Information courtesy of the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

The organ at Park Avenue UMC has recently been completely refurbished by the trustees, and has received high praise from all who have played it and heard it. Below is a brief history.

The first organ in the present church building was built in 1926 by the Skinner Organ Company of Boston. Skinner provided an attractive organ case on the left side of the chancel, and pipes were also located in two chambers on the nave side of the chancel arch. Factory worksheets show a larger organ was originally planned that included an Echo Organ with four stops and chimes. In 1947, the organ and console were overhauled by Louis F. Mohr & Co., and the prepared-for Tuba Mirabilis was installed.

Skinner Organ CompanyBoston, Mass. – Opus 587 (1926)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 27 stops, 25 ranks, 1,676 pipes

In 1971, a new organ was built by the Schantz Organ Company of Orrville, Ohio. Pipes were installed in existing chambers at the chancel end of the nave and behind the 1926 Skinner organ case. The three-manual drawknob console was located on the right side of the chancel. Specifications were drawn up by Dr. Robert Baker, consultant, in conjunction with Lynden Woodside, organist.

Schantz Organ CompanyOrrville, Ohio – Opus 1022 (1971)
Electro-pneumatic key, stop and combination action
3 manuals, 45 stops, 41 ranks, 2,392 pipes

After nearly forty years of dependable service, the 1971 Schantz organ was in need of a thorough cleaning and non-routine maintenance. The church contracted with Sebastian Glück of New York City to provide necessary work while keeping the organ at least partially playable for services. First, the pipes of each division were removed in stages from the chambers and cleaned, chests were releathered and new reservoirs were installed. As divisions were reinstalled, the organ was rewired to comply with current electrical codes. In the Swell division, the Trompette and Hautbois-Clairon were replaced with new pipes, and the wind pressures were raised slightly. Two other stops were added: an independent 16' Sub Bass in the Pedal and a set of Chimes in the Choir. Glück also regulated and revoiced much of the organ as necessary. Finally, the Schantz console was updated with a new solid-state combination action, and new jambs were installed to accomodate a few additional stops and couplers.

Schantz Organ CompanyOrrville, Ohio – Opus 1022 (1971)
Revised by Sebastian Glück (2010)
Electro-pneumatic action
Solid State combination action
3 manuals, 52 stops, 42 ranks, 2,433 pipes