St. Agnes Catholic Church - New York City
 
Present church, opened in 1998
St. Agnes Church
(Roman Catholic)

143 East 43rd Street
New York, N.Y. 10017
http://www.stagneschurchnyc.org/


Organ Specifications:
Present building (since 1998):
► II/41 Mander Organs (1998)
► I/4 G. C. Klop (1987) – Kistorgel (portative)
First building (1873-burned 1992):
► III/32 Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co., Op. 1183 (1950)
► III/53 Hook & Hastings Co., Op. 2529 (1926)
• III/48 E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings, Op. 1821 (1899)
• III/ Henry Erben (1875)



Original building (c.1911) of St. Agnes Catholic Church - New York City  
Original church (1873-1992)
  
   
   
St. Agnes Church was established in 1873 to serve the Italian laborers at the nearby Grand Central Depot. The first church, designed by Lawrence J. O'Connor in the Neo-Gothic style and built from 1873-1877, was a familiar sight to commuters and workers in the area around Grand Central Terminal. For over 50 years, the church was known as the location of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's radio and television broadcasts. Later, John Cardinal O'Connor led an anti-abortion march from this church.

 
 
Interior of the present church
In 1992, the building was destroyed by devastating fire which left only the walls and towers standing. Plans were quickly made to rebuild on the same site.

The present church, opened in 1998, was designed by Acheson, Thornton, Doyle, and was conceived as a smaller version of the Church of Il Gesù in Rome. The two surviving towers were reclad to harmonize with the new Italianate design.
           

Mander Organ (1998) at St. Agnes Catholic Church - New York City (Photo: © Laurie Lambrecht, 1999)

  

Mander Organ Console (1998) at St. Agnes Catholic Church - New York City (Photo: © Laurie Lambrecht, 1999)
Mander Organs
London, England (1998)
Mechanical key action
Electric stop action
2 manuals, 31 stops, 41 ranks
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
16
   Bourdon
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2 2/3
   Mounted Cornet III ranks
183
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
1 1/3
   Fourniture IV ranks
244
8
   Gamba
61
8
   Trumpet
61
4
   Principal
61
8
   Cromorne
61
4
   Chimney Flute
61
     Tremulant  

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Salicional
61
1 3/5
   Tierce
61
8
   Celeste
61
1
   Mixture III ranks
183
8
   Gedackt
61
16
   Fagotto
61
4
   Principal
61
8
   Trumpet
61
4
   Block Flute
61
8
   Oboe
61
2 2/3
   Nazard
61
     Tremulant  
2
   Fifteenth
61
        

     

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Open Diapason
32
4
   Octava
32
16
   Bourdon
32
2 2/3
   Mixture IV ranks
128
8
   Principal
32
16
   Trombone
32
8
   Flute
32
8
   Trumpet 
32
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal       Swell to Great  
    Swell to Pedal          
         
G. C. Klop
Garderen, The Netherlands (1987)
Mechanical action
1 manual, 4 stops, 4 ranks


The "kistorgel" (portative), built in 1987 by Gerrit C. Klop of Garderen, The Netherlands, has four stops that are divided treble and bass.
               
Manuaal – 54 notes
8
   Holpijp
54
        
4
   Roerfluit
54
        
2
   Octaaf
54
        
1 1/3
   Quint
54
        
           
Organ in first building:

Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co., Inc.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 1183 (1950)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 32 stops, 32 ranks, 2,011 pipes


In 1950, the Hook & Hastings organ was replaced by a new organ built by Aeolian-Skinner of Boston. Aeolian-Skinner installed their instrument behind the existing twin cases and reused many pipes from the former organ. This organ and the church were destroyed by fire on December 11, 1992.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Violone
61
2 2/3
   Quint
61
8
   Diapason
61
2
   Super Octave
61
8
   Spitzflote
61
     Fourniture IV ranks
244
4
   Principal
61
     Chimes  

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Geigen Principal
73
     Plein Jeu III ranks
183
8
   Stopped Diapason
73
16
   Fagotto
73
8
   Viole de Gambe
73
8
   Trompette
73
8
   Viole Celeste
73
4
   Hautbois
73
4
   Flute Harmonique
73
     Tremulant  

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Viola
73
4
   Flauto Traverso
73
8
   Concert Flute
73
8
   Cromorne
73
8
   Dulciana
73
     Tremulant  
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Diapason
32
4
   Choralbass
32
16
   Bourdon
44
16
   Posaune [unit]
56
16
   Violone
GT
8
   Trumpet
—
16
   Gedeckt [ext. SW]
12
4
   Clarion
—
8
   Principal
32
 
   Chimes
GT
8
   Flute
—
        
           
  Hook & Hastings organ, Op. 2529 (1926) in St. Agnes Catholic Chuch - New York City
Organ in first building:

Hook & Hastings Co.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 2529 (1926)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 54 stops, 53 ranks



In 1926, the church contracted with Hook & Hastings of Boston to rebuild the 1899 E. & G.G. Hook and Hastings organ, as described in The Diapason (June 1929):

     The Hook & Hastings Company has completed a piece of work which is attracting favorable attention in the modernization and enlargement of the organ at St. Agnes' Catholic Church, New York City. The instrument is now one of fifty-three speaking stops, with a three-manual console. This church is on Forty-third street, near Lexington avenue.
     The instrument is one with a majestic tone, with proper relative balance between the manuals and a complete ensemble. It is of the cathedral type, with the minimum of interchanging or extensions, a few interchangeable stops being added to increase the variety of effects.
     The new console contains all up-to-date features and the organ as now divided opens to view the beautiful memorial window at the rear of the choir loft. The choir has an amphitheater arrangement, the seats being in a semi-circular formation. The singers are in this way placed to the best advantage, their voices carrying through without being blanketed by those in the rows in front of them.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Diapason
61
8
   Viole d'Orchestre
SW
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
CH
4
   Flute Harmonique
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   English Open Diapason
CH
     Mixture V ranks
305
8
   Soft Diapason
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Doppel Flöte
61
4
   Clarion
61
8
   Viola da Gamba
61
     Chimes
CH
8
   Orchestral Flute
SW
        

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
73
4
   Violina
73
8
   Diapason
73
2 2/3
   Nazard
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
73
2
   Flautino
61
8
   Salicional
73
1 3/5
   Tierce
61
8
   Viole d'Orchestre
73
     Dolce Cornet V ranks
305
8
   Orchestral Flute
73
16
   Contra Fagotto
73
8
   Voix Celeste [TC]
61
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Aeoline
73
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Dolce Celeste
CH
8
   Vox Humana
73
4
   Flute d'Amour
73
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
73
4
   Flauto Traverso
73
8
   English Diapason
73
2 2/3
   Twelfth
61
8
   Geigen Principal
73
2
   Piccolo Harmonique
61
8
   Melodia
73
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Dulciana
73
8
   Cor Anglais
73
8
   Dolce Celeste [TC]
61
    
Chimes
20 tubes
8
   Voix Celeste
SW
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
32
   Resultant
—
8
   Flute [ext.]
12
16
   Open Diapason
30
8
   Violoncello
30
16
   Bourdon
30
4
   Flute [ext.]
12
16
   Violone
30
16
   Trombone
30
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
30
 
      
           
Organ in first building:

E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings Co.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 1821 (1899)
Mechanical action
3 manuals, 48 registers


Concurrent with rebuilding the church following the December 1898 fire, a new organ was built in 1899 by E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings of Boston. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
Organ in first building:

Henry Erben
New York City (1875)
Mechanical action
3 manuals


The original organ for St. Agnes Church was built in 1875 by Henry Erben of New York City. On December 4, 1898, the organ was destroyed by fire that wrecked the interior of the church. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
Sources:
     Aeolian-Skinner Archives web site: http://aeolian-skinner.110mb.com/Specs/Op01183.html. Stoplist of Aeolian-Skinner organ, Op. 1183 (1950).
     The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X, Vol. III. New York: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914.
     Church of Saint Agnes web site: http://www.stagneschurchnyc.org/
     Dunlap, David. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Henk Klop web site: http://www.klop.info/nl/home/
     Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List. New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Van Pelt, William T., comp. The Hook Opus List, 1829-1916 in Facsimile. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1991.
     "Work in New York By Hook & Hastings," The Diapason (June 1929). Description and stoplist of Hook & Hastings organ, Op. 2529 (1926). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.

Illustrations:
     The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X, Vol. III. Exterior (c.1911).
     Hook & Hastings organ, Op. 2529 (1926). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Lambrech, Laurie. Mander organ case and console.