Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (Roman Catholic) 135 West 31st Street New York, N.Y. 10001  http://www.stfrancisnyc.org Organ Specifications: Present Church (since 1892) ► IV/88 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 11753 (1987) ► III/27 Geo. Kilgen & Son, Op. 7579 (1951) ► III/44 Reuben Midmer & Son (1915) • J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co., Op. 302 (1892) First Church (1844-1892) ► II/22 J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co., Op. 120 (1873) In 1844 the area once known as Bloomingdale was still a neighborhood of dirt roads and modest frame houses. Father Zachary Kunz, a Hungarian Franciscan priest, was faced with a dilemma. As pastor of St. John the Baptist Church on West 30th Street, he found himself standing outside an empty church – closed by the bishop of New York over a dispute with the parish’s lay trustees.   First Church (1844-92)   Not wanting to leave his faithful parishioners without a place of worship, Father Zachary petitioned the bishop to open a new church. Within a short time he managed to purchase a piece of property only a short distance away from St. John’s. The cornerstone of the new church on West 31st Street was laid by Bishop John McCloskey on May 9, 1844. Father Zachary decided to dedicate the new edifice to St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of peacemakers. Within a few months the new church was completed and services began. During the next forty years the parish grew and prospered, and by 1890 the need for a new and larger church became apparent to its pastor, Father Ludger Beck. Father Ludger presented his plans to his parishioners and received their full support. He next petitioned Archbishop Michael Corrigan for a loan of $15,000 against an estimated $60,000 construction cost. The sum was readily granted, and with the advent of the summer of 1892, the new church was completed.     Present Church in 1892 The grand dedication ceremonies took place on Sunday, July 17, 1892. Archbishop Corrigan blessed the church and consecrated the three altars. Archbishop Winand M. Wigger of Newark, who had grown up across the street from the original church, delivered the sermon. He was also the donor of a large stained glass window dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. The city’s extraordinary growth at the turn of the century stimulated great social and economic change. It quickened the pace of urban development and altered the face of many neighborhoods. Nowhere was this impact felt more keenly than on West 31st Street. Many families moved away when their stable, working class community was transformed – almost overnight – into the heart of New York City’s notorious “Tenderloin District.” To keep up with the changes around them, the Franciscan Friars inaugurated what was to become a way of life for “parish without parishioners.” Thus was born the concept of an urban “service church” suited to the needs of a transient population of commuters, shoppers, tourists, laborers and business persons. The first of these innovations was the introduction of a Mass known as the Nightworkers' Mass, which was celebrated for employees working on the night shift as well as actors, newspapermen and travelers out of Penn Station who had either arrived in the city late at night, or had a long wait between connecting trains.  Soon afterwards, St. Francis Church responded to the spiritual needs of daytime employees and became the first church in America to receive permission to celebrate a daily Mass as late as 12:15 in the afternoon. Father Anselm Kennedy, the pastor who introduced the Noonday Mass, also began the practice of hearing confessions daily throughout the entire day. In response to the disaster of the Great Depression, the daily Breadline started in 1929 and has continued to serve the hungry of our city every day since. As the war years passed, St. Francis Church continued to grow in popularity, and more masses were added to the daily schedule. In the late 1950s plans were made for the renovation of the upper church. The dedication of three new marble altars in May of 1961 marked the end of five years of major construction. New entrances at 31st and 32nd Streets, new outdoor shrines and the air-conditioning of the upper church were accomplished during that time.   M. P. Möller, Inc. Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 11753 (1987) Electric slider action Solid-state stop and combination action 4 manuals, 83 stops, 88 ranks On January 23, 1987, the M.P. Möller Co. of Hagerstown, MD, received the contract to build a new organ for St. Francis of Assisi Church. Möller retained the Reuben Midmer & Son case plus several ranks of pipes from earlier instruments. The four-manual drawknob walnut console has tracker-touch manuals of bone with walnut sharps, with tilting-tablet couplers made of maple. The organ was installed in 1987-88.                 Grande-Orgue (Manual II) – 61 notes (3½" wind pressure) 16   Violone 73 2   Doublette 61 8   Montre 61   Fourniture III-IV ranks 214 8   Bourdon à bois 61   Cymbale III-IV ranks 213 8   Flûte harmonique * 61 16   Bombarde 61 8   Gambe [ext.] — 8   Trompette 73 4   Prestant 61 4   Clairon [ext.] — 4   Flûte ouverte * 61   Tremblant 2 2/3   Quinte 61   Clochettes                 Récit espressif (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (4" wind pressure) 16   Bourdon doux * 61   Plein Jeu III-IV ranks 214 8   Principal 61   Cymbale III-IV ranks 213 8   Viole de gambe 61 16   Basson-Hautbois 73 8   Voix céleste 61 8   Trompette 73 8   Flûte à cheminée 61 8   Hautbois [ext.] — 8   Flûte douce II ranks 110 8   Clarinette * 61 4   Octave 61 8   Voix humaine 61 4   Flûte conique * 61 4   Clairon [ext.] — 2 2/3   Nasard 61   Tremblant 2   Octavin 61   Tremblant pour la Voix humaine 1 3/5   Tierce 61                     Positif Orgue (Manual I) – 61 notes (3½" wind pressure) 16   Bourdon * 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61 8   Principal conique 61 1 1/3   Larigot 61 8   Flûte couverte 61 1   Sifflet 61 8   Salicional 61   Fourniture III-IV ranks 214 8   Unda Maris II ranks * 110   Cymbale III-IV ranks 213 4   Prestant 61 16   Douçaine 73 4   Flûte à fuseau 61 8   Trompette 61 2 2/3   Nasard * 61 8   Cromorne [ext.] — 2   Doublette 61 4   Clairon 61  2   Quarte de Nasard 61   Tremblant                 Solo Orgue (Manual IV) – 61 notes (10" wind pressure) 16   Trompette seraphique [TC] — 4   Clairon seraphique [ext.] — 8   Trompette seraphique 73   Cornet V ranks [TC] 245                 Pédale Orgue – 32 notes 32   Bourdon [1-12 digital ext.] —   Fourniture IV ranks 176 16   Basse ouverte * 32   Acuta IV ranks [fr. Fourniture] — 16   Soubasse * 44   Cornet de Basson V ranks † derived 16   Montre 44 32   Contre Bombarde 68 16   Violon G.O. 16   Bombarde [ext.] — 16   Bourdon POS 16   Basson-Hautbois REC 16   Bourdon doux REC 16   Douçaine POS 8   Principalbasse [ext. Montre] — 8   Trompette [ext.] — 8   Flûte [ext. Soubasse] — 8   Trompette seraphique SO 8   Gambe G.O. 4   Hautbois REC 8   Bourdon doux REC 4   Clairon [ext.] — 5 1/3   Quinte 32 4   Cromorne POS 4   Choralebasse + 32   Tremblant [affects + stops] 4   Flûte bouchée * + 44   † later changed to Quinte 10-2/3 2   Flûte bouchée + [ext.] —                   * retained from previous organs                 Couplers     Grande-Orgue à Pédale 8', 4'     Grande-Orgue à Positif 8'     Récit à Pédale 8', 4'     Récit à Positif 16', 8', 4'     Positif à Pédale 8', 4'     Solo à Positif 8'     Récit à Grande-Orgue 16', 8', 4'     Grande-Orgue 16', 4', Muet     Positif à Grande-Orgue 16', 8', 4'     Récit 16', 4', Muet     Solo à Grande-Organ 8'     Positif 16', 4', Muet                   Adjustable Combinations (Solid State - Quad Memory)     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 affecting Grande-Orgue     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 affecting Positif     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 affecting Récit     Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Solo     Toe Studs No. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 affecting Pedal (dup. by pistons)     Pistons No. 1-12 affecting Full Organ (dup. by toe studs)     General Cancel               Combination Adjustor               Memory Selector               Combination Lock                           Pedal Movements     Grande-Orgue à Pédale Reversible (dup. by manual piston)     Récit à Pédale Reversible (dup. by manual piston)     Positif à Pédale Reversible (dup. by manual piston)     Tutti Reversible (dup. by manual piston) with indicator light     32' Flue Reversible (dup. by manual piston)     32' Reed Reversible (dup. by manual piston)     Balanced Expression Pedal – Récit     Balanced Crescendo Pedal with indicator light                   Geo. Kilgen & Son St. Louis, Mo. – Opus 7579 (1951) Electro-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 32 stops, 27 ranks The Geo. Kilgen & Son Company of St. Louis, MO, rebuilt the Midmer organ in 1951, retaining several Midmer ranks and the 1915 case.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 8   Diapason 61 4   Flute Harmonic 61 8   Doppel Flute 61 2   Super Octave 61 8   Gemshorn 61 8   Tuba 61 4   Octave 61   Chimes 25 tubes                 Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Diapason 73 4   Waldflöte 73 8   Gedeckt 73 2   Flageolet 61 8   Salicional 73   Mixture, 3 ranks 183 8   Voix Celeste [TC] 61 8   Trumpet 73 4   Principal 73                     Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Geigen Principal 73 4   Fugara 73 8   Concert Flute 73 2 2/3   Rohr Nazard 61 8   Dulciana 73 8   Clarinet 73 8   Unda Maris [TC] 61   Chimes GT                 Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Diapason 44 8   Gedeckt SW 16   Bourdon 56 4   Blockflöte [Bourdon] — 16   Lieblich Gedeckt [ext. SW] 12 16   Trombone [ext. Tuba] 12 8   Octave [Diapason] — 8   Tuba GT 8   Bass Flute [Bourdon] —       Reuben Midmer & Son Merrick, N.Y. (1915) Electro-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 43 stops, 44 ranks In 1915, the Odell organ from 1892 was replaced with a new 49-rank organ built by Reuben Midmer & Son of Merrick, N.Y. The following stoplist was published in The Diapason (Nov. 1, 1915), but pipecounts were not indicated; pipecounts suggested below are based on similar Reuben Midmer & Son organs of the era.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Open Diapason 73 8   Doppel Flöte 73 8   Open Diapason 73 4   Octave 73 8   Open Diapason 73 4   Flute Harmonique 73 8   Viola di Gamba 73 2   Super Octave 73 8   Gemshorn 73   Mixture III ranks 219 8   Gross Flöte 73 8   Trumpet 73                 Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon 73 4   Principal 73 8   Open Diapason 73 4   Wald Flöte 73 8   Salicional 73 2   Flageolet 73 8   Aeoline 73   Dolce Cornet III ranks 219 8   Viol d'Orchestre 73 8   Cornopean 73 8   Vox Celeste [TC] 61 8   Orchestral Oboe 73 8   Stopped Diapason 73 8   Vox Humana 73                 Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16   Contra Gamba 73 8   Quintadena 73 8   Geigen Principal 73 4   Fugara 73 8   Dulciana 73 4   Flute à Chiminée 73 8   Unda Maris [TC] 61 8   Clarinet 73 8   Concert Flute 73                       Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32   Contra Bourdon 44 16   Violone 44 16   Open Diapason 44 8   Flute [ext.] — 16   Bourdon 44 8   Violoncello [ext.] — 16   Lieblich Gedeckt SW 16   Trombone 44   J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co. New York City – Opus 302 (1892) Unknown action The original organ in the present church was built in 1892 by J.H. & C.S. Odell of New York City. It is possible that Odell incorporated or simply moved their Op. 120 organ from the previous church. Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.   Organ in the first church building: J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co. New York City – Opus 120 (1873) Mechanical action 2 manuals, 20 stops, 22 ranks The earliest known organ for St. Francis of Assisi Church was built in 1873 by the J.H. &. C.S. Odell Company of New York City. Odell's "Style G " specification was enlarged by the addition of an 8' Violoncello in the Pedal. A handwritten note states, "The key board to be extended from main organ in a strait [sic] line." The letter of agreement made on the 21st day of January, 1873, shows that this organ was to cost $3,600.                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes 8   Open Diapason 58 4   Wald Flute [TC] 46 8   Keraulophon 58 2 2/3   Twelfth 58 8   Dulce [TC] 46 2   Fifteenth 58 8   Stopped Diapason, bass 12   Mixture, 3 ranks 174 8   Clarionet Flute, treble 46 8   Trumpet [TC] 46 4   Principal 58                     Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon, bass 12 2 2/3   Twelfth 58 16   Double Diapason, treble 46 2   Piccolo 58 8   Open Diapason 58 8   Oboe [TC] 46 8   Dulciana 46 8   Bassoon, bass 12 8   Stopped Diapason 58   Tremulant 4   Violina 58                     Pedal Organ – 25 notes 16   Grand Double Open Diapason 25         8   Violoncello 25                         Couplers     Patent Reversible Coupler       Great to Pedal       Swell to Great       Bellows Signal       Swell to Pedal                           Patent Pneumatic Compositions 1.   Full Great Organ 2.   Full to Principal 3.   All of the eight feet stops 4.   Keraulophon, Clarionet Flute and Dulce 5.   Wald Flute and Clarionet Flute 6.   Clarionet Flute and Dulce 7.   Dulce 8.   Wald Flute   Sources:      Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.      "Midmer & Son Build Organ For New York," The Diapason, November 1, 1915. Specifications of Reuben Midmer & Son organ (1915); courtesy Dave Schmauch.      Midmer Opus List, compiled by Sand Lawn; courtesy David Scribner.      Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.      Odell Company brochure (c.1905); courtesy Larry Trupiano.      Odell Opus List, compiled by Sand Lawn; courtesy David Scribner.      "St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York Buys a Kilgen," The Diapason, March 1, 1952. Specifications of Kilgen Op. 7579; courtesy Jeff Scofield.      St. Francis of Assisi Church website: http://www.stfrancisnyc.org      Scofield, Jeff. Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 11753 (1987).      Trupiano, Larry. Factory Contract of J.H. & C.S. Odell Organ, Op. 120 (1873). Photos:      Lawson, Steven E.: photos of church interior; M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 11753 (1987).   | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |