Union Church of Bay Ridge (Reformed Church in America and Presbyterian) 8101 Ridge Boulevard Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11209 www.ucbr.org Organ Specifications: ► III/42 Henderson-Wilson Co (1973) ► III/21 Skinner Organ Company, Op. 382 (1922) • II/10 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 329 (1896)               Before there were cars or subways, before there was a bridge to Staten Island, when Bay Ridge was green withlawns and "country" farms, there was a Church. Two churches actually - a Dutch Reformed church [Bay Ridge Reformed Church] at 80th Street and Ridge Boulevard, and a Presbyterian church one block south, at 81st Street and Ridge Boulevard. The cornerstone of the Dutch Reformed church was laid in June of 1896. The Presbyterians had laid the cornerstone of their church in April of that same year. According to Andrew Dolkart, author of Landmarks of New York City, the architect of the Dutch Reformed church (the front part of the present sanctuary of Union Church) was Arthur Bates Jennings. Dr. Walter R. Ferris was the Presbyterian minister, and Dr. Charles Scudder was called, with notable brevity, to serve the Dutch. "The secretary mailed the notice, and Dr. Scudder accepted the call." There was a grand total of 32 members at both churches. Since Dr. Scudder owned a little sloop, he would take people sailing, and Dr. Ferris would take them out driving in his horse and rig. "I sail people into church, but he drives them," Dr. Scudder liked to say of his colleague. Though each small congregation displayed ambition for its own church, it soon became apparent that "Presbyterians and Reformed people exhibited the same faith, vision, and piety." In December 1918 a merger was accomplished, and Union Church as we know it came into being. Dr. Horace Leavitt was the first minister of The Union Church of Bay Ridge. There was no Parish House or Sunday School then. Classes met in the church kitchen or in the belfry. In 1924, as the population of Bay Ridge grew, a dedicated congregation struggled to raise money, and the Union Church structure of today was built. In 1931 the parish House was erected on the site of the Presbyterian Church. From the Union Church of Bay Ridge website             Henderson-Wilson Co. Brooklyn, NY (1973) Electro-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 38 stops, 42 ranks                 Great Organ – 61 notes (67 mm wind pressure) 16   Pommer 61 8   Trompette SW 8   Prinzipal 61 8   Spire Flute SW 8   Holz Bordun 61 8   Spire Flute Celeste SW 4   Oktave 61 4   Rohr Floete SW 2   Super Octave 61     1 1/3   Mixtur V 305   Chimes             Positiv Organ – 61 notes (57 mm wind pressure) 8   Rohrfloete   1   Scharff V   4   Prinzipal   1/3   Klangen Zimbel III ranks   4   Rohrfloete     Sesquialtera II ranks   2   Oktave   8   Krummhorn   2   Floete                       Swell Organ – 61 notes, enclosed (140 mm wind pressure) 8   Gedackt   2   Oktave   8   Salicional   1   Plein Jeu IV ranks   8   Voix Celeste   16   Fagott   8   Spire Flute   8   Trompette   8   Spire Flute Celeste [TC]   8   Vox Humana   4   Prinzipal     Tremolo 4   Rohrfloete     Swell Unison Off               Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Cornet de Bombarde   4   Oktave 16   Holz Prinzipal     Mixtur V ranks 16   Subbass   16   Fagott SW 8   Prinzipal   8   Fagott SW 8   Gedackt                     Skinner Organ Company Boston, Mass. – Opus 382 (1922) Electro-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 30 stops, 21 ranks, 1,432 pipes                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Bourdon [ext. PED] 17 8   Flauto Dolce SW 8   Diapason 61 4   Octave 61 8   Claribel Flute 61 4   Flute SW 8   Gedeckt SW 8   Cornopean SW             Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 73 8   Flute Celeste [TC] 61 8   Diapason 73 4   Flute 73 8   Gedeckt 73 2   Flautino 61 8   Salicional 73 8   Cornopean 73 8   Voix Celeste 73 8   Corno d'Amour 73 8   Flauto Dolce 73   Tremolo                 Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Diapason 73 4   Flute 73 8   Concert Flute 73 8   Clarinet 73 8   Dulciana 73   Tremolo               Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Diapason 32 8   Octave [ext.] 12 16   Bourdon 32 8   Gedeckt [ext.] 12 16   Echo Bourdon SW 8   Still Gedeckt SW             J.H. & C.S. Odell New York City – Opus 329 (1896) Unknown action 2 manuals, 10 stops Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.             Sources:      Aeolian-Skinner Archives: http://aeolian-skinner.110mb.com/      The Diapason, June 1924. Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.      Henderson-Wilson Co. specification courtesy Jonathan Bowen. Union Church of Bay Ridge website: http://www.ucbr.org      Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List. New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.      Odell Opus List, compiled by Sand Lawn; courtesy David Scribner.             | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |