St. John's in the Village (Episcopal) 224 Waverly Place and 11th Street New York, N.Y. 10014 http://www.stjvny.org Organ Specifications: Present building (since 1974) ► II/24 Rieger Orgelbau (1987) First building (1856-burned 1971) • II/35s M.P. Möller, Op. 1541 (1913) – burned with church (1971) • II/30 Geo. Jardine & Son (1860)             Previous church (burned 1971)   St. John's in the Village, an Episcopal church, can trace its roots to the congregation of St. Jude's Free Episcopal Church, which was located until 1853 in what is now the Waverly Theatre. The church was reorganized as the St. John the Evangelist, and moved into the former Hammond (now 11th) Street Presbyterian Church in 1856. The stuccoed wooden Greek Revival building, which had an impressive Ionic-pillared portico, was erected in 1846, but was occupied three years later by Congregationalists, and in 1851 by Baptists, before the Episcopalians took possession in 1856. In 1854, while the building was known as the South Baptist Church, a Greek Revival parish house was constructed. Gardens behind the houses and church created a midblock common known as St. John's Colony. On March 6, 1971, a fire of "suspicious" origin broke out in the basement ceiling of the landmark pre-Civil War church, destroying the roof, interior and west wall. Luckily, the parish house survived. A new modern church was designed by Edgar Tafel, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, and built from 1972 to 1974. The nave is equipped with lighting which allows it to be transformed into a theatre.           Rieger Orgelbau Schwarzach, Austria (1970) Mechanical key action 2 manuals, 20 stops, 24 ranks                 Hauptwerk (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed 8   Principal [unenclosed] 58 4   Nachthorn 58 8   Spitzflöte 58 2   Gemshorn 58 8   Voix Céleste 58 1 1/3   Mixtur IV ranks 232 4   Octav 58 8   Dulcian 58                 Rückpositiv (Manual I) – 58 notes 8   Holzgedeckt 58 1 1/3   Larigot 58 4   Rohrflöte 58 1/2   Cimbel II ranks 116 2 2/3   Sesquialtera II ranks 116 8   Voix Humaine 58 2   Principal 58   Tremulant                  Pedal – 30 notes 16   Subbaß 30 4   Choralbaß 30 8   Principal [1-12 from HW] 18 16   Fagott 30 8   Bourdon 30                                 Organ in previous church: M. P. Möller, Inc. Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 1541 (1913) Electro-pneumatic action 2 manuals, 35 registers Cost of the organ was $4,000. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.           Organ in previous church: Geo. Jardine & Son New York City (1860) Mechanical action 2 manuals, 30 stops Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.           Sources:      Dugan, George. "Rebuilt 'Village' Church Holds Services," article in The New York Times, Oct. 7, 1974.      Dunlap, David. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.      "Fire at St. John's in 'Village' Linked to Break-In at Church," article in The New York Times, Mar. 7, 1971.      Jardine Opus List, compiled by Sand Lawn and courtesy of David Scribner.      Journal of the 130th Convention of the Diocese of New York, A.D. 1913. Brooklyn: Brooklyn Eagle Press, 1913..      M.P. Möller Opus List, courtesy Jeff Scofield.      Rieger Orgelbau website: http://www.rieger-orgelbau.com/ Photos:      Lawson, Steven E.: Rieger organ, church interior.      Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online: previous church exterior, Möller organ case.           | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |