St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church - New York City (Photo: John Rust)

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St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
(Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)

81 Christopher Street
New York, N.Y. 10014
http://stjohnschristopherstreet.org


Organ Specifications:
81 Christopher Street (since 1858)
► II/22 Austin Organs, Inc., Op. 2342 (1961)
► III/30 M.P. Möller, Inc, Op. 6867 (1940)
► III/33 Hillgreen, Lane & Co. (1903)
► II/21 unknown German builder (c.1856); enl. 1866
Previous building (location unknown):
• Henry Erben (1848)



St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)  
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church has existed on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village since 1858. Although Germans settled mainly in the area east of the Bowery, there was a community in Greenwich Village which existed until the end of World War I. The Federal-style building with a domed cupola, built in 1821-22 for the Eighth Presbyterian Church, is one of the oldest religious buildings in Greenwich Village. In 1842, the property was sold to St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, who worshiped here until 1858 when it was purchased for $13,000 by the German Lutherans. Victorian features were added in 1886 by Berg & Clark, and the pediment was inscribed, "Deutsche Evangelish-Lutherische St. Johannes Kirche".

St. John's Lutheran Church is within the Greenwich Village Historic District of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
               
  Austin Organ, Op. 2342 (1961) at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Austin Organs, Inc.
Hartford, Conn. – Opus 2342 (1961)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 22 stops, 22 ranks




In 1961, Austin Organs, Inc. installed a new organ in the gallery, incorporating several imported ranks provided by the organist. The existing organ cases were retained, but the facade pipes were replaced by grill cloth. The Hauptwerk, which includes an enclosed section, is installed in the former case on the west side, while the Positiv chest is mounted on the rear wall above the choir seating.
               
Hauptwerk Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, partially enclosed
    Unenclosed:       Enclosed:  
8
   Principal
68
8
   Rohrflöte
68
4
   Octave
68
8
   Viola
68
2
   Super Octave
61
8
   Voix Celeste [TC]
56
    Mixtur IV ranks
244
4
   Spillflöte
68
       
8
   Trompete
68

     

  Tremolo [fan]  
 
Positiv Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
8
   Gedeckt
61
     Sesquialtera II ranks
122
4
   Rohrpfeife
61
 
   Scharf IV ranks
244
2
   Prinzipal
61
 
  
Chimes
25 tubes

     

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Principal [ext. HW]
12
4
   Spillflöte
HW
16
   Gedeckt [ext. HW]
12
2
   Rohrflöte
HW
8
   Octave
32
1
   Gemshorn [ext. Ch. Bass]
24
8
   Rohrgedeckt
HW
16
  
Trompete [ext. GT]
preparation
4
   Choral Bass [ext. Octave]
12
        
               
Couplers
    Hauptwerk to Pedal 8', 4'   Hauptwerk to Positiv 8'
    Positiv to Pedal 8'   Hauptwerk 16', Unison Off, 4'
    Positiv to Hauptwerk 16', 8'   Positiv 16', Unison Off
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Hauptwerk Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb)
Positiv Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb)
Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (toe)
General Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb, 1-6 duplicated by toe)
               
Reversibles
    Hauptwerk to Pedal (thumb & toe)
    Positiv to Pedal (thumb & toe)
    Tutti (thumb & toe)
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced swell pedal for enclosed Hauptwerk  
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal      
               
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagersown, Md. – Opus 6867 (1940)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 31 stops, 30 ranks


In 1940, M.P. Möller was contracted to rebuild the 1903 Hilgreen, Lane organ with electro-pneumatic action and a new stop-key console. All pipes were cleaned and revoiced, and two stops were changed: the 4' Flute Traverso on the Great was replaced by a 2' Fifteenth; and the 8' Clarinet on the Choir was replaced by an 8' Vox Humana. Möller rebuilt the swell boxes with new electro-pneumatic wiffletree-type swell engines. The existing cases with speaking facade pipes were retained.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Doppelflote (wood)
61
2
   Fifteenth *
61
8
   Gamba
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Dulciana
61
    
Chimes [Deagan "A"]
25 tubes

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon, Bass (wood)
12
4
   Fugara
61
16
   Bourdon, Treble (wood)
49
4
   Harmonic Flute
61
8
   Viola Diapason
61
2
   Flautina
61
8
   Stopped Diapason (wood)
61
     Dolce Cornet III ranks
183
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Cornopean
61
8
   Aeoline
61
8
   Oboe & Bassoon
61
8
   Voix Celeste
61
     Tremolo  

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Geigen Principal
61
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   Melodia (wood)
61
8
   Vox Humana *
61
8
   Viola
61
     Tremolo  
4
   Waldflote (wood & metal)
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Open Diapason (wood)
44
8
   Violoncello [ext. Violone]
—
16
   Violon
44
8
   Gedeckt [ext. Bourdon]
—
16
   Bourdon (wood)
44
     Chimes
GT
8
   Grossflote [ext. Op. Diap.]
—
        
           
* new ranks by M.P. Möller
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Swell to Swell 16', 4', Off
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8'   Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'   Choir to Choir 16', 4', Off
    Choir to Swell 8'   Great to Great 4', Off
               
Combination Pistons (Adjustable at stops, moving registers)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Great and Pedal stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Swell and Pedal stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Choir and Pedal stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Pedal stops (duplicated by toe pistons)
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Entire Organ
               
Accessories
    Balanced Swell Expression Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Choir Expression Pedal   Chimes Controls
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal   Signal Light
    Full Organ Pedal (dup. by piston)   Signal Button
               
Hillgreen, Lane & Company
Alliance, Ohio (1903)
Tubular-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 31 stops, 33 ranks


The Agreement (Nov. 21, 1903) between Hilgreen, Lane & Company and the Board of Trustees of St. John's German Evangelical Lutheran Church states that Hillgreen, Lane would install a new organ on or before September 1st, 1904, for a consideration of $6,850, less $500 for the old organ. (Hillgreen, Lane sold the old organ to Louis F. Mohr for $50.) The organ was installed behind two cases of golden oak, one in each corner of the rear gallery.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
73
4
   Octave
73
8
   Viol di Gamba
73
4
   Flute Traverso
73
8
   Doppel Floete (wood)
73
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Dulciana
73
      

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon, Bass (wood)
12
4
   Flute Harmonic (w & m)
73
16
   Bourdon, Treble (wood)
61
4
   Fugara
73
8
   Violin Diapason
73
2
   Flautina
61
8
   Salicional
73
     Dolce Cornet, 3 ranks
183
8
   Aeoline
73
8
   Cornopean
61
8
   Stopped Diapason (wood)
73
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Vox Celeste [TC]
61
     Tremulant  

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Geigen Principal
61
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   Melodia (wood)
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Viola
61
     Tremulant  
4
   Wald Flute (wood)
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Dbl. Open Diapason (wood)
30
8
   Violoncello (metal)
30
16
   Bourdon (wood)
30
8
   Gr[oss] Flute
30
16
   Violon (wood)
30
8
   Gedackt
30
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal   Swell to Choir
    Swell to Pedal  

Great to Great Superoctave

    Choir to Pedal   Great to Great Suboctave
    Swell to Great   Swell to Swell Superoctave
    Swell to Great Suboctave   Choir to Choir Superoctave
    Swell to Great Superoctave   Swell Unison
    Choir to Great   Great Unison
               
Piston Combinations
"Each Pedal with appropriate Pedal support."
   
Great Organ Full Choir Organ Full Swell Organ Full
Great Organ Mezzo Choir Organ Mezzo Swell Organ Mezzo
Great Organ Piano Choir Organ Piano Swell Organ Piano
               
Accessories
    Great Coupler Cancel   Wind Indicator
    Swell Coupler Cancel   Crescendo Dial
    Choir Coupler Cancel   Motor Starter
               
Pedal Movements
    Great Organ Full   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Great Organ Piano   Balanced Swell Pedal
    Chir Organ Full   Balanced Choir Pedal
    Choir Organ Piano   Full Organ, Crescendo & Diminuendo Pedal
    Swell Organ Full    
    Swell Organ Piano   Electric Blower
               
Unknown Builder
Germany (c.1856); enl. 1866
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 19 stops, 21 ranks


The following specification was recorded by F.R. Webber, whose "Organ Scrapbooks" are in the possession of The Organ Historical Society Archives in Princeton, N.J. Webber wrote these comments:

"Organ built in Germany, brought to this country. Not sold. St. John's bought it in 1856 for $1250. Englarged 1866. Used until 1904. Succeeded by a Hillgreen-Lane 3man. Richard Goller, organist 1858-1897. Organ sold to St. Alban's P.E., Danielson, Conn. Moved by Louis Mohr, 1905. Great Diapason of block tin. Flutes turned out of pearwood."

"B.J.O. [Barbara J. Owen?] 3-25-58. Stoplist from the dedic. program."
               
Great Organ (Manual I)
16
   Bourdon  
4
   Flauto Traverso  
8
   Open Diapason  
2 2/3
   Quint  
8
   German floete  
2
   Fifteenth  
8
   Stopped Diapason       Mixture, 3 ranks  
4
   Octave  
8
   Trumpet  

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – enclosed
8
   Viol di Gamba  
4
   Spitz floete  
8
   Gedacht  
2
   Piccolo  
8
   Concert Flute  
8
   Clarinet  
8
   Dolce          
               
Pedal Organ
16
   Bourdon          
8
   Violoncello          
               
Couplers &c
    Swell to Great       Bellows signal  
    Pedal coupler          
               
Henry Erben
New York City (1848)
Mechanical action


Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
               
Sources:
     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.
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Ochse, Orpha. Austin Organs. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 2001.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Agreement and Specifications (Nov. 21, 1903) of Hillgreen, Lane and Company organ.
     Trupiano, Larry. Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 6867 (1940).
     Webber, F.R. "Organ scrapbook" at Organ Historical Society Archives, Princeton, N.J. Specifications of the 1856 organ. Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.

Illustrations:
     Lawson, Steven E. Austin organ and church interior.
     Rust, John. Exterior.