Steven Bartley on November 19th, 2025:
In the 1990s & early 2000s this writer was involved with basic service work and tuning on this curious organ.
Church lore says that Anton Gottfried was interested in building an organ in an influential city which might generate future sales of his organs or pipework to the organ trade. The organ contains most of Gottfried's signature stops, and follows some of the curious stop extensions and specifications found in Midmer/Losh, Kimball, and other builders who did not strictly follow organ design concepts of the day.
The pipe chamber is in a tall narrow side chamber in the front choir loft. It is said that Gottfried was promised two matching chambers, but when installation time came found that the area on the left side of the choir loft was used for a stairwell to the church basement. Installation of all the organ pipes and mechanism into one chamber has made much of the organ impossible to access with the rest being very difficult. Additionally the quirky pneumatic chest design has result in scant maintenance success, further compounded by a leaky roof over the chamber.
It is difficult to ascertain if this organ would be worth saving, unless more space could be secured to ensure all the stops could be retained and adequate access for maintenance insured. Gottfried's quality of pipe construction and voicing would say yes, but cost and limitations building space may say no. The pipes alone, would be worth the effort and cost to harvest.
Database Manager on May 22nd, 2014:
Updated through online information from Steve Bartley. -- Organ was to have been replaced by the 3 man H & H originally from the McKim residence. After several years the church decided not to make the change. The Gottfried is all but silent. The organ contains many of Gottfried's special stops. The original installation makes regular tuning and maintenance nearly impossible. Ranks can be seen but not accessed. Compounding the cramped installation are the complex wind chest designs which are not conducive to repair or rebuilding. A Reisner electro-mechanical relay was crudely installed in the past. Pipe condition is good.
Database Manager on April 12th, 2005:
To be replaced c. 2004 by the 1905 Hook & Hastings Op. 2082 from the W. Duncan McKim residence in Washington, DC. Installation by David Storey.