All Souls Episcopal Church


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All Souls Episcopal Church

88 St. Nicholas Avenue at 114th Street
New York, N.Y. 10026

Organ Specifications:
88 St. Nicholas Avenue at 114th Street (since 1905)
• II/ Allen Organ Company elecronic (1970s)
► III/34 George S. Hutchings, Op. 1627 (1907)
► II/15 Estey Organ Company, Op. 209 (1905)
775 Madison Avenue at 66th Street (1889-1905)
► III/37 J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co., Op. 283 (1890)
► III/34 Hilborne L. Roosevelt, Op. 149 (1883)
139 West 48th Street (1861-1889)
• Henry Erben (1861)


1908 view of Original Church

All Souls Protestant Episcopal Church was established on October 8, 1859, as a mission of St. Mark's-in-the-Bouwerie Church. Two years later, in 1861, a Romanesque-style church was built at 139 West 48th Street, near Sixth Avenue, and the mission was elevated to church status. The church was known as the "Anthon Memorial Church" in memory of the Rev. Henry Anthon, D.D. (1795-1861), beloved rector for 30 years at St. Mark's-in-the-Bouwerie. The congregation remained at this location for the next three decades. In 1896, the church building on West 48th Street was acquired by the First Church of Christ, Scientist, who remained until 1903, after which it became the Studebaker Garage for automobiles.

In 1889, the Rev. Dr. R. Heber Newton, the popular rector of All Souls, effected a merger with the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, located at Madison Avenue and East 66th Street. Holy Spirit Church had erected a Romanesque Revival edifice just a few years earlier, in 1881-83, as designed by R. H. Robertson, but the church was in decline as many of its members had moved away from the area. Upon the merger, the rector of Holy Spirit retired, All Souls Church transfered its name to the new location, and Dr. Newton was retained as the rector.


	Madison Avenue at 66th Street

The church on Madison Avenue thrived for several years, but following the departure of Dr. Newton as rector the congregation dwindled. In 1905, the Bishop and Standing Committee gave permission to dissolve the parish, and the building on Madison Avenue was sold to a parishioner for $250,000, who then erected an apartment house on the site. It was proposed that the proceeds of the sale be used by Bishop Greer for his work in the Bronx. The vestry of All Souls, however, thought they should have a say in how the money was distributed, and proposed that only $50,000 be used for church work in the Bronx, with the remainder going to the struggling Church of the Archangel in Harlem, whose new building at 88 St. Nicholas Street had burned down the day before it was to open in 1903. Bishop Greer decided to consolidate the All Souls and Archangel congregations under the name of All Souls Church. The sale proceeds were used to pay off Archangel's debt and to construct a new church on the St. Nicholas Avenue location, designed by Janes & Leo, in 1908.

All Souls Episcopal Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)

By the 1920s, the demographics of Harlem changed when a large number of blacks, many of Caribbean origin, left their former neighborhoods in Greenwich Village and Midtown, and moved uptown. White residents resisted, and many churches closed or relocated. The Rev. Rollin Dodd, rector of All Souls Church since 1929, provided programs and services for black Episcopalians, and by 1932, about half of those attending services were black, with another 200 black children attending its Sunday School. The vestry ordered Rev. Dodd to cease encouraging the Negroes, and when he refused, they insisted that he resign and then stopped his salary. When this failed, the vestry erected scaffolding, declaring that the ceiling might fall at any moment, and closed the church by changing the locks. Bishop William T. Manning defended the rector's stance, and announced that he would preach at All Souls. The vestry threatened to keep him out by legal means, to which Bishop Manning said, "I shall be there." On the following Sunday, Bishop Manning arrived at the church, where he found the rector, superintendent, twelve policemen and a large crowd waiting. The bishop demanded the keys, and when the superintendent said he had none, asked, "Shall we break in?" While the bishop waited, the locks were removed, then the bishop went inside and preached firmly on the rights of the rector to serve his neighborhood. "I request, and as Bishop I instruct, that this church...shall be open for services at such times as he shall direct," and declared that the church would be open "to all the people in the neighborhood who wish to attend its services, without distinction of race or color."

Allen Organ Company
Macungie, Penn. – Model TC-3S (1970s)
Electronic tonal production
2 manuals, 32 stops

The present organ at All Souls Church is an Allen Organ Company electronic Model TC-3S, a line that was created in 1968. The console of this organ is located on the nave floor between the pulpit and pews.

George S. Hutchings
Boston, Mass. – Opus 1627 (1907)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 35 registers, 32 stops, 34 ranks

The original organ in the present church building is extant but unplayable. Its pipes are in two chambers, one on either side of the chancel. Some sources state that this organ was built by W.W. Kimball of Chicago, but an inspection (Feb. 7, 2010) of the chambers did not find supporting evidence. In two places, however, the number "1627" was found, and it now seems probable that this organ was in fact built by George S. Hutchings of Boston; that opus number would be current around the year 1907.

At some point, a new three-manual stop-key console was installed, but there is no nameplate. On the wall next to the console is a small plaque stating, "Specification by Daniel R. Philippi, Anno Domini 1907." Mr. Philippi was the organist & choirmaster of All Souls Church until 1913 when he became assistant organist at St. Thomas Church. In the basement is a c.1970s Ventus blower by Aug. Laukhauff.

Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes

First Open Diapason

Octave

Second Open Diapason

Harmonic Flute

Great Flute [Gross Flöte]

Trumpet

Gamba

Chimes [Mayland]

25 tubes

Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed

Bourdon

Octave

Diapason

Chimney Flute

Horn Diapason

Flautino

Stopped Flute

Mixture III ranks

183

Quintadena

Cornopean

Salicional

Oboe

Voix Celeste (TC)

Vox Humana

Aeoline

Tremolo

Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed

Diapason

Flauto Traverso

Concert Flute

Piccolo

Dulciana

Clarinet

Unda Maris (TC)

Tremolo

Pedal Organ – 32 notes (30-note ranks)

Sub Bass (resultant)

—

Bourdon

Open Diapason

Lieblich Gedeckt

Violone

Flute

—

Couplers

Great to Pedal 8', 4'

Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'

Swell to Pedal 8', 4'

Great 16', Unison Off, 4'

Choir to Pedal 8'

Swell 16', Unison Off, 4'

Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'

Choir 16', Unison Off, 4'

Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'

Adjustable Combinations

Swell & Pedal	Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
Great & Pedal	Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
Choir & Pedal	Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
Full Organ	Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb)
	General Cancellor (thumb)
	Divisional Cancellors – name plates above stops of each division

Pedal Movements

Balanced Swell Pedal

Great to Pedal Reversible

Balanced Choir Pedal

Sforzando Reversible

Accessories

Sforzando Indicator Light

Crescendo Indicator Light

Organ built for Church of the Archangel at present location: Estey Organ Company Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 209 (1905) Tubular?-pneumatic action 2 manuals, 17 registers, 15 stops, 15 ranks Estey's Op. 209 was built in 1905 for the Church of the Archangel. Pipecounts below are suggested, based on other Estey organs of the era. This organ was moved to the First Reformed Church, Little Falls, N.Y.

Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8	Open Diapason	61	8	Melodia	61
8	Viola di Gamba	61	4	Principal	61
8	Dulciana	61	4	Flute d'Amour	61

Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16	Bourdon Treble (TC)	49	8	Stopped Diapason	61
16	Bourdon Bass	12	8	Bassoon	12
8	Violin Diapason	61	8	Oboe (TC)	49
8	Salicional *	61	8	Cornopean	61
8	Vox Celeste (TC)	49		Tremolo
				* "Voice Salicional very soft"
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16	Open Diapason	30
16	Bourdon	30

Couplers
	Great to Pedal			Swell to Great
	Swell to Pedal			Swell to Great 4'

Organ in All Souls Church located at 775 Madison Avenue: J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co. New York City – Opus 283 (1890) Tubular-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 32 stops, 37 ranks According to the Agreement (March 1890) the J.H. & C.S. Odell organ built for All Souls Church cost $7,000. It was instituted during a festive service on Sunday evening, November 16, 1890. Will C. Macfarlane, organist of the church, played Bach's Prelude and Fugue in A minor and Toccata in F, Handel's Largo, and Guilmant's Sonata in D minor. A 60-voice chorus comprised of the All Souls vested choir of mixed voices, assisted by the soloists and chorus choir of St. Bartholomew's Church, presented a variety of anthems by Tallis, Barnby, Gounod and Mendelssohn. Many people were unable to gain admission to the church. In 1905, All Souls Church relocated to Harlem and their Madison Avenue property and building were sold to a parishioner. The Odell organ was sold to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (now Church of the Resurrection) on Seventy-fourth Street, where it was installed by the W.W. Kimball Co.

Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes
16	Double Open Diapason	58	4	Octave	58
8	Open Diapason	58	2 2/3	Twelfth	58
8	Viola di Gamba	58	2	Fifteenth	58
8	Grosse Flöte	58		Mixture, 4 ranks	232
8	Hohl Flöte	58	8	Trumpet (harm. treble)	58

Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed
16	Bourdon	58	4	Flute Harmonique	58
8	Open Diapason	58	2	Flageolet	58
8	Salicional	58		Cornet, 3 ranks	174
8	Stopped Diapason	58	8	Vox Humana	58
8	Dolce	58	8	Cornopean (harm. treble)	58
8	Vox Celestis	58	8	Oboe	58
4	Octave	58

Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
8	Violin Open Diapason	58	4	Rohr Flöte	58
8	Dulciana	58	2	Piccolo	58
8	Concert Flute	58	8	Clarinet	58

Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16	Double Open Diapason	30	8	Violoncello	30
16	Bourdon	30

Couplers
	Swell to Great			Swell to Pedal
	Swell to Great Octaves			Choir to Pedal
	Choir to Great			Reversible, Swell to Great
	Swell to Choir			Reversible, Great to Pedal
	Great to Pedal

Pedal Movements
	Pedal Organ Forte			Full Organ Pedal, Great & Swell
	Pedal Organ Piano			Piano Organ Great & Swell

Mechanical Accessories
	Swell Tremulant			Wind Indicator
	Bellows Signal			Balance Swell Pedal

Odell Patent Pneumatic Compositions (hand pistons)
	Great Organ			Swell Organ
	1. Full Organ			1. Full Choir
	2. Full to Mixture			2. Full to Oboe
	3. Full to Fifteenth			3. Full to Flageolet
	4. Full to Octave			4. Full to Octave
	5. Open, Gamba, & Doppel Flöte [sic]			5. Open, St. Diap., and Salicional
	6. Gamba and Doppel Flöte [sic]			6. Stopped Diapason, and Salicional
	7. Gamba			7. Dolce
	8. Hohl Flöte			8. Flute Traverso

Organ built for Church of the Holy Spirit at 775 Madison Avenue: Hilborne L. Roosevelt New York City – Opus 149 (1883) Tracker-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 32 stops, 34 ranks For their new building on Madison Avenue, the Church of the Holy Spirit contracted with Hilborne L. Roosevelt to move the two-manual, 18-stop organ built in 1878 by J.H. & C.S. Odell (Op. 161) for their previous church at 123 East 57th Street. Roosevelt enlarged the organ to three manuals for a consideration of $8,000. In 1890, the Roosevelt organ was replaced by a new three-manual organ built by J.H. & C.S. Odell (Op. 283). In 1892, Odell sold and moved the Roosevelt organ to St. Patrick's Church, Columbus, Ohio, where it was rebuilt to serve in its new location at a cost of $3,600.

Great Organ (Manual II) – 56 notes
8	Open Diapason	56	4	Principal	56
8	Keraulophon [1-12 grooved]	56	4	Flute (TC)	44
8	Viola di Gamba	56	2	Fifteenth	56
8	Stopped Diapason	56	8	Trumpet	56
8	Clarabella [1-12 grooved]	56

Swell Organ (Manual III) – 56 notes, enclosed
16	Open Diapason (TC)	44	4	Flute Harmonique	56
8	Open Diapason	56	2 2/3	Octave Quint	56
8	Stopped Diapason	56	2	Super Octave	56
8	Salicional (1-12 grooved)	44		Cornet 3 ranks	168
8	Dolce	56	8	Cornopean	56
4	Octave	56	8	Oboe (TC)	44

Choir Organ (Manual I) – 56 notes, enclosed
16	Lieblich Gedeckt (TC)	44	4	Fugara	56
8	Open Diapason	56	2 2/3	Twelfth	56
8	Dulciana	56	2	Piccolo	56
8	Stopped Diapason	56	8	Clarionette (TC)	44

Pedal Organ – 25 notes
16	Open Diapason	25	8	Violoncello *	25
16	Bourdon	25		* later changed to 8' Quint

Couplers
	Swell to Great			Swell to Pedal
	Swell to Great Octaves			Great to Pedal
	Choir to Great			Choir to Pedal
	Swell to Choir

Mechanical Accessories
	Swell Tremulant			Bellows Signal
	Eclipse Wind Indicator

Pedal Movements
	Great Organ Forte			Great to Pedal Reversible
	Great Organ Piano			Balanced Swell Pedal
	Swell Organ Forte			Balanced Choir Pedal
	Swell Organ Piano

Organ built for the Anthon Memorial Church at 139 West 48th Street

Henry Erben
New York City (1861)
Mechanical action

This organ was located on the ground floor on the left side of the chancel. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.

Sources:
     "A Festival Service Performed on the Fine New Organ at All Souls' Church," The New York Times (Nov. 17, 1890).
     "Anthon Memorial Church; Rev. R. Heber Newton's Congregation," The New York Times (Dec. 7, 1874).
     "Bishop and Locksmith," Time Magazine (Oct. 31, 1932).
     The Church Journal (Apr. 17, 1861). Description of the Anthon Memorial Church. Courtesy Wayne Kempton.
     Church of the Resurrection, New York City. Vestry Minutes (October 1905) concerning purchase of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 283 (1890). Courtesy David Enlow.
     "Dr. Newton's Church Closed Once For All," The New York Times (Dec. 4, 1905).
     Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Hickman, Cynthia. Harlem Churches at the End of the 20th Century. New York: Dunbar Press, 2001.
     Lewis, James. Specifications of Estey Organ, Op. 209 (1905).
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     "The Old Church Deserted," The New York Times (Nov. 18, 1889).
     Petty, Bynum. J.H. & C.S. Odell Annotated Opus List.
    Trupiano, Larry. Articles of Agreement (Jan. 2, 1892) by J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co., with specifications of Hilborne L. Roosevelt Organ, Op. 149 (1883).
    Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specification for J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co. Organ, Op. 283 (1890).

Illustrations:
     King, Moses. Handbook of New York City: An Outline History & Description of the American Metropolis. Boston: Moses King, 1892. All Souls Church on Madison Avenue.
     Lawson, Steven E. Exterior. Interior; organ console.
     Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online. 1908 view of Studebaker Garage (original church building).

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