Macedonia A.M.E. Church - Flushing (Queens), NY
Macedonia A.M.E. Church

37-22 Union Street
Flushing (Queens), N.Y. 11354
http://www.macedoniaamechurch.org/

Organ Specifications:
► II/10 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 6040 (1932)
► II/9 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 1859 (1915)


The earliest records available show that land for the original site for the Macedonia Church was purchased in 1811 by the Trustees and members of the African Methodist Society of Flushing, the forerunner of the present Macedonia African American Episcopal Church. It is believed that the Society was actually formed many years earlier by free blacks, Indians and whites, who could have also been ex-slaves.

1837 building - Macedonia A.M.E. Church - Flushing (Queens), NY  
The early members of Macedonia supported their church with their lives and their stewardship. Despite meager means, they maintained the church and managed to acquire property that allowed for expansion and growth. It was in 1818 that Richard Allen decided to expand the influence of the newly formed African Methodist Episcopal Church by sending missions to New York to establish the first African Methodist Episcopal Missions. By 1820, eight churches had become a part of the New York Conference and it was in 1821 that Macedonia received its first appointed A.M.E. minister, the Rev. Henry Heardon. After many years of meeting in homes, the first church building was erected near the present site in 1837.

1900 building - Macedonia A.M.E. Church - Flushing (Queens), NY  
At the turn of the century, Rev. Charles J. Lawton was determined to make Macedonia a strong influence in Flushing. He worked alongside the men of the church to build a new building that sat on a brick foundation. The bricks were used and the women of the church cleaned each one by hand. This building served the members and the community for over thirty years. A new building inspired new ideas and the women of Macedonia had their own vision. It was under Rev. Lawton's pastorate that the Missionary Society and Stewardess Board No. 1 was formed.

Between 1905 and 1928, Macedonia continued to grow under very capable leadership. In October 1928, the church was blessed once again with an extraordinary pastor, the Rev. William McKinley Dawkins. When he arrived the church building was in a dilapidated state and did not have a parsonage. Needless to say Rev. Dawkins was a man of vision and in just two years he established many of the amenities that the members enjoyed for many years, the greatest asset at the time being the parsonage where the pastors assigned to Macedonia lived until the 1980s.

1932 building - Macedonia A.M.E. Church - Flushing (Queens), NY  
His efforts to rebuild the church were rebuffed by the banks and contractors. This led Rev. Dawkins to lead a life of constant prayer and the congregation joined with him. During this time the membership grew to over five hundred and Macedonia held the largest Prayer Meeting in the New York Conference. God answered their prayers and the new building, complete with interior renovations, was dedicated on Febuary 14, 1932. The Great Depession was oppressing the nation, but Rev. Dawkins was able to inspire the members to organize many of the clubs and auxilliaries still in place today.

While African-Americans were being pushed uptown in Manhattan the late 1800s and early 1900s, African-Americans were being removed altogether from the downtown Flushing area in the mid- to late-1940s. The officials of government identified their community as a slum and proceeded to implement a plan designed by Commisioner of Parks, Robert Moses, to build a parking lot and bus station. Not only homes, but the little red schoolhouse built in 1861 by the Flushing Female Association, despite its landmark status, fell to the wrecking balls. The new arrivals to the suburbs needed convenient parking for their shopping expeditions so a viable community was displaced for a parking lot. A way of life was destroyed as members of the African-American community were scattered, leaving only their church as a reminder of their former existence in the area.

The church was determined to maintain its presence on the original site, and with the help of the newly assigned pastor, the Rev. G. Grant Crumpley, this was accomplished despite overwhelming odds. Rev. Crumpley was able to acquire from the City the adjacent lot and the church proceeded to build the Youth Building complete with chapel. Surrounded by a city parking lot, Macedonia continues to stand in downtown Flushing on or near the original parcel of land purchased by "Trustees and members" in 1811.
           
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 6040 (1932)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 26 stops, 10 ranks
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Flute
SW
8
   Open Flute
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Stopped Flute
SW
8
   Tuba
73
8
   Viole d'Orchestre
73
4
   Tuba
—
8
   Viole d'Amour
SW
    
Chimes
21 Bells
4
   Octave [Open Diap.]
SW
        
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon [unit]
97
8
   Viole d'Orchestre
GT
8
   Stopped Flute
—
8
   Viole Celeste [TC]
61
4
   Flute
—
8
   Viole d'Amour [unit]
73
2 2/3
   Twelfth
—
4
   Viola
—
2
   Piccolo
—
8
   Tuba
GT
8
   Open Diapason
73
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Bourdon [unit]
44
8
   Flute
—
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
8
   Tuba
GT
10 2/3
   Quint
SW
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Great 16', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8'   Swell 16', 4', Unison Separation
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'    
               
Mechanicals
    Tremulant          
    Crescendo Indicator          
               
Adjustable Combination Pistons
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Great and Pedal stops  
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Swell and Pedal stops  
               
Pedal Movements
    Great to Pedal Reversible      
    Balanced Swell Pedal      
    Grand Crescendo Pedal      
           
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 1859 (1915)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 9 stops, 9 ranks
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
8
   Open Diapason
58
4
   Octave
58
8
   Dulciana [TC]
46
2
   Fifteenth
58
8
   Stopped Diapason Bass
12
        
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   Salicional
58
4
   Flute Harmonic
58
8
   Stopped Diapason [TC]
46
8
   Oboe
58
8
   Stopped Diapason Bass
12
        
               
Pedal Organ – 27 notes
16
   Bourdon
27
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal    
    Swell to Pedal    
    Swell to Great    
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal      
           
Sources:
     "Freedom Mile," Queens Historical Society web site: http://www.queenshistoricalsociety.org/freedom.html
     Macedonia A.M.E. Church web site: http://www.macedoniaamechurch.org/
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Trupiano, Larry. Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 1859 (1915).
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 6040 (1932).

Illustrations:
     Macedonia A.M.E. Church web site: early church buildings.