click on images to enlarge St. Peter's Episcopal Church 346 West 20th Street New York, N.Y. 10011 http://www.stpeterschelsea.com Organ Specifications: ► II/16 Frank Roosevelt, Op. 515 (1892) – Chancel ► III/35 Henry Erben (?1838) – Gallery St. Peter's Episcopal Church was established in May of 1831. Clement Clarke Moore, famous for his poem, "A Visit from Saint Nicholas" ('Twas the Night Before Christmas), leased and later donated the land from his family estate—known as "Chelsea"—for the church complex; he also donated the land for the General Theological Seminary, located a block away. Moore served as warden, vestryman and organist for St. Peter's Church where his father, the Rev. Benjamin I. Moore, was rector. In 1832, St. Peter's Chapel, a Greek Revival building which is now the rectory, was erected. By the time the church was built between 1836-38, ecclesiastical tastes had changed, resulting in a Gothic Revival building as designed by James W. Smith. The church buildings have fallen into disrepair over the years due to declining membership and resources. A capital campaign has been launched to finance the restoration of the church fabric.             Frank Roosevelt New York City – Opus 515 (1892) Tracker-pneumatic action; elec. by Wilfrid Lavallée (1930) 2 manuals, 15 stops, 16 ranks In 1892, the Roosevelt Organ Company, which had in 1891 opened a new factory covering an entire block at Park Avenue and 131st Street, built a new organ for St. Peter's Church. This small tracker-pneumatic organ was installed in the gallery to the left of the chancel. The organ is encased by stencilled, non-speaking façade pipes. In 1930, the organ was rebuilt and electrified by Wilfred Lavalle; it is possible that the chimes were added at this time. As of 2005, the organ was not playable, but a note dated 1984 and taped to the music rack lists instructions for handling the registrations.                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes 8   Open Diapason 58 4   Gemshorn 58 8   Salicional 58 8   Trumpet 58 8   Doppel Flote 58                       Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed 16   Bourdon Bass 12 4   Flute Harmonique 58 8   Stopped Diapason [TC] 46   Cornet, 3 ranks 174 8   Dolce 58 8   Oboe 58 8   Violin Diapason 58   Tremulant                   Pedal Organ – 30 notes 16   Open Diapason 30 8   Violoncello 30 16   Bourdon 30                       Accessories     Great to Pedal       4 Combination Pistons     Swell to Pedal       Crescendo Pedal [with indicator]     Swell to Great       Bellows Signal     Swell to Great 8ves       Chimes [added later]                 Chimes installed in the gallery Roosevelt Organ Case Roosevelt Console             Henry Erben New York City (1838?) Mechanical key and stop action 3 manuals, 30 stops, 35? ranks The first organ in St. Peter's Church was built by Henry Erben of New York City. Two of Erben's Opus Lists (1874 and 1880) indicate that the organ was built in 1838, yet parish records state that the Erben organ was sold to the General Seminary in 1843 for $400, and that a new and larger organ was purchased in 1843 for $5000. However, a September 3, 1838 entry in Philip Hone's diary mentions a visit to St. Peter's, where he found an organ which was "too large for the church." It may be that a smaller organ had been used by the church or chapel until the 1838 Erben was installed, at which time the earlier organ was sold to General Seminary. In the 1870s, L.C. Harrison rebuilt the Erben organ, but it is not known if any changes were made. The Erben organ was not used for services after 1892, since a new Roosevelt organ was installed in the east gallery near the chancel. In 1927, noted organist Lynnwood Farnam visited the church and was able to write down the stop list (as listed below) and other details despite the organ having been vandalized. As of 2005, the handsome Gothic case remains, but the gallery pews and aisles are littered with sundry organ parts and crushed pipes.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes [GG-f3, lacking GG#] 8   Open Diapason 58 2 2/3   Twelfth 58 8   Violoncello 58 2   Fifteenth 58 8   Stop'd Diapason 58   Sesquialtera, 2 ranks [bass] ? 8   Melodia 58   Cornet, 3 ranks [treble] ? 4   Principal 58 8   Trumpet 58 4   Night Horn 58                         Swell Organ (Manual III) – 37 notes [f-f3], enclosed 16   Bourdon 37 4   Flute 37 8   Open Diapason 37   Cornet, 3 ranks 111 8   Stop'd Diapason 37 8   Trumpet 37 8   Dulciano 37 8   Hautboy 37 4   Principal 37                         Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes [GG-f3, lacking GG#] 8   Open Diapason 58 4   Flute 58 8   Stop'd Diapason ? 58 2   Fifteenth 58 8   Dulciano 58 8   Bassoon [bass] 12 4   Principal 58 8   Cremona [treble] 46                 Pedal Organ – 25 notes [CCC-c] 16   Double Open Diapason 30 8   Open Diapason [wood] 30 16   Bass Dulciano 30                                   Sources:      Dunlap, David. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.      Ogasapian, John. Organ Building in New York City: 1700-1900. Braintree: The Organ Literature Foundation, 1977.      St. Peter's Episcopal Church website: www.stpeterschelsea.com Photos:      John Rust             | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |