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Church of St. Peter
(Roman Catholic)
16 Barclay Street at Church Street
New York, N.Y. 10007
http://stpetersrcnyc.org/
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Original St. Peter's Church
(1785-1836) |
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Old St. Peter's is the Mother Church of Catholic New York, as it is the oldest Roman Catholic parish in New York City and New York State. The Roman Catholic Church was not permitted to function in New York during the Dutch and British colonial periods, except for the administration of Gov. Thomas Dongan (1683-88), who was himself Catholic. The American Revolution changed all this, and in 1785, after the British evacuation of New York, St. Peter’s Church was founded. Property was acquired on Barclay Street, and the first church constructed on the site of the present church. St. Peter's Parish opened the first Catholic school in the state of New York in 1800.
Elizabeth Ann Seton was received into the Roman Catholic Church at St. Peter's in 1805. Born in New York City in 1774, Elizabeth often prayed before The Crucifixion painting above St. Peter's main altar. (This painting by Mexican artist Jose Vallejo was a gift from the archbishop of Mexico City in 1789.) A widow and mother of five, the former Episcopalian eventually went on to found the Sisters of Charity. Elizabeth was the first person born in the (soon-to-be) United States to become a canonized saint (September 14, 1975).
The cornerstone of the present building was laid in 1836. Designed by John R. Haggerty and Thomas Thomas, the Greek Revival structure is built of granite and has a facade with six Ionic columns. St. Peter's was the first church in the archdiocese to offer midday services, and by the 1940s St. Peter's was becoming more of a service church as the financial district gave way to stores and tall office buildings, with thousands entering the area each day for work.
In 1965, St. Peter's was designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. The church is located just north of the World Trade Center towers, and was a staging area for emergency responders. The body of the Rev. Mychal Judge, Chaplain to the New York City Fire Department and officially the first casualty of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, was brought to St. Peter's by firefighters and laid before the altar. |
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Geo. Kilgen & Son, Inc.
St. Louis, Mo. – Opus 4740 (1931)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 95 registers, 37 stops, 41 ranks
The present organ in St. Peter's Church was originally built in 1927 by Geo. Kilgen & Son of St. Louis. In 1931, the organ was enlarged by Kilgen and moved to the chancel, as described in The Diapason (June 1931):
"The Rev. Father Noonan, pastor of St. Peter's Catholic Church, New York City, who is planning on reconstructing his present church building, has conceived the idea of moving the Kilgen organ from the west gallery down to the sanctuary. As his plans developed, the scheme was enlarged and in consultation with his organist, Robert W. Wilkes, the scheme finally adopted was not only to move the great organ, but to place an Echo over the old chamber in the gallery and add a Solo organ to the main organ in the sanctuary, placing the Great and Choir on one side of the chancel and the Swell over the choir room on the other side, behind which was placed the Solo organ. A new four-manual console of the wing-type cathedral style will be placed in the sanctuary and a new 10-horsepower blower is included in the contract."
The massive four-manual console has color-coded stopkeys and a wealth of controls. Unusually, the general combination pistons are located on the backboard above the lower keys of the top manual. Pistons beneath the bottom manual are extra-long and have engraved letters or numbers on both the top and front sides. Above the top keyboard are eight stopkeys that control the light and heavy tremolos of the chancel divisions. As installed in 1931, this console was hidden from view in the right chancel chamber.
In 2011, the church commissioned Meloni & Farrier of Port Chester, N.Y., to restore the 80-year-old organ in time for the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attack. Meloni & Farrier releathered, cleaned and repaired the organ as necessary. The original 1931 console was updated with a solid-state Peterson combination action, and moved to the gallery. |
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Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed with Choir
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16 |
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Diapason |
85 |
2 |
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Flute |
CH |
8 |
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1st Diapason |
61 |
1 3/5 |
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Flute |
CH |
8 |
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2nd Diapason (fr. 16') |
— |
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String Mixture III ranks |
CH |
8 |
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Violin Diapason |
CH |
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Dulciana Mixture V ranks |
305 |
8 |
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Doppel Flute |
61 |
8 |
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Tuba |
61 |
8 |
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Claribel Flute |
CH |
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Pedal to Great 8' |
8 |
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Viola |
CH |
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Swell to Great 16', 8', 4' |
8 |
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Dulciana |
85 |
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Choir to Great 16', 8', 4' |
8 |
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Dulciana Celeste (TC) |
73 |
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Solo to Great 16', 8', 4' |
4 |
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Dulciana Celeste |
— |
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Great 16', 4', Unison Off |
4 |
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Octave |
— |
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Echo to Great 8' |
4 |
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Flute |
CH |
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2 2/3 |
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Flute |
CH |
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Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
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16 |
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Bourdon |
97 |
2 |
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Flute (fr. Bdn.) |
— |
8 |
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Diapason |
73 |
1 3/5 |
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Gedeckt (fr. Bdn.) |
— |
8 |
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Gedeckt (fr. Bdn.) |
— |
8 |
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Cornopean |
73 |
8 |
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Harmonic Flute |
73
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8 |
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Oboe |
73 |
8 |
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Flute Celeste (TC) |
61 |
16 |
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Vox Humana (TC) |
— |
8 |
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Salicional |
73 |
8 |
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Vox Humana |
73 |
8 |
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Salicional Celeste (TC) |
61 |
4 |
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Vox Humana (fr. 8') |
— |
4 |
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Gedeckt (fr. Bdn.) |
— |
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Solo to Swell 16', 8', 4' |
4 |
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Flute (fr. Harm. Fl.) |
— |
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Swell 16', 4', Unison Off |
2 2/3 |
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Gedeckt (fr. Bdn.) |
— |
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Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed with Great
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16 |
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Viola |
97 |
4 |
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Viola (fr. 16') |
— |
8 |
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Violin Diapason |
73 |
4 |
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Viola Celeste (fr. 8') |
— |
8 |
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Tibia |
85 |
2 2/3 |
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Viola (fr. 16') |
— |
8 |
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Violin (fr. 16') |
73 |
2 |
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Viola (fr. 16') |
— |
8 |
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Quintadena |
73 |
1 3/5 |
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Viola (fr. 16') |
— |
8 |
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Claribel Flute |
73 |
2 2/3 |
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Dulciana Celeste |
GT |
8 |
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Gemshorn |
73 |
2 |
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Dulciana Celeste |
GT |
8 |
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Gemshorn Celeste |
73 |
1 3/5 |
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Dulciana Celeste |
GT |
8 |
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Viola (fr. 16') |
— |
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Dulciana Mixture V ranks |
GT |
8 |
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Viola Celeste (TC) |
73 |
8 |
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Clarinet |
73 |
8 |
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Dulciana Celeste |
GT |
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Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4' |
5 1/3 |
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Viola (fr. 16') |
— |
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Solo to Choir 16', 8', 4' |
5 1/3 |
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Dulciana Celeste |
GT |
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Choir 16', 4', Unison Off |
4 |
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Dulciana Celeste |
GT |
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Echo to Choir 8' |
4 |
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Flute (fr. Tibia) |
— |
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Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
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16 |
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Clarabella |
85 |
8 |
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French Horn |
73 |
8 |
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Stentorphone |
73 |
8 |
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English Horn |
73 |
8 |
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Clarabella (fr. 16') |
— |
4 |
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Trombone (fr. 16') |
— |
4 |
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Clarabella (fr. 16') |
— |
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Solo 16', 4', Unison Off |
16 |
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Trombone |
85 |
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Echo to Solo 8' |
8 |
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Trombone (fr. 16') |
— |
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Chimes |
GT |
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Echo Organ (floating) – 61 notes, enclosed
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8 |
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Gedeckt |
85 |
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Echo Pedal |
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8 |
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Echo Salicional |
85 |
16 |
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Bourdon (ext. EC) |
12 |
8 |
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Salicional Celeste (TC) |
61 |
8 |
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Gedeckt |
EC |
4 |
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Flute (fr. Ged.) |
— |
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Echo to Pedal 8' |
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4 |
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Salicional (fr. 8') |
— |
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8 |
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Vox Humana |
73 |
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Tremolo |
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Echo 16', 4', Unison Off |
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Pedal Organ – 32 notes
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32 |
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Diapason |
56 |
8 |
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Flute (fr. 16' Bdn.) |
— |
16 |
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1st Diapason (fr. 32') |
— |
8 |
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Violin |
CH |
16 |
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2nd Diapason |
GT |
8 |
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Dolce Flute |
SW |
16 |
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Clarabella |
SO |
8 |
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Dulciana |
GT |
16 |
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Bourdon |
44 |
16 |
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Trombone |
SO |
16 |
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Viola |
CH |
16 |
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Tuba (ext. GT) |
12 |
16 |
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Gedeckt |
SW |
8 |
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Trombone |
SO |
10 2/3 |
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Quint (fr. 16' Bdn.) |
— |
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Great to Pedal 8', 4' |
10 2/3 |
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Dolce Quint |
SW |
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Swell to Pedal 8', 4' |
8 |
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Octave (fr. 32') |
— |
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Choir to Pedal 8' |
8 |
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Clarabella |
SO |
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Solo to Pedal 8' |
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Adjustable Combinations
(hold and set)
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| Great Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb) |
Pedal On/Off (keycheek) |
| Swell Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb) |
Pedal On/Off (keycheek) |
| Choir Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 (thumb) |
Pedal On/Off (keycheek) |
| Solo Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb) |
Pedal On/Off (keycheek) |
| Echo Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb) |
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| Pedal Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb) |
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| Entire Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb) |
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Pedal Cancel (thumb) |
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Coupler Cancel (thumb) |
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General Cancel (thumb) |
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Chancel Tremolos (stopkeys above top manual)
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1. |
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Solo Light |
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5. |
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Master Heavy |
2. |
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Swell Light |
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6. |
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Solo Heavy |
3. |
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Great Choir Light |
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7. |
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Swell Heavy |
4. |
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Master Light |
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8. |
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Great Choir Heavy |
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Accessories
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Balanced Expression Pedal – Great & Choir |
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Solo Pedal Off / Echo On (thumb) |
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Balanced Expression Pedal – Swell |
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Lights On/Off (GT keycheek) |
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Balanced Expression Pedal – Solo & Echo |
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Choir Express. On/Off (CH kychk) |
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Register Crescendo Pedal |
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Crescendo Indicator Lights (1-12) |
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Sforzando Reversible (thumb & toe) |
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Sforzando Indicator Light |
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Great to Pedal Reversible (thumb & toe) |
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Wind / Current Indicator Light |
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Swell / Choir Expression Shoe Switch (stopkey) |
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| Left Stop Jamb: Solo, Swell, Pedal |
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Chancel Tremolos |
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Right Stop Jamb: Echo, Choir, Great |
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| General Pistons above Solo manual |
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Extra-long pistons under Choir manual |
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Console with Altar visible thru screen |
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Geo. Kilgen & Son, Inc.
St. Louis, Mo. – Opus 3976 (1927)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 66 registers, 33 stops, 37 ranks
After 90 years of service, the 1837 Henry Erben organ was replaced in 1927 by a new electro-pneumatic instrument built by Geo. Kilgen & Son of St. Louis. |
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Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed with Choir
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16 |
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Diapason |
73 |
4 |
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Flute (fr. Con. Fl.) |
— |
8 |
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1st Diapason |
61 |
4 |
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Unda Maris II ranks (ext.) |
24 |
8 |
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2nd Diapason (fr. 16') |
— |
2 2/3 |
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Flute Twelfth (fr. Con. Fl.) |
— |
8 |
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3rd Diapason |
61 |
2 |
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Flute Fifteenth (fr. Con. Fl.) |
— |
8 |
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Doppel Flute |
61 |
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Dulciana Mixture V ranks |
305 |
8 |
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Concert Flute |
85 |
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String Mixture III ranks |
CH |
8 |
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Viola |
CH |
8 |
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Tuba Mirabilis |
61 |
8 |
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Dulciana |
61 |
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Tremolo |
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8 |
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Unda Maris |
61 |
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4 |
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Octave |
61 |
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* in Echo |
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Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
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16 |
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Bourdon |
97 |
2 2/3 |
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Nazard (fr. Bdn.) |
— |
8 |
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Open Diapason |
73 |
2 |
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Piccolo (fr. Bdn.) |
— |
8 |
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Gedeckt (fr. Bdn.) |
— |
1 3/5 |
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Tierce (fr. Bdn.) |
— |
8 |
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Salicional |
73 |
16 |
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Vox Humana (TC) |
— |
8 |
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String Celeste |
73 |
8 |
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Cornopean |
73 |
8 |
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Harmonic Flute |
73 |
8 |
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Oboe |
73 |
8 |
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Flute Celeste (TC) |
49 |
8 |
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Vox Humana |
61 |
4 |
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Flute (fr. Bdn.) |
— |
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Tremolo |
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4 |
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Flauto Traverso (fr. Har. Fl.) |
— |
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Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed with Great
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16 |
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Contra Viola |
97 |
4 |
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Violetta (fr. 16') |
— |
8 |
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Violin Diapason |
73 |
4 |
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Unda Maris II ranks |
GT |
8 |
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Violin |
61 |
2 2/3 |
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Viola Twelfth (fr. 16') |
— |
8 |
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Claribel Flute |
61 |
2 |
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Viola Fifteenth (fr. 16') |
— |
8 |
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Tibia Clausa |
73 |
1 3/5 |
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Viola Seventeenth (fr. 16') |
— |
8 |
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Quintadena |
73 |
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Dulciana Mixture V ranks |
GT |
8 |
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Viola (fr. 16') |
— |
8 |
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Clarinet |
73 |
8 |
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Unda Maris II ranks |
GT |
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Tremolo |
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4 |
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Flute (fr. Tibia) |
— |
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Chimes |
GT |
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Echo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
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8 |
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Gedeckt |
85 |
4 |
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Vox Angelica |
73 |
8 |
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Echo Salicional |
73 |
8 |
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Vox Humana (sep. box) |
73 |
8 |
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Celeste |
73 |
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Tremolo |
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4 |
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Flute (fr. Ged.) |
— |
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Pedal Organ – 32 notes
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32 |
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Resultant |
— |
8 |
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Octave (fr. 1st Diap.) |
— |
16 |
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1st Diapason |
44 |
8 |
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Flute (fr. Bdn.) |
— |
16 |
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2nd Diapason |
GT |
8 |
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Dolce Flute |
SW |
16 |
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Bourdon |
44 |
8 |
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Viola |
CH |
16 |
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Gedeckt |
SW |
16 |
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Tuba (ext. GT) |
12 |
16 |
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Contra Viola |
CH |
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Henry Erben
New York City (1837)
Mechanical action
3 manuals, 38 stops
The first organ in the present building was built by Henry Erben of New York City and installed in the gallery. According to the American Musical Directory of 1861, the organ had "3 banks keys, 38 stops, 2 octaves pedals" and was "Built by H. Erben, in 1837." Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
Remains of the 1837 Erben case are extant in the gallery. |
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Organ in original building:
Henry Erben
New York City (1824)
Mechanical action
Specifications for this organ have not yet been located. |
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Sources:
American Musical Directory. New York: Thomas Hutchinson, 1861.
The Diapason (October 1927). Stoplist of Geo. Kilgen & Son organ, Op. 3976 (1927). Courtesy Jeff Scofield.
The Diapason (June 1931). Specifications of Geo. Kilgen & Son organ, Op. 4740 (1931). Courtesy Jeff Scofield.
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.
The New York Genealogical and Biographical
Society website: www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org
Illustrations:
Lawson, Steven E. Exterior; interior; console of Geo. Kilgen & Son organ, Op. 4740 (1931); remains of 1837 Henry Erben organ case.
Ragusa, Lisa Meloni. Console in gallery (2012) of Geo. Kilgen & Son organ, Op. 4740 (1931). |
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