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The Church of Our Lady of Refuge
(Roman Catholic)
2020 Foster Avenue corner Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11210
http://www.olrbrooklyn.org |
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The Roman Catholic parish of Our Lady of Refuge was founded by Bishop Charles Edward McDonnell on December 8, 1911. Father Robert O'Donovan was chosen by the Bishop to be the first Pastor. Land was restricted even to the building of a church, but finally he was able to obtain the ground which the parish now owns, on the corner of Ocean and Foster Avenues in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn.
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Original 1912 church building |
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On May 12, 1912 the new Pastor broke ground for a new church, and the first mass was held in the rectory on the following Sunday. The cornerstone of the new church was laid on June 23rd and two weeks later the first mass was celebrated in the new church, which was completed in September, and dedicated in April 1913 by Bishop McDonnell. The new parish was in debt to the amount of $90,000, but in eight years' time half of this had been paid.
In 1928, when it was apparent that the old church could no longer comfortably accomodate the congregation, Father O'Donovan started a drive for funds for a new church. Preliminary drawings were made but Father O'Donovan died before his dream was fulfilled. Under the leadership of Monsignor Francis P. Connelly, his successor, final plans were drawn and accepted and enough money raised to pay for the new church and rectory. Ground was broken on March 24, 1933, and the cornerstone was laid on June 4, 1933.
On June 17, 1934, the present neo-Gothic building, located on the site of the old church, was dedicated by the Most Reverend Thomas E. Molloy, Bishop of Brooklyn. Although the country was in the midst of the Great Depression, the fully equipped church and rectory were opened free from debt. Henry V. Murphy of Brooklyn designed the neo-Gothic building, which is faced in stone with limestone trim and includes a massive square tower and flèche. The church's striking interior includes decorative Art Moderne design elements. |
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Geo. Kilgen & Son
St. Louis, Mo. – Opus 5163 (1933)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 44 stops, 25 ranks
As plans were being made for the present church building, the organbuilding firm of Geo. Kilgen & Son of St. Louis, Missouri, was selected to build the organ. Charles Courboin, then organist at St. Patrick's Cathdral, was responsible for the organ's design. Instead of a traditional rear gallery location, the organ's chambers are installed in the tower and speak through stone grills into the nave. A small gallery contains the organ console. After being silent for many years, the organ is being refurbished in stages by James L. Konzelman Organs of Maplewood, N.J. |
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Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed with Choir
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16 |
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Spitzflute |
CH |
4 |
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Spitzflute |
CH |
8 |
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Diapason |
73 |
2 2/3 |
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Twelfth |
61 |
8 |
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Violin Diapason |
CH |
2 |
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Octave |
61 |
8 |
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Harmonic Flute |
73 |
8 |
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Tromba |
61 |
8 |
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Dulciana |
CH |
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Tremulant |
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4 |
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Octave |
73 |
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Chimes |
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Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
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16 |
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Lieblich Gedeckt [unit] |
97 |
4 |
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Flautino [ext.] |
— |
8 |
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Open Diapason |
73 |
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Mixture III ranks |
183 |
8 |
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Stopped Flute [ext.] |
— |
16 |
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Posaune |
85 |
8 |
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Salicional |
73 |
8 |
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Cornopean [ext.] |
— |
8 |
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Voix Celeste |
73 |
8 |
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Oboe |
73 |
4 |
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Octave |
73 |
8 |
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Vox Humana |
73 |
4 |
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Flute d'Amour [ext.] |
— |
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Tremulant |
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Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed with Great
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8 |
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Violin Diapason |
73 |
2 2/3 |
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Rohr Nazard |
73 |
8 |
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Spitzflute [unit] |
97 |
2 |
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Piccolo [ext.] |
— |
8 |
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Dulciana |
73 |
8 |
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Clarinet |
73 |
8 |
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Unda Maris |
73 |
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Ripeno [derived] |
— |
4 |
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Flute [ext.] |
— |
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Tremulant |
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Pedal Organ – 32 notes
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32 |
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Resultant |
— |
8 |
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Spitzflute |
CH |
16 |
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Open Wood [unit] |
68 |
4 |
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Super Octave [ext.] |
— |
16 |
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Bourdon [unit] |
44 |
2 |
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Doublette [ext.] |
— |
16 |
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Lieblich Gedeckt |
SW |
16 |
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Trombone [ext. GT] |
12 |
16 |
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Spitzflute |
CH |
16 |
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Posaune |
SW |
8 |
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Octave [ext.] |
— |
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Chimes |
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8 |
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Flute [ext.] |
— |
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Organ Gallery |
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Choir/Great Chamber:
Choir on the left – Great on the right
16' Trombone in front |
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| Great Organ: Tromba 8' |
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Swell Organ from front to back:
Vox Humana, Oboe, Mixture III, Diapason 4' |
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Choir Organ pipes |
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Sources:
"History of the Parish." Brookly: Church of Our Lady of Refuge. Courtesy Joe Vitacco.
Our Lady of Refuge web site: http://www.olrbrooklyn.org
Vitacco, Joe. Stoplist of Geo. Kilgen & Son Organ, Op. 5163 (1933).
Illustrations:
Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection). Postcard.
Vitacco, Joe. Color photos of present church and Kilgen organ. |
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