St. James Chapel in the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
  Click on images to enlarge
Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
(Episcopal)

Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street
New York, N.Y. 10026
http://www.stjohndivine.org

Chapel of St. James
Organ Specifications:
► II/16 Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co., Op. 223-A (1961); reb. (2011)
► II/11 Ernest M. Skinner Company, Op. 223 (1914)

See also the Cathedral, St. Ansgar Chapel, and the Synod House.




The Chapel of St. James, named after St. James the Apostle, the patron saint of Spain, highlights the contributions of Spain to the Christian tradition. Originally named Potter Chapel, it was the gift of Elizabeth Scriven Potter in memory of her husband, Henry Codman Potter, seventh Bishop of New York, whose tomb and recumbent effigy are housed in the chapel. The chapel was designed by Henry Vaughan, who also built the chapels of St. Ansgar and of St. Boniface in the cathedral. Vaughan was also the original architect of Washington National Cathedral.
           
  Aeolian-Skinner Organ, Op. 223-A (1961) in St. James Chapel in the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 223-A (1961); reb. (2011)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 19 registers, 12 stops, 16 ranks


The organ in the Chapel of St. James was originally built by the Ernest M. Skinner Company of Boston, as Opus 223 in 1914. In 1961, the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company of Boston rebuilt the organ as Opus 223-A. The organ is located in a small gallery on the north wall and is used often for the many weddings, funerals and other services in the chapel.

In December 2001, the unfinished north transept was destroyed by fire, causing tremendous smoke damage to the entire cathedral. All of the organs in the cathedral were silenced until they could be removed, cleaned and restored. The organ in St. James Chapel was rebuilt in 2010 by Douglass Hunt, curator of the cathedral organs, and includes a new console by Harris Organs, Inc., of Whittier, Calif.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
  Spitz Principal
61
4
  Spitzflöte *
SW
8
  Gedeckt
SW
     Scharf III-V ranks
SW
4
   Praestant
61
8
   Hautbois *
SW

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Bourdon
61
2
   Octavin
61
8
  Gedeckt
61
    Scharf III-IV ranks
232
8
  Viole de Gambe
61
8
  Hautbois
61
8
  Viole Celeste
61
     Tremulant  
4
   Spitzflöte
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  Quintade
44
8
  Quintade (fr. 16')
—
16
  Bourdon
SW
4
  Super Octave (fr. 8')
—
8
  Octave
44
        
           
* stops added (2010)
Couplers (tilting tablets)
    Great to Pedal   Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal   Swell 16', Unison Off, 4'
               
Adjustable Combinations (SSOS, 10 levels)
   
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Swell 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)
  Set (thumb)
  Set Lock (key switch)
               
Reversibles
    Great to Pedal (thumb & kick-pedal)   Full Organ (thumb & kick-pedal)
               
Indicators
    Wind (LED)       Full Organ (LED)  
               
Balanced Shoe Movements
    Swell Expression          
               
Mechanicals
    Rolltop with lock    
    Keylock for blower and power    
    Accessory drawer with lock (SSL CapLite controls)
    Bench with backrest and height adjustment (manual)
    Incandescent lighting for pedalboard and coupler rail
    Switched outlet for music rack lamp
           
The Ernest M. Skinner Company
Boston, Mass. – Opus 223 (1914)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 18 registers, 11 stops, 11 ranks


The original organ in the Potter Chapel (now St. James Chapel) was built by The Ernest M. Skinner Company of Boston, for a consideration of $3,500 that was paid by Stephen Carlton Clark, of Cooperstown, N.Y. In the Memorandum of an Agreement dated May 28, 1914, Skinner noted that the sum was exclusive of the oak case, but included the show pipes in natural zinc, plus the key desk and organist's seat that were to be of oak and of a design approved by the architect. The organ was to be installed by August 1st, 1914.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
  Diapason
61
8
   Aeoline
SW
8
  Erzahler
61
4
   Flute
SW
8
   Gedackt
SW
8
   Cornopean
SW

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Bourdon
61
4
  Flute
61
8
  Gedackt
61
8
   Cornopean
61
8
  Salicional
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
  Aeoline
61
     Tremolo  
8
   Unda Maris (TC)
49
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes (Augmented)
16
  First Bourdon
42
8
  Octave (fr. First Bdn)
—
16
  Second Bourdon
SW
8
   Gedackt
SW
               
Couplers (tilting tablets)
    Great to Pedal   Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal   Swell 16', 4'
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3 (thumb)
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2 (toe)
  General Cancel (thumb)
  Set (thumb)
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal     Great to Pedal Reversible
           
Sources:
     Aeolian-Skinner Archives web site: http://aeolianskinner.organsociety.org/
     Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, pub. by the Cathedral League. New York: St. Bartholomew's Press, 1916.
     Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine web site: http://www.stjohndivine.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. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Hall, Edward Hagaman. A Guide to the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in the City of New York (Third Ed.). New York: The Laymen's Club of the Cathedral, 1922.
     Holden, Dorothy. The Life and Work of Ernest M. Skinner. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1987.
     Kinzey, Allen. Specifications of Ernest M. Skinner organ, Op. 223 (1914). 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.
     Memorandum of Agreement (May 28, 1914) for The Ernest M. Skinner Company organ, Op. 223. Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     "Stop, Open and Reed – a Periodical Presentation of Pipe Organ Progress". Boston: Skinner Organ Company, 1922-1927.

Illustrations:
     Lawson, Steven E.: interior; Aeolian-Skinner organ, Op. 223-A (1961).