click on images to enlarge First Reformed Episcopal Church 317 East 50th Street New York, N.Y. 10022 Organ Specifications: 317 East 50th Street Present building (since 1930): ► III/31 Schantz Organ Company, Op. 2054 (1993) ► III/27 Henry Pilcher's Sons, Op. 1525 (1931) Original building (1920-1930): • William H. Davis (1866) 551 Madison Avenue (1876–1920): • III/41 Geo. Jardine & Son (1877) The Reformed Episcopal Church was founded in 1873 in response to a long debate over the excessive ritualism and exclusive attitude of the Protestant Episcopal Church toward other denominations. Bishop George David Cummins, Assistant Bishop of Kentucky, was criticized for participating in a Communion Service at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. Bishop Cummins, joined by eight clergymen and twenty lay members, withdrew from the Episcopal Church and formed a new jurisdiction. In 1876, the new group built their first church at 551 Madison Avenue, as designed by James Stroud in the Victorian Gothic style. In the 1920s, the First Reformed Church bought the land which was occupied by Beekman Hill Methodist Church from 1860 to 1921. In the late 1920s, the old Methodist Church was razed and the present skyscraper church was built as part of Beekman Hill Apartment Corporation, a 12-story apartment house designed by George G. Miller. The new church opened in 1930 and is distinguished by gothic details.             551 Madison Avenue (1876–1920) 317 East 50th Street (1920–1930)     Interior of original 1876 church Interior of present church in 2005             Schantz Organ Company Orrville, Ohio – Opus 2054 (1993) Electropneumatic key action Solid-state combination action (16 levels) 3 manuals, 37 stops, 31 ranks In 1993, the aging electronic instrument was replaced by a new pipe organ built by the Schantz Organ Company of Orrville, Ohio.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, exposed (3" pressure) 8   Principal [1-17 in façade] 61 2   Super Octave [ext. 4] 12 8   Bourdon 61     Fourniture IV ranks 244 4   Octave 61 8   Trumpet 61 4   Waldflöte 61     Chimes [from previous organ]             Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (3½" pressure) 8   Rohrflöte 61     Plein Jeu III ranks 183 8   Salicional 61 16   Basson 61 8   Voix Celeste [TC] 49 8   Trompette 61 4   Prinzipal 61 8   Hautbois [ext.] 12 4   Harmonic Flute 61 4   Clairon [ext.] 12 2   Harmonic Piccolo [ext.] 12   Tremulant               Choir/Positif Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (3" pressure) 8   Cor de Nuit 61 2   Gemshorn 61 4   Prestant 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61 4   Koppelflöte 61 8   Schalmei 61 2 2/3   Nazard 61     Tremulant               Pedal Organ – 32 notes (3½" pressure) 16   Principal [ext. GT] 12 4   Stopped Flute [Subbass] — 16   Subbass [unit] 56     Mixture II ranks 64 16   Bourdon [ext. SW] 12 16   Trombone [ext. GT] 12 8   Principal 32 16   Basson SW 8   Bass Flute [Subbass] — 8   Trumpet GT 4   Choralbass 32 4   Hautbois SW                 Original interior of present church showing the Pilcher organ Henry Pilcher's Sons Louisville, Ky. – Opus 1525 (1931) Electro-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 31 strops, 27 ranks The first organ in the present church was built by Henry Pilcher's Sons and it was installed in 1932 (Opus 1525) at a cost of $12,850. Around 1965, the Pilcher organ became unplayable and was replaced by an electronic instrument.   Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Open Diapason 73 2   Fifteenth 61 8   Open Diapason 73 8   Tuba 73 8   Triaulephone 73     Chimes CH 8   Gamba 73   Tremulant 4   Principal 73                     Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes 16   Bourdon 73 4   Flute Harmonic 73 8   Open Diapason 73 2   Piccolo 61 8   Clarinet Flute 73 8   Cornopean 73 8   Viol d'Orchestre 73 8   Oboe 61 8   Viole Celeste 73     Chimes CH 8   Aeoline 73   Tremulant   4   Principal 73                     Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes 8   English Diapason 73 2   Flageolet 61 8   Keraulophone 73 8   French Horn 73 8   Dulciana 73     Chimes 20 tubes 8   Gedeckt 73   Tremulant   4   Flauto Traverso 73                     Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Open Diapason 32 8   Flute [ext.] — 16   Contra Bourdon 44 8   Cello GT 16   Lieblich Gedeckt SW 8   Tuba GT             Organ installed in previous church at 317 East 50th Street: William H. Davis New York City (1866) Mechanical action An organ by William H. Davis was built in 1866 for the Beekman Hill Methodist Episcopal Church, located at 317 East 50th Street. This church was purchased by the First Reformed Episcopal Church, who worshipped there from 1920-30. Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.             Organ installed in previous church at 551 Madison Avenue: Geo. Jardine & Son New York City (1877) Mechanical action 3 manuals, 41 stops Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.             Sources:      The American Organist, November 1930. (Pilcher organ specifications). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.      The Diapason, November 1930. Specifications of Henry Pilcher's Sons Organ, Op. 1525 (1931); courtesy Jeff Scofield.      Dunlap, David. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.      Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.      Organ Historical Society Organ Database website: http://organsociety.bsc.edu/      The Reformed Episcopal Church website: http://www.recus.org/ Photos:      First Reformed Episcopal Church Archives.      Lawson, Steven E.: Schantz Organ console, exterior, color interior.             | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |