Unknown Builder
1728

According to the church history pamphlet, the organ may have been built by Father Smith:
"One of the earliest and finest pipe organs in the American colonies was installed in St. Philip’s Church in 1728; many scholars believe this organ came from Westminster Abbey in London, having been built by Father Smith in cooperation with the renowned organist and composer Henry Purcell. At Westminster Abbey, the organ was played for the coronations of monarchs James II, William and Mary, Anne, and George I, in addition to that of George II. This last coronation was the one for which Handel wrote his anthem “Zadok the Priest.” Sadly, this organ was lost in the fire of 1835."

From - The Charleston Mercury March 17, 1832, pg. 2

Mr. Henry Erben, Organ Builder of New York having just completed the erection of a delightful and well built Organ in the Baptist Church of this city, has contracted with the Vestry of St. Philip's Church to erect one for them on a very extensive scale. This Organ will contain nearly fifteen hundred pipe, twenty three stops three rows of keys a separate swell and pedals; it will of course contain four wind chests, and will cost $3500

The present Organ is said to have been used at the Coronation of George II, in England, and has been upwards of a century in its present station (at St. Philips); although originally a good instrument, it is extremely deficient arising from the loss and destruction of many of its pipes.
From the high reputation of Mr Erben, there is no doubt the one he has contracted to furnish will be of the first order, not only reflecting great credit upon him as an artist, but well worthy a place, in the venerable and august temple for which it is intended.

Updated through online information from T. Daniel Hancock.

Identified through online information from T. Daniel Hancock. -- In "The History of the Organ in the United States," Orpha Ochse notes that this organ was imported from Great Britain, where it was supposedly "used at the Coronation of George II." It seems to have been in use in the church for 95 years, having escaped destruction, when in 1744 it was struck twice by lightning. "An account written in the 1760's decribed the St. Philip's organ as having sixteen stops in the Great organ and eight in the Choir. It was said to be a 'good' organ and 'well ornamented.' St. Philip's organist was John Salter, who has a special claim to fame for having given one of the first concerts in the colonies. Salter remained at St. Philip's until his death in 1740, when he was succeeded in the post of organist by Karl Theodor Pachelbel." (p. 33)