations
	Four Combinations for Great & Pedal Organs
	Five Combinations for Swell & Pedal Organs

Pedal Movements
	Great to Pedal Reversible
	Balanced Swell Pedal
	Balanced Crescendo, Diminuendo, & Full Organ Pedal

Accessories
	Tremolo			Organist's Bench
	Wind Indicator			Electric Blower
	Crescendo Indicator			Electric Generator

George Jardine New York City (1853) Moved here by Wm. H. Davis & Son (1895) Mechanical action 3 manuals, 28 stops, 33 ranks This organ was originally built for the Church of the Annunciation at Sixth Avenue and West Fourteenth Street. When that church was dissolved in 1895, the organ was given to the Church of the Holy Apostles. William H. Davis & Son moved and reinstalled the organ, taking the L.U. Stuart organ in trade for an allowance of $300. It is not known if the Jardine organ was altered by Davis for Church of the Holy Apostles. The Jardine organ was powered by a gas engine and was installed in the chancel. The gift of the organ to Holy Apostles had three conditions attached: Removal was to be at the expense of the recipient; Mr. A. A. Wild, the organist of Annunciation, was to accompany the organ and become the organist of the Church of the Holy Apostles; and An appropriate brass plate was to be placed on the organ case, recording the gift and the twenty-two years of Mr. Wild's services at the Church of the Annunciation. Thus, it would seem that Sheldon W. Ball, who had served as Holy Apostles' organist for five years, was terminated in order to accept the Jardine organ. The following specifications are from The Organ, Its History and Construction (1870) by Edward J. Hopkins.

Great Organ (Manual II) – 54 notes
16	Double Diapason	54	2 2/3	Twelfth	54
8	Open Diapason	54	2	Fifteenth	54
8	Stopped Diapason	54		Sesquialtera, 4 ranks	216
8	Melodia	54	8	Trumpet	54
4	Principal	54

Swell Organ (Manual III) – 54 notes, enclosed
16	Bourdon	54	2	Fifteenth	54
8	Open Diapason	54		Mixture, 3 ranks	162
8	Stopped Diapason	54	8	Trumpet	54
8	Dulciana	54	8	Oboe	54
4	Principal	54	4	Clarion	54

Choir Organ (Manual I) – 54 notes
8	Open Diapason	54	4	Flute	54
8	Viola di Gamba	54	8	Clarinet, treble	42
8	Stopped Diapason	54	8	Bassoon, bass	12
4	Principal	54

Pedal Organ – 25 notes
16	Open Diapason	25	8	Octave	25
16	Bourdon	25

Couplers
	Swell to Great			Great to Pedal
	Swell Octave to Great			Choir to Pedal
	Swell to Choir			Swell to Pedal
	Choir to Great			Pedal Organ Octave
	Choir Sub-octave to Great


	1880 interior showing Levi U. Stuart organ

Levi U. Stuart
New York City (1867)
Mechanical action
2 manuals

In 1867, the Hall & Labagh organ in the gallery and the Levi U. Stuart organ in the chancel were sold. A new two-manual and pedal organ, built by Levi U. Stuart, was installed in the chancel. The Stuart organ was subsequently rebuilt by L.C. Harrison of New York, as his Op. 92, c.1886.

Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.

Levi U. Stuart
New York City (1859)
Mechanical action
1 manual

In 1859, Holy Apostles established a mission, known as "The Chapel of the Free Gospel." The chapel, located nearby on West Twenty-ninth Street, was open to poor families who would not be able to attend a church with rented pews. Shortly before Christmas of 1859, a small organ costing $500 was installed. The mission did not flourish, perhaps because of its close proximity to the mother church, and the building was sold in 1866. The small organ was moved to Holy Apostles church and installed in the chancel.

Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.

Hall & Labagh
New York City (1847)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 18 stops

The original organ at the Church of the Holy Apostles was built in 1847 by Hall & Labagh of New York City. The American Musical Directory of 1861 shows that this organ had "two banks keys, 18 stops, 2 octaves pedals," while another states that it had "five Great stops, three Swell stops, and one octave in the pedal." Located in the rear gallery, the organ cost $1,200 and was pronounced "very sweet in tone."

Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.

Sources:
     American Musical Directory. New York: Thomas Hutchinson, 1861.
     The American Organist (June 1932). Courtesy Jeff Scofield.
     Blanchard, Homer D. "The Organ in the United States: A Study in Design", The Bicentennial Tracker. Richmond: Organ Historical Society, Inc., 1976.
     Church of the Holy Apostles website: http://www.holyapostlesnyc.org/
     Dolkart, Andrew S. and Matthew A. Postal. Guide to New York City Landmarks (Third Edition). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2004.
     Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Episcopal Diocese of New York Archives; Wayne H. Kempton, Archivist.
     Hopkins, Edward J. The Organ, Its History and Construction. London: Robert Cocks & Co. 1870.
     Laufman, Alan Miller. "The Van den Heuvel organ at the Holy Apostles Church, New York City," The Northeast Organist (Jan./Feb. 1997).
     Ochse, Orpha. "A Glimpse of the 1860s," The American Organist (Nov. 1969).
     Ogasapian, John. Organ Building in New York City: 1700-1900. Braintree: The Organ Literature Foundation, 1977.
     Scheer, Stanley. Factory Specifications (Mar. 30, 1931) of Casavant Frères Organ, Op. 1446.
     Tellers, Aaron (Tellers Organ Company). Specifications of A. B. Fegelmaker Organ, Op. 1247 (1917).
     Trupiano, Larry. Specifications of A. B. Fegelmaker Organ, Opus 1247 (1917).
     J.J. van den Heuvel website: http://vandenheuvel-orgelbouw.nl/

Illustrations:
    Episcopal Diocese of New York Archives. 1880 interior of church showing 1867 Levi U. Stuart organ.
     Lawson, Steven E. Church interior; J.J. van den Heuvel Organ (1994).

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