Click on images to enlarge Church of St. James (Roman Catholic) 32 James Street New York, N.Y. 10038 Organ Specifications: 32 James Street (since 1835) ► III/36 Farrand & Votey, Op. 791 (1895) ► III/36 Frank Roosevelt, Op. 421 (1889) • II/22 Henry Erben & Co. (1836) 49 Ann Street (1827-1833) – named Christ R.C. Church ► II/16 John Geib (1801) St. James Roman Catholic Church can trace its roots to 1827 when Father Félix Varela bought Christ Protestant Episcopal Church on Ann Street and converted it into a Catholic church of the same name. The new parish remained at this location until 1833 when the building was declared unsafe. For the next few years, services were held in temporary quarters on William Street and, later, on Ann Street. In 1835, Father Varela purchased property for a new church on James Street, and the name was changed to St. James Church. Built from 1835-37 and dedicated by Bishop Dubois in 1836, St. James Church has the distinction of having the second oldest Roman Catholic church building extant in Manhattan. No one is certain who designed the noble Greek Revival edifice, although its pedimented facade is similar to designs published by architect Minard Lafever. As originally built, the fieldstone building had a domed cupola above the roof, and the facade included the inscription "D.O.M. S. JACOBO DEO OPTIMO MAXIMO" (To God, the Best and Greatest). In 1966, the church was designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Since its founding, the church has been home to many notables, including Alfred E. Smith, who served as an altar boy before becoming Governor of New York State and the first Roman Catholic candidate for the presidency. In the 1880s, Smith described the church as the "leading Catholic parish in New York, not excepting the cathedral itself." The Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish fraternal organization, is also associated with St. James Church, as their first chapter in the United States was established in 1836 at this church. The Hibernians organized in response to the burning of St. Mary's Church on Grand Street, and other acts of violence against Irish clergy and property. In 1983, the Hibernians financed the restoration of St. James Church after city officials ordered it closed when the roof was in danger of collapsing.             Farrand & Votey Detroit, Mich. – Opus 791 (1895) Electro-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 31 stops, 36 ranks In 1895, Farrand & Votey rebuilt the 1889 Roosevelt organ as their Opus 791. Farrand & Votey retained the Roosevelt chests, but installed electro-pneumatic action to activate the primary valves. The couplers were converted to electric action, and three couplers added. An 8' Dulciana (with pipes marked "Dolce") replaced the 2-2/3' Octave Quint on the Great. Farrand & Votey also installed an automatic player mechanism in a niche behind the music rack, but it is no longer extant. A Spencer blower was added about 1914, replacing the original Judson water motor. Beginning in 2007, the firm of Glück New York has been working to restore the organ, retaining the electrical action added in 1895 by Farrand & Votey. To date, the case has been leveled and several stops are again playable. Additional restoration work will occur as funds become available. On October 13, 2008, the organ received a Citation from the Organ Historical Society.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, partially enclosed with Choir 16   Double Open Diapason * 58 4   Flute Harmonique 58 8   Open Diapason * 58 2   Super Octave 58 8   Viola di Gamba 58     Mixture, 3 & 4 ranks 220 8   Dulciana 58 8   Trumpet 58 8   Doppel Flöte 58         4   Octave 58     * unenclosed               Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon [split knob: bass & treble] 58 4   Hohl Flöte 58 8   Open Diapason 58 2   Flageolet 58 8   Salicional 58     Cornet, 3 ranks 174 8   Spitz Flöte 58 8   Cornopean 58 8   Stopped Diapason 58 8   Oboe 58 4   Gemshorn 58     Swell Tremulant                   Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes, enclosed 8   Geigen Principal 58 4   Rohr Flöte 58 8   Concert Flute 58 2   Piccolo Harmonique 58 8   Dolce 58 8   Clarionet 58             Pedal Organ – 30 notes 16   Open Diapason 30 8   Violoncello 30 16   Bourdon 30 16   Trombone 30                 Couplers (drawknobs above Swell manual)     Swell to Great       Swell octaves       Swell to Great octaves       Swell to Choir       Choir to Great       Swell to Pedal       Choir to Great sub octaves       Choir to Pedal       Choir octaves       Great to Pedal                   Pedal Movements (left to right)     3 adjustable combinations to Swell Organ         Full Organ [hook down]         Balanced Swell Pedal for Great & Choir Organs         Balanced Swell Pedal for Swell Organ         Great to Pedal Reversible         3 adjustable combinations to Great Organ                                 Frank Roosevelt New York City – Opus 421 (1889) Tracker-pneumatic action 3 manuals, 31 stops, 36 ranks The following specification was recorded by F.R. Webber (1887-1963), whose "Organ Scrapbooks" are in the possession of The Organ Historical Society Archives in Princeton, N.J. Click here to view the notebook page. Webber writes the following comments:      The organ was built by Mr. Hilborne L. Roosevelt, but its original date and number are not listed in the Roosevelt literature. It was either rebuilt or else enlarged in 1889 by Frank Roosevelt. The rectangular, ivory nameplates of both Hilborne L. and Frank Roosevelt are on the console.      Metal pipes in flats are displayed on the front of the case, with a flat of wood pipes at either end. The console is of the usual handsome appearance of the later Roosevelt work, and the ivory discs are engraved in the characteristic Roosevelt special lettering. KFS and FRW 6-12-1957                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, partially enclosed with Choir 16   Double Open Diapason * 58 2 2/3   Octave Quint 58 8   Open Diapason * 58 2   Super Octave 58 8   Viola di Gamba 58     Mixture, 3 & 4 ranks 220 8   Doppel Flöte 58 8   Trumpet 58 4   Octave 58         4   Flute harmonique 58     * unenclosed               Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon [split knob: bass & treble] 58 4   Hohl Flöte 58 8   Open Diapason 58 2   Flageolet 58 8   Salicional 58     Cornet, 3 ranks 174 8   Spitz Flöte 58 8   Cornopean 58 8   Stopped Diapason 58 8   Oboe 58 4   Gemshorn 58     Swell Tremulant                   Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes, enclosed 8   Geigen Principal 58 4   Rohr Flöte 58 8   Concert Flute 58 2   Piccolo Harmonique 58 8   Dolce 58 8   Clarionet 58             Pedal Organ – 30 notes 16   Open Diapason 30 8   Violoncello 30 16   Bourdon 30 16   Trombone 30                 Couplers     Swell to Great       Swell to Pedal       Choir to Great       Choir to Pedal       Swell to Choir       Great to Pedal                   Pedal Movements (left to right)     3 adjustable combinations to Swell Organ           Full Organ [hook-down]           Balanced Swell Pedal for Great & Choir Organs       Balanced Swell Pedal for Swell Organ           Great to Pedal Reversible           3 adjustable combinations to Great Organ                   Henry Erben & Co. New York City (1836) Mechanical action 2 manuals, 22 stops Henry Erben of New York City built the original organ in St. James' Catholic Church. The organ had two manuals and 22 stops, with an "octave and quarter" (17 notes) of pedals. Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.             Organ in church located at 49 Ann Street between William and Nassau Streets: John Geib New York City (1800-01) Mechanical action 2 manuals, 15 stops, 16 ranks This organ by John Geib was built in 1800-01 for Christ Episcopal Church. Two pair of bellows, with an elegant mahogany case, gild front ornaments, 10 by 15 feet – Duble GG (begings) in front. One Sett of keys for Great organ – one set for choir & swell. The Cost 1200.                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 47 notes [GG – f3] 1.   opdiapason throughaute from duble GG to F in alt 2.   Stopd           3.   principal           4.   12th           5.   15th           6.   Tiers           7.   Cornet treble } 3ranks Sesq. bass }           8.             9.   Trumpet — throughaute as befor                       Choir & Swell (Manual II) – 47 notes [GG – f3] 1.   Stopdiapason in choir, Bass           2.   Flute throughaute           3.   15th – do             Stopdiapason Treble Swell           4.   Dulciana – Swell           5.   princ. – Swell           6.   Vaschumana – Swell                       Sources:      Dolkart, Andrew S. and Matthew A. Postal. Guide to New York City Landmarks (Third Edition). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2004.      Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.      Glück, Sebastian. Specification details on changes made by Farrand & Votey to the Roosevelt organ.      Ogasapian, John. Organ Building in New York City: 1700-1900. Braintree: The Organ Literature Foundation, 1977, p.192.      Shelley, Thomas J. The Bicentennial History of the Archdiocese of New York 1808-2008. Strasbourg: Éditions du Signe, 2007.      Webber, F.R. "Organ scrapbook" at Organ Historical Society Archives, Princeton, N.J. Specifications of the Roosevelt organ, Op. 421 (1889); courtesy Jonathan Bowen. Photos:      Lawson, Steven E.: Church exterior, interior; Roosevelt Organ, Op. 421 (1889).      Shelley, Thomas J. The Bicentennial History of the Archdiocese of New York 1808-2008. Original exterior.             | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |