Click on images to enlarge Village Presbyterian Church 145 West 13th Street, near Sixth Avenue New York, N.Y. 10011 Organ Specifications: • unknown "modern organ" (1941) ► II/18 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 391 (1902) • Hilborne L. Roosevelt, Op. 111 (1883) – burned (1902) • II/24 Richard M. Ferris (1855); reb. by Roosevelt (1883) • II/24 Henry Erben (1853) – burned (1855) The Village Presbyterian Church was established in 1846 as the Thirteenth Street Presbyterian Church, and in the same year the Greek Revival building was erected. Two fires in 1855 and 1902 almost destroyed the building. In 1910, the a merger took place with the nearby Fourteenth Street Presbyterian Church, after which the combined congregation was known as Greenwich Presbyterian. Another merger took place, in 1956, with the Chelsea Presbyterian Church, and the church was renamed Village Presbyterian. By the 1970s, the membership had decreased to where the church disbanded in 1975. A developer purchased the church and planned to convert the building into luxury condominiums. Despite much public outcry, the developer won approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission (the church is within the Greenwich Village Historical District) to proceed with his plans. Great care was taken not to alter the exterior, and entrances to the residences are discreetly place along the side walls.
Unknown Builder An unknown "modern organ" — possibly an electronic – was installed in 1941. Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
J.H. & C.S. Odell New York City – Opus 391 (1902) Tubular-pneumatic action 2 manuals, 18 stops, 18 ranks This organ was removed from the church c.1975, and subsequently stored in Brooklyn.                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed with Swell 8   Open Diapason 61 4   Harmonic Flute 61 8   Gamba 61 4   Octave 61 8   Dulciana 61 2   Fifteenth 61 8   Melodia 61 8   Trumpet 61             Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon (split knob) 61 8   Stopped Diapason 61 8   Open Diapason 61 4   Rohr Flote 61 8   Salicional 61 2   Flageolet 61 8   Aeoline 61 8   Oboe 61             Pedal Organ – 30 notes 16   Double Open Diapason 30       16   Bourdon 30                         Couplers     Swell to Great Unison       Great to Pedal       Swell to Great Super Octave       Swell to Pedal                   Piston Combination Movements     Great Organ Forte       Swell Organ Forte       Great Organ Mezzo       Swell Organ Mezzo       Great Organ Piano       Swell Organ Piano                   Pedal Movements     Grand Crescendo Pedal       Balanced Swell Pedal       Pedal Organ Forte       Great to Pedal Reversible       Pedal Organ Piano                           Mechanical Accessories     Swell Tremulant               Wind Indicator
Hilborne L. Roosevelt New York City – Opus 111 (1883) Tracker-pneumatic action 2 manuals In 1883, the earlier Richard M. Ferris was rebuilt by Hilborne L. Roosevelt. This organ burned in 1902. Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
Richard M. Ferris New York City (1855) Mechanical action 2 manuals, 24 stops Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
Henry Erben New York City (1853) Mechanical action 2 manuals, 24 stops The first known organ for the Thirteenth Street Presbyterian Church was built in 1853 by Henry Erben of New York City; it burned in 1855. Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
Sources:      Dugan, George. "A Church in the Village Is Looking for a Buyer," The New York Times (July 9, 1977).      Forgotten New York web site: http://forgotten-ny.com/      Jones, Jill. "Transfers Are Often Traumatic For Churches and Synagogues," The New York Times (Sep. 30, 1979).      Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 391? (1902). Illustrations:       Forgotten New York web site. Exterior.       Trupiano, Larry. Organ case.
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