The Church-in-the-Gardens - Forest Hills (Queens), NY
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The Church-in-the-Gardens
 (United Church of Christ)

50 Ascan Avenue
Forest Hills Gardens (Queens), N.Y. 11375

Organ Specifications:
• II/50 Allen Organ Company (2001)
► II/9 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 9372 (1960)
► II/11 Estey Organ Company, Op. 3113 (1940)
• II/ Estey Organ Company, Op. 1451 (1916)


Neighborhood residents from six different denominations gathered together on October 13, 1912 in a Station Square store for the first meeting of what would become The Church-in-the-Gardens. Desiring to create an ecumenically grounded Protestant community church for the infant Forest Hills Gardens community, the founding members incorporated within a year as a Congregational church. Designed by architect Grosvenor Atterbury, the small church is built of rough stone and features a sturdy square tower surmounted by a fleche of wrought iron that marks the entrance. In the tower are 11 tubular chimes of unknown manufactury, thought to be an undocumented Deagan Tower Chime. Olivia Sage, the philanthropic widow of industrialist Russell Sage, paid for the construction of the church.
           
Allen Organ Company
Macugnie, Penn. (2001)
Model Renaissance R-270
Digital tone generation
2 manuals, 55 stops


In 2001, the M.P. Möller pipe organ was replaced by an Allen Organ Company electronic instrument having two manuals and 55 digital stops.
           
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 9372 (1960)
Electrio-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 39 stops, 9 ranks


On July 10, 1959, a contract was signed with the M.P. Möller Company to install a small double organ with pipes located in the chancel and gallery. In the mid-1970s, the Gallery organ was removed, and when the Allen organ was installed in 2001, the Chancel organ was removed and rebuilt for the George W. Swope residence in Elmwoord Park, N.J.
               
Chancel Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed with Chancel Swell (4" pressure)
8
   Principal [unit]
85
2
  Fifteenth
—
8
   Gedeckt [unit]
85
8
   Trompette
SW
8
   Viola [unit]
73
4
   Clairon
SW
4
   Octave
—
    
Chimes
preparation
4
   Gedeckt
—
    
Tower Chimes +  
4
   Viola
—
    
+ Tenor A B C# D D# E F# G G# A B
2 2/3
   Twelfth
—
        
               
Gallery Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes (3¼" pressure)
8
   Rohrflöte
73
8
   Fagot [1-30 half length]
73
4
   Principal
73
4
   Fagot
—
    Mixture II ranks
122
        
 
     
 
     
Chancel Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed (4" pressure)
16
   Gedeckt [TC]
CGT
2 2/3
   Gedeckt Twelfth
CGT
8
   Gedeckt
CGT
2
   Gedeckt
CGT
8
   Viola
CGT
8
   Trompette
73
4
   Gedeckt
CGT
4
   Clairon
—
4
   Viola
CGT
     Tremulant  
               
Gallery Positiv Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes (4" pressure)
8
   Rohrflöte
GGT
2
   Principal
GGT
4
   Rohrflöte
GGT
8
   Fagot
GGT
               
Chancel Pedal Organ – 32 notes, enclosed (4" pressure)
16
   Gedeckt Bass [ext. GGT]
12
4
   Octave
CGT
8
   Principal
CGT
4
   Gedeckt
CGT
8
   Gedeckt
CGT
8
   Trompette
CSW
5 1/3
  Quint
CGT
        
               
Gallery Pedal Organ – 32 notes (3¼" pressure)
16
   Rohrflöte [ext. GGT]
12
4
   Principal
GGT
8
   Rohrflöte
GGT
16
   Fagott [ext. POS]
12
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', 4', Unison Off
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Gallery Organ Off
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Chancel Organ Off
    Great 16', 4', Unison Off   Great couplers affect both Chancel Great and Gallery Great stops
Swell couplers affect both Chancel Swell and Gallery Positiv stops
               
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 Affecting Great Stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 Affecting Swell-Positiv Stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 Affecting Pedal Stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 Affecting Full Organ, duplicated by toe studs
    General Cancel          
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Expression Pedal, Chancel Organ
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal
    Great to Pedal Reversible Piston and Toe Stud
    Swell to Pedal Reversible Piston and Toe Stud
    Sforzando Reversible Piston and Toe Stud
           
Estey Organ Company
Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 3113 (1940)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 19 stops, 11 ranks


In 1940, the Estey Organ Company rebuilt their Op. 1451 that had been installed in 1916. Estey provided several new ranks, plus a new two-manual oak console with celluloid keys. The entire organ was enclosed in one chamber and was voiced on 5" wind pressure. Estey's Shop Order for this organ states, "This organ is buried. Be sure it is loud enough to be heard in church auditorium."
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed with Swell
8
   Diapason *
61
4
   Flute d'Amour
SW
8
   Melodia
61
2
   Piccolo
SW
8
   Dulciana
61
    
Chimes
preparation
8
   Gedeckt
SW
    
Tower Chimes +  
4
   Flauto Traverso
61
    
+ Tenor A B C# D D# E F# G G# A B
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Horn Diapason
73
2 2/3
  Nasard
—
8
   Viole d'Orchestre [12 new]
73
2
   Piccolo
—
8
   Viole Celeste [TC] [12 new]
61
8
   Oboe *
73
8
   Gedeckt [unit] *
85
8
   Vox Humana [12 new]
73
4
   Flute d'Amour
—
     Tremolo  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Bourdon [unit] *
44
8
   Flute
—
16
   Gedeckt [ext. SW]
12
        
           
* new pipes
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Great 16', 4', Unison Off
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', 4', Unison Off
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'    
               
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 Affecting Great stops and couplers
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 Affecting Swell stops and couplers
    Pistons No. 1-2-3 Affecting Pedal stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 Affecting all stops and couplers
    General Cancel          
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal
    Great to Pedal Reversible (toe stud)
    Sforzando Reversible (toe stud)
           
Estey Organ Company
Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 1451 (1916)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals


Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
Sources:
     All Chimes web site: http://allchimes.org
     Carnahan, John. Factory Shop Order for Estey Organ, Op. 3113 (1940).
      Chun, Kevin. Specifications of M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 9372 (1960).
     "The Church in the Gardens at Forest Hills, N.Y.," The Architectural Review (Vol. IX, No. 2, Aug. 1919).
     The Estey Pipe Organ web site: www.esteyorgan.com
     Swope, George S. Electronic correspondence regarding relocation of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 9372 (1960).
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 9372 (1960).

Illustrations:
     The Church-in-the-Gardens web site. Exterior.
           
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