St. Pancras Catholic Church - Glendale City, NY
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Church of St. Pancras
(Roman Catholic)

72-22 68th Street at Myrtle Avenue
Glendale (Queens), N.Y. 11385
http://www.saintpancras.org


Organ Specifications:
Present building (since 1926)
► IV/79 Allen Organ Company electronic (2004)
► III/72 Allen Organ Company electronic (1970)
► III/40 Midmer-Losh Organ Company (1926)
First building (1906-1926)
• unknown


The Parish of St. Pancras was founded in 1898 by Rev. F.O. Siegelack for the parishioners of St. Brigid's and St. Margaret's, Middle Village, who lived too great a distance from these churches. After six months Father Siegelack turned the church over to St. Brigid's, from which it was attended until the appointment in 1905 of Rev. Luke Fink, O.S.B., as resident pastor. Work was begun on a three-story brick combination church and school, and until the completion of the basement the congregation met in the rectory (which was the old mansion of the Daly family, owners of the ground). The building measured 60 by 140 feet, and was completed in 1906 at a cost of $50,000.

By the 1920s the parish had outgrown its original facilities and plans were made for a large, separate church building. The cornerstone for the present Romanesque-style church was laid on September 7, 1924, and the completed building was dedicated on September 19, 1926.
         
  Allen Organ (R-400) in St. Pancras Church - Glendale (Queens), N.Y.
  Allen R-400 Console
  St. Pancras Catholic Church - Glendale, N.Y.
  Hinners Console in Chancel
Allen Organ Company
Macungie, Penn. (2004)
Electronic tonal production (Model R-400)
4 manuals, 79 stops







The present organ in St. Pancras Church is an electronic instrument built in 2004 by the Allen Organ Company. Its four-manual drawknob console and speakers are located in the gallery. Steven Frank, organist of the church, played the dedication recital on September 19, 2004.

In September 2010, a movable four-manual theatre organ console was installed in the chancel to control the resources of the Allen organ in the choir loft. This console was built in 1928 by the Hinners Organ Co., of Pekin, Illinois, for the Pekin Theatre. It originally had three manuals, but had been reconfigured with four Wurlitzer keyboards and an expanded stop rail.
         
Allen Organ Company
Macungie, Penn. (1970)
Electronic tonal production
3 manuals, 72 stops


In 1970, the Midmer-Losh organ in the gallery was replaced by a large three-manual electronic instrument built by the Allen Organ Company. This was the last custom analog instrument built by Allen. The dedicatory recital was played by Robert B. Grogan, Associate Organist of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., on November 28, 1971.
           
Midmer-Losh Organ Company
Merrick, N.Y. (1926)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 44 stops, 40 ranks


The original pipe organ in the present church was built in 1926 by the Midmer-Losh Organ Company of Merrick, N.Y. This organ was divided in two chambers in the rear gallery. The following specifications were recorded by Louis F. Mohr & Co., an organ service concern in the area. At the time of his visit the organ had a detached three-manual electric console by Reisner that had been installed by James Rae. This organ was removed to storage when it was replaced by an Allen electronic instrument.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes (partially enclosed with Choir?)
16
   Double Open Diapason
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Flute d'Amour
61
8
   Doppel Flute
61
2 2/3
   Twelfth
61
8
   Grosse Flute
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Viola d'Gamba
61
     Mixture III ranks
183
8
   Viol Celeste
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Dulciana
61
     Tremolo  
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
73
2
   Flageolet
61
8
   Open Diapason
73
     Mixture IV ranks
244
8
   Stopped Diapason
73
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Vox Celeste
73
8
   Vox Humana
61?
8
   Aeoline
73
     Tremolo  
4
   Flute Harmonic
73
        
 
      
 
      
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Viola d'Orchestre
73
8
   Dolcissimo
61
8
   Geigen Principal
61
8
   Unda Maris
61
8
   Melodia
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Orchestral String (fr. 16')
—
     Tremolo  
8
   Viol d'Amour
61
     Chimes  
 
      
 
      
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Resultant
—
16
   Viola d'Orchestre
CH
16
   Open Diapason
32
8
   Flute (fr. Bourdon)
—
16
   Double Open Diapason
GT
8
   Flute
SW
16
   Bourdon
44
8
   Melodia
CH
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
8
   Orchestral String
CH
16
   Violone
32
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Great 16', 4', Unison Off
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', 4', Unison Off
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir 16', 4', Unison Off
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'    
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Choir Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (toe)
Entire Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
  General Cancel
               
Accessories
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Sforzando Pedal
    Balanced Choir Pedal    
    Crescendo Pedal    
           
Sources:
     The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X, Vol. III. New York: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914.
     Church of St. Pancras website: http://www.saintpancras.org
     Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. I. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1985.
     Mohr, Louis F. & Co. Specification of Midmer-Losh organ (1926). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.

Illustrations:
     Church of St. Pancras. Exterior and interior.
     Frank, Steven. Rebuilt Hinners Organ Co. console.