St. Barnabas Lutheran Church - Howard Beach (Queens), NY
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St. Barnabas Lutheran Church

159-19 98th Street
Howard Beach (Queens), N.Y. 11414
http://www.saintbarnabaschurch.net




St. Barnabas Lutheran Church can trace its roots to April 28, 1922, when a congregation of Christians was gathered at the Howard Beach Fire House. The following Sunday, at the Howard Beach Casino, this nameless band of believers held its first service. A few days later, the congregation took Saint Barnabas as its name. Leaving nothing to chance, the name “Saint Barnabas” was selected, not by a roll of the dice, but by a vote of 29 to 4 over the alternate name "Saint Lydia by the Sea."

Plans for a permanent church were approved during the Third Biennial Convention of the United Lutheran Church, held in Buffalo, N.Y., from October 17-25, 1922. As designed by Dietrich and Diemer, architects, a semi-rural type of building with clapboard sides above stone and concrete foundation would be built. Plans must have changed, as the church was built in the neo-Gothic style. The new edifice was dedicated on Sunday, June 16, 1929, by The Rev. Dr. Samuel Trexler, president of the newly formed United Lutheran Synod of New York.
            
M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 5533 (1929)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 22 stops, 11 ranks


The M.P. Möller Factory Specifications (dated April 17, 1929) show that the two-manual organ for St. Barnabas Lutheran would have a stop-key console, and would be voiced on 5" wind pressure. Möller described their Op. 5533 organ for the 32-page souvenir dedication program of St. Barnabas Lutheran Church, writing, in part:
     "The instrument is located in a special chamber, in a corner of the auditorium, the console places in the choir, at a point both convenient for the playing of the instrument and directing the choir. The only connection between the keyboard of the organ is electric wires, placing every one of the many pipes and other accessories under the immediate and easy control of the organist.
     "A visit through the interior of the organ would be found very interesting, showing the very best mechanism, the materials used in construction of the hightest grade, and simplicity in detail, with accessability of every, in fact the latest and best of the modern organ builders art."
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Octave [SW Op. Diap.]
SW
8
   Melodia [unit]
73
4
   Flute Traverso [Melodia]
—
8
   Dulciana
73
8
   Oboe
SW
8
   Salicional
73
    
Chimes [Deagan]
21 Bells
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon [unit]
97
8
   Dulciana
GT
8
   Lieblich Gedeckt
—
8
   Salicional
GT
4
   Orchestral Flute
—
8
   Vox Celeste [TC]
61
2 2/3
   Flute Twelfth
—
8
  Cornopean
73
2
   Flautina
—
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Open Diapason [unit]
73
8
   Vox Humana
61
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Bourdon [unit]
44
8
   Flute [Bourdon]
—
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal   Great 16', 4'
    Swell to Pedal   Swell 16', 4', Unison Separation
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'    
               
Mechanicals
    Tremulant          
    Crescendo indicator          
               
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Great and Pedal Stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Swell and Pedal Stops
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal    
    Grand Crescendo Pedal    
    Great to Pedal Reversible    
           
Sources:
     Minutes of the Third Biennial Convention of The United Lutheran Church in America. Buffalo, N.Y. (Oct. 17-25, 1922).
     St. Barnabas Lutheran Church web site: http://www.saintbarnabaschurch.net
     "Today's Programs in City's Churches," The New York Times (June 16, 1929).
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 5533 (1930).

Illustration:
     St. Barnabas Lutheran Church web site. Exterior.