Church of the Messiah (Reformed Episcopal) - Brooklyn, N.Y. (1950 photo, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection)
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Church of the Messiah and Incarnation
(Reformed Episcopal)

80 Greene Avenue corner Clermont Avenue
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11238

Organ Specifications:
80 Greene Avenue corner Clermont Avenue (1865-1969)
► IV/57 Austin Organ Company, Op. 962 (1920)
• II/ George Jardine & Son (1886)
• Ferris & Stuart (1865)
Adelphi Street (1859-1865)
Second building (1859-1865)
• unknown
First building (1852-1859)
• unknown

The Church of the Messiah was founded in 1848 or 1849, and was the first Episcopal church in the area to follow the low-church principles of what would become the Reformed Episcopal Church. In 1852, a small wooden chapel was built on Adelphi Street, but after seven years it was necessary to build a larger brick church next door. The number of members continued to increase and in 1863 the incomplete Greene Avenue Presbyterian Church was purchased. In 1865, the congregation moved into their newly completed church, and the previous wooden chapel and brick church on Adelphi Street were sold to St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal Church.

1909 Interior View of the Church of the Messiah (Reformed Episcopal) - Brooklyn, N.Y. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection)  
James H. Giles is believed to have designed the Greene Avenue church, which is similar to the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, built in 1860-62 by Grimshaw & Morrill, in that it has two unequal towers flanking a prominent facade, and features round arches. In 1890, the church was renovated by architect R.H. Robertson, who added a beehive spire on the taller tower. Robertson also built the ornate porch, designed a new chapel, and redecorated the chancel in the Byzantine style.

At some point, the name was changed to "Church of the Messiah and Incarnation," most likely due a merger with the Church of the Incarnation.

On February 10, 1969, the church was destroyed in a five-alarm fire. More than 40 companies and 200 men, some from Manhattan, were called to the scene, but efforts were hampered by snowdrifts and high winds.
           
Austin Organ Company
Hartford, Conn. – Opus 962 (1920)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 66 stops, 57 ranks 


The following stoplist was recorded by Lynnwood Farnam (1885-1930), noted concert organist of the early 20th century, who kept organ "notebooks" with specifications of the many organs he visited or played.  
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, partially enclosed with Choir
16
  Major Diapason *  
4
  Octave  
8
  Principal Diapason *  
4
  Harmonic Flute  
8
  English Diapason *  
2 2/3
  Twelfth  
8
  Gross Gedeckt *  
2
  Fifteenth  
8
   Small Diapason  
8
   Trumpet  
8
   Clarabella       * unenclosed  
8
  Viole d'Amour          

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Bourdon  
4
   Flauto Traverso  
8
  Diapason Phonon  
2
   Flageolet  
8
  English Diapason       Dolce Cornet III ranks  
8
  Rohr Flöte  
16
   Oboe Horn  
8
  Chimney Flute  
8
   Oboe [ext.]  
8
  Viole d'Orchestre  
4
   Oboe Clarion [ext.]  
8
  Viole Celeste  
8
   Cornopean  
8
   Vox Seraphique  
8
   Vox Humana  
8
   Aeoline          
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Contra Dulciana  
8
   Dulciana  
8
   Open Diapason  
4
   Flute d'Amour  
8
   Geigen Principal  
2
   Piccolo Harmonique  
8
   Concert Flute  
8
   Clarinet  
8
   Unda Maris [TC]  
8
   Cor Anglais  
8
   Quintadena  
4
   Harp  
               
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Stentorphone  
4
   Flute Ouverte  
8
   Flauto Major  
8
   Tuba  
8
   Gross Gamba  
8
   French Horn  
8
   Gamba Celeste  
8
   Orchestral Oboe  
               
Echo Organ – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Cor de Nuit (Gemshorn)  
4
   Fern Flöte  
8
   Gedeckt  
8
   Vox Humana  
8
   Viole Aetheria       Chimes  
8
   Vox Angelica [TC]          
               
Great-Echo Organ (duplexed from Solo-Echo)
       

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Contra Bourdon  
8
   Gross Flute [ext.]  
16
   Open Diapason [wood]  
8
   Violoncello  
16
   Violone
GT
8
   Dolce Flute  
16
   Bourdon  
4
   Super Octave [ext.]  
16
   Gedeckt
SW
16
   Trombone  
16
   Dulciana
CH
16
   Fagotto
SW
16
   Bourdon
EC
8
   Tuba [ext.]  
               
Accessories
Hand-Pistons Foot-Pistons
8 adjustable pistons – General 4 adjustable foot-pistons – Pedal
4 adjustable pistons – Solo 4 adjustable foot-pistons – General
4 adjustable pistons – Solo-Echo Great to Pedal reversible
8 adjustable pistons – Swell Solo to Great reversible
6 adjustable pistons – Great Solo to Pedal reversible
2 adjustable pistons – Great-Echo Sforzando reversible
8 adjustable pistons – Choir  
2 pistons coupling all swells to master pedal  
           
George Jardine & Son
New York City (1886)
Mechanical action
2 manuals


Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
           
Ferris & Stuart
New York City (1865)
Mechanical action


Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
           
Sources:
     "Church Razed as Snow and Wind Slow Firefighters," article in The New York Times, February 11, 1969.
     Farnam, Lynnwood. "Organ Notebook," p. 1438 (specification of Austin organ). John de Lancie Library, The Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia; Sally Branca, archivist; courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
     Ferris & Stuart Opus List, compiled by Sand Lawn; courtesy David C. Scribner.
     Jardine Opus List, compiled by Sand Lawn; courtesy David C. Scribner.
     Stern, Robert A.M., Thomas Mellins, and David Fishman. New York 1880: Architecture and Urbanism in the Gilded Age. New York City: The Monacelli Press, 1999.

Photos:
     Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection: exterior and interior.
           
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