St. Paul's/St. Luke's Lutheran Church - Port Richmond, Staten Island, NY (Photo: Dr. Ronald Cross)
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St. Paul's/St. Luke's Lutheran Church

186 Decker Avenue, Port Richmond
Staten Island, N.Y. 10302


St. Paul's/St. Luke's Lutheran Church - Port Richmond, Staten Island, NY (Photo: Dr. Ronald Cross)  
St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church of Port Richmond, Staten Island, held its first service in 1905. A group of Swedish-speaking families purchased the property for the church in 1909, laid the cornerstone in 1910 and dedicated the completed church in 1911.

A group of German-speaking families founded St. Paul’s Church in West Brighton in 1899. In 1971, with declining memberships, the two churches decided to merge as St. Paul’s/St. Luke’s and the St. Paul edifice was sold.
               
  Ralph Clauson Organ (1971) at St. Paul's/St. Luke's Lutheran Church - Port Richmond, Staten Island, New York (Photo: Dr. Ronald Cross)
Ralph Clauson
Staten Island, N.Y. (1971)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 15 registers, 14 stops, 14 ranks



The present organ was built in 1971 by Ralph Clauson of Staten Island. At Clauson’s suggestion, a large space was prepared as the organ chamber above the altar. The Great is to the left, the Positiv to the right, with the Pedal in the center. All pipes are unenclosed, and each rank has its own chest. Ralph Clauson's intention was to make maintenance as easy as possible for one person by using electric action and separate wind chests. The sound is bright, “classical” in sound, with little nicking and low wind pressure, and conceived as coming as close as possible to the sound of a mechanical-action instrument. The Koppelflöte 4’, Principal 4’, and the Trumpet 8’ were added later, and space is available on the console and in the chamber for possible future additions.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
  Dulciana *
61
2
  Flautina
61
8
  Holzgedackt
61
8
   Trumpet
61
4
  Principal
61
  Chimes  
               
Positiv Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
8
   Salicional *
61
2 2/3
  Harmonic Flute
61
8
   Gedackt
61
2
   Principal
61
4
   Koppelflöte
61
8
   Oboe
61
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  Sub Bass *
44
4
   Hellflöte *
44
8
  Diapason *
44
8
   Trumpet *
GT
           
* stops from Estey Organ, Op.2674 (1927)
               
Couplers
    Positiv to Great 8', 4'       Pedal to Pedal 4'  
    Great to Great 4'       Great to Pedal 8', 4'  
    Positiv to Positiv 16', 4'       Positiv to Pedal 8', 4'  
               
   
Ralph Clauson Organ (1971) at St. Paul's/St. Luke's Lutheran Church - Port Richmond, Staten Island, New York (Staten Island Advance photo by Tony Caronnante)  
Ralph Clauson Organ (1971) at St. Paul's/St. Luke's Lutheran Church - Port Richmond, Staten Island, New York (Photo: Dr. Ronald Cross)
Dr. Ronald Cross, A.A.G.O.
               
Sources:
     Cross, Ronald. Specifications of Ralph Clauson Organ (1971); history.

Illustrations:
     Cross, Ronald. Interior; organ pipes; newspaper article; organ console.
 
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