St. John the Baptist Catholic Church - New York City

 

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Church of St. John the Baptist
(Roman Catholic)

207 West 30th Street
New York, N.Y. 10001


Organ Specifications:
207 West 30th Street (since 1872)
V/86 Church Organ Systems electronic
III/24 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 546 (1922) – burned 1997
• unknown (c.1872)
125 West 30th Street (c.1847-1872)
• II/28 Ferris & Stuart (1852)
West 31st Street (1840-burned 1847)
• Henry Erben & Co. (1837)


The Roman Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist was organized in 1840 as the second parish to serve German Catholics in New York. (St. Nicholas Church, on the Lower East Side, was established in 1833.) Located on the West side of Manhattan, the original church was a small wooden building on West 31st Street; this church was destroyed by fire in 1847. A new church was built at 125 West 30th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. Both German churches had lay trustees that were so overbearing that they drove out several pastors. In desperation, Archbishop John Cardinal McClosky closed St. John the Baptist in 1870 and asked that the Order of Capuchin take over the operations of the church.

The first Capuchin pastor, Swiss-born Father Bonventura Frey, proved to be well-liked by his new congregation, and within a short time old animosities had abated. Father Frey challenged his German flock to express their ethnic and civic pride by building a more substantial edifice. His goal revitalized the parish, and on Pentecost Sunday, June 4, 1871, the cornerstone was laid for the present church. Designed in French Gothic style by Nicholas Le Brun, the new church was 165 feet long by 67 feet wide and could originally accomodate 1,200 people. The tall tower over the main entrance contains five swinging bells that were cast by the J.G. Stuckstede & Bro. Foundry in St. Louis. On June 23, 1872, the $175,000 church was opened with an elaborate service led by Archbishop McClosky.

Since the opening in 1910 of nearby Pennsylvania Station, St. John the Baptist has served the many commuters who pass through or work near the area. On January 10, 1997, a fire destroyed the organ, choir gallery and numerous statues and stained-glass windows. The damage was soon repaired and a new electronic organ was installed. Now dwarfed by hi-rise office buildings, the church's bells still peal forth from its tower each day.
           
 

Organ Case at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church - New York City (credit: Steven E. Lawson)

Church Organ Systems
Baldwin, Wisc. – Baldwin Model C500 (c.1997)
Electronic tonal production
5 manuals, 86 stops


Following the 1997 fire that destroyed the Odell organ and choir gallery, an electronic instrument by Church Organ Systems was installed in the rebuilt gallery. The five-manual drawknob console controls six independent divisions without couplers. Audio speakers are placed behind the restored organ case and within the console.
   
   
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes

16
  Principal
2
  Super Octave
8
  Principal
  Cornet V ranks
8
  Bourdon
  Fourniture VI ranks
8
  Flute Celeste II ranks
  Mixture IV ranks
8
  Salicional
8
  Trumpet
4
  Octave
4
  Trumpet
4
  Rohr Flöte
  Chimes
2 2/3
  Nazard
   

   

   
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, expressive

16
  Lieblich Gedeckt
2
  Flautino
8
  Principal
1 1/3
  Larigot
8
  Gedeckt
  Plein Jeu III ranks
8
  Viole
16
  Contra Fagott
8
  Viole Celeste II ranks
8
  Trompette
4
  Geigen
8
  Hautbois
4
  Chimney Flute
4
  Trompette
2 2/3
  Nazard
   

   

   
Choir/Positiv Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, expressive

8
  Principal
2 2/3
  Quint
8
  Hohl Flute
2
  Doublette
8
  Dulciana
1 3/5
  Tierce
8
  Unda Maris II ranks
1
  Sifflöte
4
  Principal
  Mixture IV ranks
4
  Stopped Flute
8
  Cromorne

   

   
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, expressive

8
  Diapason
16
  Basson
8
  Major Flute
8
  Tuba Mirabilis
8
  Gamba
8
  French Horn
8
  Gamba Celeste II ranks
8
  Cor Anglais
4
  Orchestral Flute
8
  Orchestral Oboe
4
  Gemshorn
4
  Tuba Clarion
2
  Octavin
  Harp

   

   
Echo Organ (Manual V) – 61 notes, expressive

16
  Dulciana
  Mixture III ranks
8
  Cor de Nuit
16
  Bombarde
8
  Erzähler
8
  Festival Trumpet
8
  Erzähler Celeste II ranks
8
  Bombarde
8
  Echo Celeste II ranks
8
  Vox Humana
4
  Flauto d'Echo
4
  Bombarde
4
  Erzähler Celeste II ranks
  Super
2
  Flautino
   

   

   
Pedal Organ – 32 notes

32
  Contra Bourdon
4
  Flute
16
  Principal
2
  Block Flöte
16
  Sub Bass
  Fourniture V ranks
16
  Lieblich Gedeckt
32
  Contra Bombarde
16
  Violone
16
  Fagott
8
  Octave
8
  Trumpet
8
  Gedeckt
4
  Clarion
4
  Super Octave
4
  Schalmei
           

J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co.
Yonkers, N.Y. – Opus 546 (1922)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 25 stops, 24 ranks


In 1922, the Odell Company installed a new three-manual organ in the church. Odell remodeled and repainted the existing case and reset it approximately 2 feet closer to the tower room. The front display pipes were repaired, remodeled and gilded with gold bronze. In 1997, the organ and choir gallery were destroyed by fire.
   
   
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes

8
  Major Diapason
73
4
  Flute Harmonic
73
8
  Gamba
73
4
  Octave
73
8
  Dulciana
73
8
  Trumpet
73
8
  Doppel Flute
73
   

   

   
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed

16
  Bourdon
73
4
  Rohr Flute
73
8
  Open Diapason
73
8
  Oboe
73
8
  Salicional
73
8
  Vox Humana
61
8
  Aeoline
73
  Tremulant
8
  Vox Celestis [TC]
61
 
Chimes
20 tubes
8
  Stopped Diapason
73
       

   

   
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed

8
  Violin Diapason
73
2
  Piccolo Harmonic
61
8
  Viol d'Orchestre
73
8
  Clarinet
73
8
  Melodia
73
  Tremulant
4
  Flute d'Amour
73
       

   

   
Pedal Organ – 32 notes

16
  Double Open Diapason
32
16
  Bourdon
SW
16
  Sub Bass
32
   
               
Couplers

    Great to Pedal   Swell to Choir 8'
    Swell to Pedal   Great 16', 4'
    Choir to Pedal   Swell 16', 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir 16', 4'
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'   Pedal to Pedal Octaves
               
Piston Combinations

    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 operating on all stops of Swell Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 operating on all stops of Great Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3 operating on all stops of Choir Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-0
adjustable to full organ combinations
     
     
Pedal Movements

    Crescendo-Sforzando Pedal   Balanced Choir Pedal
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
               
Accessories

    Wind Indicator          
    Crescendo Indicator          
    Indicator Lights for Pedal Pistons
   

           

Organ in previous church located at 125 West 30th Street:

Ferris & Stuart
New York City (1852)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 28 ranks


It may be that this organ was moved to the new church in 1872. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.

           

Organ in previous church located at 125 West 30th Street:

Henry Erben & Co.
New York City (1837)
Mechanical action


Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.

           
Sources:
     "A New Church. Dedication of the Roman Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist," The New York Times, June 24, 1872.
     Dunlap, David. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Gonzalez, David. "Church Fire Leaves Faith Unscathed," The New York Times, January 22, 1997.
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Odell Opus List, compiled by Sand Lawn; courtesy David Scribner.
     Saenger, James G. Information on the five tower bells.
     Shelley, Thomas J. The Bicentennial History of the Archdiocese of New York 1808-2008. Strasbourg: Éditions du Signe, 2007.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of J.H. & C.S. Odell Organ, Op. 546 (1922).

Photos:
     Lawson, Steven E.: interior; organ case.
     Shelley, Thomas J. The Bicentennial History of the Archdiocese of New York 1808-2008: exterior.
           

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