First Reformed Episcopal Church - New York City (Photo: John Rust)

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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 Ave. building (1876) - First Reformed Episcopal Church - New York City (Photo: First Reformed Episcopal Church)

317 East 50th Street building (1921-1930) - First Reformed Episcopal Church - New York City (Photo: First Reformed Episcopal Church)

551 Madison Avenue (1876–1920) 317 East 50th Street (1920–1930)
   

551 Madison Ave. building (1876) - First Reformed Episcopal Church - New York City (Photo: First Reformed Episcopal Church)

First Reformed Episcopal Church - New York City (Photo: Steven E. Lawson)

Interior of original 1876 church Interior of present church in 2005

           

  Schantz Organ (Op. 2054, 1993) - First Reformed Episcopal Church - New York City (Photo: Steven E. Lawson)
   
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 (1930s) - First Reformed Episcopal Church - New York City (Photo: First Reformed Episcopal Church)

  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.

           
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