Click on images to enlarge Christ Church, United Methodist



520 Park Avenue at 60th Street

New York, N.Y. 10021

http://www.christchurchnyc.org







Organ Specifications:

520 Park Avenue at 60th Street (since 1933)

► IV/76 Casavant Frères, Op. 2588 (1960); rev. 1997

• III/ Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co., Inc., Op. 293-C (1933)

► IV/86 W.W. Kimball Co. (1932) – not installed

Madison Avenue at 60th Street (1884-1933)

► III/30 Hutchings-Votey Organ Co. (c.1903)

► III/34 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 201 (1883) Madison Avenue M.E. Church The church known today as Christ Church, United Methodist, began with the organization on October 16, 1881, of the Madison Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church. This society was founded to provide a Christian ministry for the increasing number of affluent families then establishing homes on the east side of Central Park; many of the group that formed the new church came from the Fourth Avenue M.E. Church located at 23rd Street. A corner lot measuring 100 feet on Madison Avenue by 89 feet on East 60th Street was purchased on December 24, 1881, and the cornerstone for a church was laid on July 31, 1882. Designed in the Romanesque style by R. H. Robertson, the church was constructed with Belleville stone and was notable for its open bell tower that rose 175 feet above the main entrance on Madison Avenue. The auditorium was finished in antique oak with tinted walls and could accomodate 750 persons in large and comfortable pews. There were galleries on all four sides, with the organ loft and choir situated in the gallery on the left side. The pulpit stood on a platform under an arch, and above the nave and aisles was a barrel-vaulted ceiling that provided excellent acoustics. Built from 1881-83 at a cost of $160,000, the church was dedicated on November 11, 1883.



From the beginning, the church had the full assortment of activies: worship services for all ages, welfare work, social service, strong missionary spirit, the full complement of committees and societies and social life among its members. The congregation was active in various institutions supported by Methodism in and near New York City, and its members numbered among representatives in the national undertakings of the denomination. By the early 1920s, it became apparent that the building was inadequate to meet growing needs. An adjoining lot at 31 East 60th Street was purchased for expansion, but it was decided that a new site should be acquired in the immediate neighborhood for a more modern and spacious building. Early in 1929, the present site measuring 90 feet on Park Avenue by 119 feet 9 inches on 60th Street became available, and on April 29, 1929, a contract was signed to purchase the present site at the northwest corner of Park Avenue and East 60th Street. The seller purchased the Madison Avenue site, including the 31 East 60th Street lot, but possession was to be delivered only after the new church on Park Avenue could be sufficiently completed to accomodate the congregation and its organizations. Title was taken September 30, 1929, the eve of the stock market crash. On November 19, 1930, the corporate name of the church was changed to "Christ Church, Methodist Episcopal, of New York City."



In the early 1930s, Dr. Ralph Adams Cram was hired to design the new church on Park Avenue. Cram, who was perhaps best known for his Gothic churches, combined Romanesque and Byzantine styles in his design, creating a well-proportioned exterior that takes its place harmoniously among its taller and more massive neighbors. Cram's plans provided for a church seating 800 people, an adjacent chapel that seated 110, and a parish hall that would seat 250. The parish house included a gymnasium, women's parlors, a men's lounge, clubrooms, Sunday school rooms and administrative offices. On November 15, 1931, the cornerstone was laid for the church that was estimated to cost $3 million, defrayed by the sale of the Madison Avenue church property. Additional funding would come from the sale of the Sixty-first Street Methodist Episcopal Church, which merged into Christ Church on November 3, 1933. A few weeks later, on November 26, 1933, Bishop McConnell officiated at the dedication of the nave and chapel. However, the bare concrete walls would not be decorated with mosaics for another fifteen years, due to financial conditions and, later, shortages brought on by World War II. Work resumed on the interior in 1948 and was completed in summer 1949.



Christ Church was known throughout the country as the home of the National Radio Pulpit, featuring the Rev. Dr. Ralph W. Sockman on NBC radio, from 1928 to 1962. Dr. Sockman was associated with Christ Church for 50 years, from 1911 until his retirement on December 31, 1961. He was minister emeritus until his death on August 29, 1970. Casavant Frères, Limitée

St. Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada – Opus 2588 (1960)

Electro-pneumatic key action

Solid-state stop and combination action

4-manual Casavant drawknob console in Chancel

3-manual Austin stopkey console in Nave (1982)

4 manuals, 72 registers, 58 stops, 76 ranks













The present organ in Christ Church was designed by Lawrence Phelps of Casavant Frères, Ltée., and installed in 1960. The organ is divided on two sides of the chancel with no facade pipework, and the Echo-Antiphonal division is enclosed in a chamber above the rear gallery of the church. In 1982, a three-manual movable Austin console was added for use in the nave. Casavant returned in 1997 to install a solid-state memory system, and again in 1999 to add the Trompette en chamade in the gallery. Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16 Violone 61 2 Super Octave 61 8 Principal 61 1 2/3 Fourniture IV ranks 244 8 Gedackt 61 2/3 Cymbal IV ranks 244 8 Gemshorn 61 8 Trompette Harmonique CH 4 Octave 61 Chimes CH 4 Chimney Flute 61 MIDI 2 2/3 Quinte 61 Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16 Lieblichgedackt 68 16 Bombarde 68 8 Geigen Principal 68 8 Trompette 68 8 Rohrflöte 68 8 Hautbois 68 8 Viole de Gambe 68 8 Vox Humana 68 8 Voix Céleste (GG) 61 4 Clarion 68 8 Spitzflöte 68 Tremulant 8 Spitzflöte Céleste (GG) 61 Chimes CH 4 Principal 68 Swell 16' 4 Flûte Ouverte 68 Swell Unison Off 2 Octavin 61 Swell 4' 2 2/3 Sesquialtera II ranks 122 MIDI 2 Plein Jeu VI ranks 366 Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 8 Viole 68 8 Krummhorn 68 8 Viole Céleste (GG) 61 8 English Horn 68 8 Concert Flute 68 4 Rohrschalmei 68 8 Gedackt 68 8 Trompette Harmonique 68 8 Dulciana 68 Tremulant 4 Prestant 68 Chimes * 4 Koppelflöte 68 Harp * 2 2/3 Rohrnazard 61 Celesta * 2 Blockflöte 61 Choir 16' 1 3/5 Tierce 61 Choir Unison Off 1 Sifflöte 61 Choir 4' 1 Scharf III ranks 183 MIDI 16 Fagott 68 * from previous organ Echo-Antiphonal Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed 8 Principal 68 8 Trompette en chamade ** 61 8 Cor de Nuit 68 MIDI 8 Violes Célestes II ranks 129 4 Gemshorn 68 16 Echo-Antiphonal Pedal 12 8 Trompette 68 Cor de Nuit [ext. 8'] Tremulant ** added by Casavant in 1999;

uses orig. Viole Céleste drawknob Antiphonal 4' Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32 Bourdon 44 2 2/3 Mixture IV ranks 128 16 Principal (metal) 32 32 Contra Bombarde ([ext. Tbn.) 12 16 Bourdon (fr. 32') — 16 Trombone 56 16 Violone GT 16 Bombarde SW 16 Lieblichgedackt SW 16 Fagott CH 8 Principal 32 8 Trumpet (fr. Trombone) — 8 Gedacktpommer 32 8 Fagott CH 8 Flûte SW 4 Clairon (fr. Trombone) — 8 Cello GT 4 Fagott CH 4 Choralbass 32 Chimes CH 4 Rohrflöte 32 MIDI Couplers Great to Pedal 8', 4' Choir to Great 8', 4' Swell to Pedal 8', 4' Antiphonal to Great 8', 4' Choir to Pedal 8', 4' Swell to Choir 8', 4' Antiphonal to Pedal 8' Antiphonal to Swell 8', 4' Swell to Great 16', 8', 4' All Swells to Swell Combination Action Antiphonal Organ Pistons 1-2-3 (thumb) Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb) Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb) Choir Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (thumb) Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5 (thumb & toe) Full Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb & toe) Reversible Pistons Great to Pedal (thumb & toe) Swell to Great (thumb) Swell to Pedal (thumb) Choir to Great (thumb) Choir to Pedal (thumb) Swell to Choir (thumb) Antiphonal to Pedal (thumb) Tutti (thumb & toe) Balanced Pedals Swell Expression Choir Expression Antiphonal Expression Crescendo on all stops and couplers Austin console in Nave Trompette en chamade Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc.

Boston, Mass. – Opus 293-C (1933)

Electro-pneumatic action





After the contract with W.W. Kimball was broken, the church contracted with the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company of Boston to rebuild (with some additions) the existing Hutchings-Votey organ from the old Madison Avenue building. It is a mystery why this job was given opus number 293-C, as Op. 293 is for the First Presbyterian Church of New York City. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.



In 1960, this organ was moved to Wappingers United Methodist Church, Wappingers Falls, N.Y. Planned organ for Christ M.E. Church:



W.W. Kimball Co.

Chicago, Ill. (1932) – not installed

Electro-pneumatic action

4 manuals, 76 stops, 86 ranks





Plans for the new Christ Church edifice included a four-manual, 66-rank organ to be built by the W.W. Kimball Company of Chicago. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints of the new building, undoubtedly complicated by the Depression, the contract with Kimball was broken.



Following is a description of the planned organ, excerpted from an article appearing in the March 1932 issue of The Diapason.



"New York City is to have a new four-manual organ of outstanding importance, which will be installed in the beautiful new edifice of Christ Methodist Episcopal Church. The contract, one of the most interesting and important to be awarded this winter, has been given to the W.W. Kimball Company of Chicago. There will be seventy-six speaking stops, with a total of 5,956 pipes, besides harp and chimes. Supplementing the main four-manual console, which will be of the drawknob type, there will be a two-manual console, to be placed in the chapel, which will be used to play a part of the main organ. A feature will be the antiphonal-echo division in the gallery, with resources of sixteen stops and a set of chimes. Fifty-six combination pistons, eleven reversibles and fifty-one couplers will complete the console equipment.

"Dr. Clarence Dickinson of the Brick Presbyterian Church and head of the School of Sacred Music of Union Theological Seminary, drew up the specifications, acting as consultant for the purchasers. The Kimball Company was represented by Robert P. Elliot and C.A. Woodruff." Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16 Double Diapason 73 2 Fifteenth 61 8 Diapason I 73 Mixture III ranks 183 8 Diapason II 73 8 Tromba 73 8 Geigen Principal 73 16 Ophicleide SO 8 Gross Flöte 73 8 Tuba Sonora SO 8 Wald Flöte 73 4 Clarion SO 8 Erzähler 73 Chimes ANT 4 Octave 73 8 Harp (Deagan De Luxe) — 4 Harmonic Flute 73 4 Celesta 61 bars 2 2/3 Twelfth 61 Tremolo Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16 Lieblich Gedeckt [unit] 97 4 Lieblichflöte (fr. 16') — 8 Diapason I 73 2 2/3 Flute Twelfth (fr. 16') — 8 Diapason II 73 2 Flautina (fr. 16') — 8 Melodia 73 Dolce Cornet, 3 ranks 183 8 Gedeckt 73 Mixture, 5 ranks 305 8 Flute Celeste (TC) 61 16 Waldhorn 73 8 Gamba 73 8 Cornopean 73 8 Gamba Celeste 73 8 French Trumpet 73 8 Salicional 73 8 Oboe (open) 73 8 Voix Celeste 73 8 Vox Humana 73 8 Muted Viole 73 4 Clarion 73 8 Muted Viole Celeste 73 Chimes ANT 4 Octave 73 8 Harp GT 4 Violina 73 4 Celesta GT 4 Muted Violes II ranks (ext.) 24 Tremolo 4 Flute Triangulaire 73 Vox Humana Tremolo Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 16 Contra Dulciana [unit] 109 Harmonics V ranks 8 English Diapason 73 [collective, draws * stops] 8 Concert Flute 73 16 Bassoon (ext. Eng. Horn) 12 8 Spitzflöte 73 8 English Horn, orchestral 73 8 Dulciana — 8 Clarinet 73 8 Viol d'Orchestre 73 8 Diapason Phono SO 8 Viol Celeste 73 8 Melophone SO 8 Kleine Erzähler 73 8 Tuba Sonora SO 8 Kleine Erzähler Celeste 73 8 French Horn SO 4 Dulcet — 8 Orchestral Oboe SO 4 Flute d'Amour * 73 8 Orchestral Flute SO 2 2/3 Nazard * 61 Chimes ANT 2 Piccolo * 61 8 Harp GT 2 Dulcetin — 4 Celesta GT 1 3/5 Tierce * 61 Tremolo 1 1/7 Septieme * 61 Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed 8 Diapason Phonon 73 8 French Horn 73 8 Melophone 73 8 Orchestral Oboe 73 8 Violoncello 73 4 Tuba Clarion (ext. Oph. 16') 24 8 Cello Celeste 73 Chimes ANT 4 Orchestral Flute 73 8 Harp GT 16 Ophicleide 73 4 Celesta GT 16 Tuba Mirabilis 73 Tremolo 8 Tuba Sonora 73 Antiphonal-Echo Organ – 61 notes, enclosed 16 Contre Viole 97 8 Tuba 73 8 Diapason 73 8 Corno d'Amour 73 8 Viole (fr. 16') — 8 Vox Humana 73 8 Vox Angelica 73 Chimes (Deagan "A") 25 tubes 8 Wald Flöte 73 Tremolo 8 Flute Celeste (TC) 61 Vox Humana Tremolo 4 Octave Viole (fr. 16') — Antiphonal-Echo Pedal 4 Chimney Flute 73 16 Diapason (ext. manual) 12 2 2/3 Viole Twelfth — 16 Contre Viol ANT Carillon III ranks 183 8 Viol ANT Pedal Organ – 32 notes 32 Contra Bourdon (ext. 16') 12 8 Dulciana CH 16 Diapason I 44 8 Still Gedeckt SW 16 Diapason II 44 5 1/3 Octave Quint (fr. GT Diap.) — 16 Diapason III GT 4 Super Octave (fr. GT Diap.) — 16 Bourdon (large scale) 56 4 Flute (fr. Bourdon) — 16 Violone 44 32 Bombarde (ext. Ophicleide) 12 16 Contra Dulciana CH 16 Trombone 56 16 Lieblich Gedeckt SW 16 Ophicleide SO 10 2/3 Diapason Quint (GT Diap.) — 16 Waldhorn SW 10 2/3 Stopped Quint ( fr. Bdn.) — 16 Bassoon CH 8 Octave I (fr. Diap. I) — 8 Tromba (fr.. Trombone) — 8 Octave II (fr. Diap. II) — 8 Waldhorn SW 8 Flute (fr. Bourdon) — 4 Clarion (fr.. Trombone) — 8 Cello (fr. Violone) — Chimes ANT Image from a souvenir coffee cup Organ in Madison Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church:



Hutchings-Votey Organ Co.

Boston, Mass. (c.1903)

Electro-pneumatic action

3 manuals, 31 stops, 30 ranks





The second organ in the Madison Avenue Methodist Church was built c.1903 by the Hutchings-Votey Organ Co. of Boston. In 1933, this organ was rebuilt and enlarged by Aeolian-Skinner of Boston, who moved it to the new Christ Church building as Op. 293-C. The following stoplist is from the files of Charles Scharpenger. Pipecounts were not given but are suggested, based on similar Hutchings-Votey organs of the era. Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16 Diapason 61 8 Gross Gamba 61 8 First Diapason 61 4 Octave 61 8 Diapason 61 4 Flute Harmonique 61 8 Gross Flöte 61 8 Trumpet 61 Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 16 Bourdon 61 8 Stopped Diapason 61 8 Diapason 61 4 Violina 61 8 Horn Diapason 61 4 Flauto Traverso 61 8 Gemshorn 61 2 Flautino 61 8 Salicional 61 8 Cornopean 61 8 Vox Celeste 61 8 Oboe 61 8 Aeoline 61 Tremolo Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 8 Violin Diapason 61 4 Wald Flute 61 8 Concert Flute 61 8 Clarinet 61 8 Dulciana 61 Tremolo Pedal Organ – 30 notes 16 Diapason 30 16 Violone 30 16 Bourdon 42 8 Flute (fr. 16' Bourdon) — 16 Gedackt 30 Couplers Swell to Pedal Choir to Great 16', 8' Choir to Pedal Great to Swell Great to Pedal Swell to Choir Swell to Great 8', 4' Swell to Swell 16', 4' Organ in Madison Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church:



J.H. & C.S. Odell

New York City – Opus 201 (1883)

Tubular-pneumatic action

3 manuals, 32 stops, 34 ranks





The original organ in the Madison Avenue Methodist Church was built in 1883 by J.H. & C.S. Odell of New York City. Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes (3-1/4" pressure) 16 Double Open Diapason 58 3 Twelfth 58 8 Open Diapason 58 2 Fifteenth 58 8 Gamba 58 Sesquialtera 3 ranks 174 8 Doppel Flute [Gross Flute] 58 8 Trumpet * 58 4 Principal 58 Carillon 32 bells 4 Harmonic Flute 58 * harmonic treble Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed 16 Bourdon 58 Cornet 3 ranks 174 8 Open Diapason 58 8 French Horn * 58 8 Salicional 58 8 Oboe & Bassoon 58 8 Quintadena 58 8 Vox Humana 58 4 Violina 58 Tremulant 2 Piccolo 58 * harmonic treble Solo Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes 8 Dulciana 58 4 Fugara 58 8 Lieblich Gedact [sic] 58 2 Flageolet 58 4 Flute Traverso 58 8 Saxaphone [sic] 58 Pedal Organ – 30 notes 16 Double Open Diapason 30 8 Violoncello 30 16 Bourdon 30 16 Trombone 30 Couplers Swell to Great Great to Pedal Swell to Solo Solo to Pedal Swell to Pedal Solo to Great Bellows Signal Combination Pedals 1. Forte drawing full Great 4. Forte drawing full Swell 2. Mezzo reducing to Diapason 5. Piano reducing to Salicional & Quintadena 3. Piano reducing to Doppel Flute 6. Balanced Swell Pedal

Aeolian-Skinner Archives web site:

Book of Remembrance, publication of Christ Church Methodist. New York City: 1971.

Christ Church, United Methodist web site:

"Church in New York Orders Large Organ," The Diapason (March 1932). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.

Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.

W.W. Kimball Company advertisement in The Diapason (March 1932). Stoplist of unbuilt organ.

Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List. New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.

"Lay Church Stone in Park Av. Today," The New York Times (Nov. 13, 1931).

Odell, Edward. Factory Specifications of J.H. & C.S. Odell Organ, Op. 201 (1883).

"Opening a New Church," The New York Times (Nov. 12, 1883).

Scharpeger, Charles. Stoplist of Hutchings-Votey organ (c.1903). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.

Scheer, Stanley. Factory Specifications of Casavant Frères Organ, Op. 2588 (1960).

Stern, Robert A.M., Thomas Mellins, and David Fishman. New York 1880: Architecture and Urbanism in the Gilded Age. New York City: The Monacelli Press, 1999.

"The New Methodist Church," The New York Times (Nov. 19, 1883).

"The Works of R. H. Robertson," The Architectural Record (Oct-Dec. 1896).

Trupiano, Larry. Electronic correspondence (June 11, 2012) in re Hutchings-Votey organ (c.1903) in Madison Avenue M.E. Church.



Illustrations:

Byron Company (New York). Exterior (1896) of Madison Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church.

Lawson, Steven E. Color exterior and interior; Casavant Frères Organ, Op. 2588 (1960).

Organ Historical Society Archives. Image of 1903 Hutchings-Votey organ case from a coffee cup. Courtesy Bynum Petty, OHS Archivist.

"The Works of R. H. Robertson," The Architectural Record (VI:2:Oct-Dec. 1896). Madison Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church. Sources:Aeolian-Skinner Archives web site: http://aeolianskinner.organsociety.org/ Book of Remembrance, publication of Christ Church Methodist. New York City: 1971.Christ Church, United Methodist web site: http://www.christchurchnyc.org "Church in New York Orders Large Organ," The Diapason (March 1932). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.Dunlap, David W.New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.W.W. Kimball Company advertisement in(March 1932). Stoplist of unbuilt organ.Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps.New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997."Lay Church Stone in Park Av. Today," The New York Times (Nov. 13, 1931).Odell, Edward. Factory Specifications of J.H. & C.S. Odell Organ, Op. 201 (1883)."Opening a New Church," The New York Times (Nov. 12, 1883).Scharpeger, Charles. Stoplist of Hutchings-Votey organ (c.1903). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.Scheer, Stanley. Factory Specifications of Casavant Frères Organ, Op. 2588 (1960).Stern, Robert A.M., Thomas Mellins, and David Fishman. New York 1880: Architecture and Urbanism in the Gilded Age. New York City: The Monacelli Press, 1999."The New Methodist Church," The New York Times (Nov. 19, 1883)."The Works of R. H. Robertson," The Architectural Record (Oct-Dec. 1896).Trupiano, Larry. Electronic correspondence (June 11, 2012) in re Hutchings-Votey organ (c.1903) in Madison Avenue M.E. Church.Illustrations:Byron Company (New York). Exterior (1896) of Madison Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church.Lawson, Steven E. Color exterior and interior; Casavant Frères Organ, Op. 2588 (1960).Organ Historical Society Archives. Image of 1903 Hutchings-Votey organ case from a coffee cup. Courtesy Bynum Petty, OHS Archivist."The Works of R. H. Robertson," The Architectural Record (VI:2:Oct-Dec. 1896). Madison Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church. NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organs List |