Pipe Organ Database

a project of the organ historical society

Skinner Organ Co. (Opus 736, 1928)

Location:

Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church
551 Pleasant Street
Worcester, MA 01602 US
Organ ID: 23515

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Status and Condition:

  • This instrument's location type is: Roman Catholic Churches
  • The organ has been renovated with changes from its original state.
  • The organ's condition is good, in regular use.
We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from John Roper on April 23, 2021.

Technical Details:

  • Chests: EP pitman
  • 26 ranks. 1,696 pipes. 4 divisions. 3 manuals. 23 stops. 27 registers.
All:
  • Chest Type(s): EP pitman chests
We received the most recent update for this division from Database Manager on May 13, 2018.
Main:
  • Built by Skinner Organ Co.
  • Manuals: 3
  • Divisions: 4
  • Stops: 23
  • Registers: 27
  • Position: Console in fixed position, center.
  • Manual Compass: 61
  • Pedal Compass: 32
  • Key Action: Electrical connection from key to chest.
  • Stop Action: Electric connection between stop control and chest.
  • Console Style: Traditional style with roll top.
  • Stop Controls: Drawknobs in vertical rows on angled jambs.
  • Combination Action: Adjustable combination pistons.
  • Swell Control Type: Balanced swell shoes/pedals, AGO standard placement.
  • Pedalboard Type: Concave radiating pedalboard meeting AGO Standards.
  • Has Crescendo Pedal
  • Has Tutti Reversible Toe Pistons
  • Has Combination Action Thumb Pistons
  • Has Combination Action Toe Pistons
  • Has Coupler Reversible Thumb Pistons
  • Has Coupler Reversible Foot Trundles
We received the most recent update for this console from John Roper on September 15, 2021.
Leonardo Ciampa on July 15, 2023:

I respectfully dispute the statement "The organ has been renovated with changes from its original state." There were no known "changes." This is AUTHENTIC E. M. Skinner.

We received the most recent update for this note from Leonardo Ciampa on July 15, 2023.
Stephen St.Denis on April 28, 2020:

Blessed Sacrament’s church organ was dismantled piece by piece in 2016 and transported to the A. Thompson-Allen Company LLC of New Haven, Conn., where it underwent a complete and historically accurate restoration. Prior to the 2016 removal, Opus 736 was one of the few 3 manual Skinner Organs extant that was in completely original condition. In 2016, the organ was in use and playable but in need of major work. The removing of the organ coincided with needed structural repairs to organ chamber in the central bell tower. The organ was reinstalled in its original location in the rear gallery of the church during the spring and summer of 2019. On October 6, 2019 Thomas Murray gave a recital to celebrate the reinstallation of Skinner Organ Co, Opus 736. The organ is in frequent use.

We received the most recent update for this note from Stephen St.Denis on April 28, 2020.
Database Manager on May 08, 2006:

Identified through information adapted from E. M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List, by Sand Lawn and Allen Kinzey (Organ Historical Society, 1997), and included here through the kind permission of Sand Lawn:
Extant; unaltered.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
from The Diapason, October 1928, via Steve Bournias: Open In New Tab Typed stoplist
We received the most recent update for this stoplist from John Roper on June 08, 2020.
Original Specification: Open In New Tab A scan of the original specification as submitted by the builder.
We received the most recent update for this document from John Roper on June 13, 2020.

The Diapason Article: Open In New Tab Article from May 2020 of The Diapason about the restoration.
We received the most recent update for this document from John Roper on June 13, 2020.

Instrument Images:

Church Exterior: Photograph by Stephen St. Denis. Taken on 2019-06-17

Console: Photograph by Stephen St. Denis. Taken on 2019-10-06

Facade: Photograph by Stephen St. Denis. Taken on 2019-10-06

Church interior to rear gallery and organ case: Photograph by Stephen St. Denis. Taken on 2019-06-17

Organ case in rear gallery: Photograph by Stephen St. Denis. Taken on 2019-06-17

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Building exterior: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

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Building interior: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

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Balcony: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

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Console: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

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Facade: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

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Chamber entrance: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

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Pedal pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

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Pedal pipework, entrance to the choir chamber, and tower ladder.: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

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Great chest: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

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Great chest: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

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Great chest and facade: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

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Pedal trebles and choir chamber: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

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Choir chamber: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

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Choir chamber: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

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A view from the swell ladder: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

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Swell chamber: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

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Swell chamber: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-09-15

Right stopjamb: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-18

Left stopjamb: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-18

Coupler rail: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-18

Pedalboard: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-18

Builder's plate: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-18

Facade: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-18

Great division pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-18

Pedal pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-18

Great pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-18

Great division and facade pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-18

Choir division pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-18

Choir division pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-21

Choir pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-21

Pedal pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-21

Swell pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-21

Swell pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-21

Swell pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-21

Swell pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-21

Swell pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-21

Pedal pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-21

Swell chamber: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2021-08-21

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