Boston, MA, USA: First Church of Christ, Scientist

This justifiably famous edifice includes an equally renowned organ. My card is postally used, though the stamp has been removed. The image is the sanctuary, including the chancel area and organ, viewed from an elevated side gallery. It's sepia toned. The reverse names the building, the copyright holder and the copyright year, 1953. The postmark clearly shows the city, day and time, but the year didn't come through well. It appears the card was sent from Boston to Cary, (NC?).

The original facility, built in 1894 in Romanesque style, still stands, and includes an Aeolian-Skinner organ. The facility which includes the present image (the "extension") was built in 1906 and according to the church website includes the world's largest Aeolian-Skinner organ, with 13,384 pipes.

The church's library includes some history of the organ. The website for Lawrence Phelps, who devoted considerable time and energy to the organs at the Mother Church includes details information about the organ as of 1952, the date of the article.

This is a third card I have of the same organ. This one is a straight ahead view of the chancel, in color. Mine is unused, published by Robbins Brothers of Boston, but printed in Germany.

Vinton, Iowa, USA: Presbyterian Church

Vinton, Iowa is in the eastern part of the state, about halfway between Des Moines and Davenport. It seems the Presbyterian Church there has used three facilities during its existence. The present building at one time had a dome which was removed in the middle of the last century. Copper from the dome was reputedly used "for the war effort."

There was apparently some cleaning done to the organ in 2015. There is a fairly decent photo essay of the project at the church's website. However no details are given about who undertook the work, nor any specifics about the instrument. I have not been able to find any information about it anywhere. The picture below is dated Easter 2017. The facade looks very much as it does on my card.

My card is used, black and white. The card is postmarked 1924. It shows the pulpit area with a raised chancel or choir area behind. The organ is within that raised area. One can discern the dome which was later removed as a roof feature.

Virginia City, NV, USA: St Paul's Episcopal

 

St Paul's Episcopal Church in Virginia City, Nevada was established in 1861. The was a massive fire in 1875 after which the church was rebuilt in Carpenter-Gothic style. At present the facility is in dire need of restoration: of it the present building dates from 1875. The structure is mostly wood (two varieties of pine).

The Alexander Mills (New York) organ was installed as part of the 1875 rebuild, and finished in 1876. The church website provides the following:

Two manuals. 3 divisions. 17 stops. 20 registers. 19 ranks. 975 pipes. Manual compass is 58 notes. Pedal compass is 27 notes.

No specification is provided. Mills provided other instruments for Western churches in the same general time span as the St Paul organ.

My postcard is in color, mint. It shows the nave and chancel area with a good view of the organ. The original church had a rear gallery; the view of the postcard seems to suggest one exists in the present building also. The picture below is of the keydesk showing some of the pedalboard. The page for the organ gives some details as to the layout of the pipework within the instrument.

Monaco: Salle Garnier

Monaco issued a set of stamps celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the Salle Garnier, the opera house in that principality in 1979. The set of 6 stamps (Scott 1167-1172) include 5 that show scenes from operas produced in the theater. The sixth stamp shows a famous painting which is above the stage showing various instruments and players. Included is an organ/organist. Mark Jameson gave me these postcards with first day of issue markings on the stamps. the card vignette is a replication of the musical painting. I'll have to try to track down similar FDCs of the other stamps to get a complete set!

South Molton, Exeter, UK

South Molton is located in the southwest of England, about an hour from Exeter. This postcard shows a straight-ahead view of the sanctuary of St Mary Magdalene in South Molton, including the chancel, with the organ facade visible to the left of the image.

NPOR states the instrument is by WG Vowles, but no year of installation is given. the only other detail besides the stoplist is the fact that the blower was electrified in 1934. No other restoration or rebuild information is provided. As described, the instrument seems a perfectly serviceable one, with plenty of foundation tone, and minimal upper work. The color picture of the church reveals stenciling on the facade pipes. My postcard is unused, black and white.

Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, VA, USA

 

Williamsburg, VA may be thought of as two distinct entities. There is the self-contained historic area well worth visiting at any time, and the sprawling town which has grown up around the enclave. Bruton Parish is located in the historic area and is part of all of the activity which take place there. It is also a lively Episcopal congregation with a vigorous music program. This postcard shows a (probably staged) worship service with preacher and congregants. It includes an organ in the front gallery.

What is visible is a case and dummy pipes from a 1785 organ by Samuel Green. The keydesk and pipework are apparently in storage. As the parish grew in the last century, it was able to purchase a large Aeolian-Skinner instrument installed above the ceiling and in other areas of the church. The installation while note-worthy was never musically satisfying. Plans are underway to raise funds for a completely new instrument by the Dobson firm.

St John's, Church Hill, Richmond, VA USA

St John's Episcopal Church in Richmond, VA is famous for being the site of Patrick Henry's "give me liberty or give me death" speech. The parish capitalizes on this with regulated entrance to the facility, tours, and re-enactments of the speech inside the building. The church is also an active congregation with its own website. My postcard is one of several from the same era created by the church as part of the marketing of the Patrick Henry tie-in. They are all fairly common.

This color postcard at the top is used, with a note on the front with the date January 10, 1907. The church website states "the Adam Stein organ was installed in 1905 and restored in 1983." That would make the card contemporaneous with the new instrument. John DeMayo's more accurate site detailing Episcopal Churches in the region gives the years 1903 and 1985, with the latter work being done by the Virginia firm, Lewis and Hitchcock. His page also gives the specification. The card just above is not dated so I will not hazard a guess as to its time frame. Subtle differences between the wo cards (light fixture, stone tablet, transept door) distinguish the two and suggest different time frames. This second card is unused.