Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
2012-10-18 - An original installation. Identified by T. Daniel Hancock, using information found in Ochse, 1975. Although the builder is unknown, this instrument is usually referred to as the "Brattle Organ," after the name of its donor, and presumably, the man who imported it from Great Britain, Thomas Brattle. The organ was originally willed by Brattle, who had it in his home, to the Brattle Square Church, who refused it. Anticipating this, Brattle made provisions that the organ should go to King's Chapel, should the Brattle Square Church refuse it. It was removed to St. Paul Episcopal, Newburyport, MA, in 1756, when it was replaced with the 1756 Richard Bridge organ at King's Chapel. From there it went to St. John Church, State Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1836, and again to St. John's new building on Chapel Street in the 1920's. A new case in the American Empire style was built for the instrument in the first decades of the nineteenth century, and the organ was restored by C. B. Fisk in 1965. It is still playable and receives at least occasional use, and bears the distinction of being the oldest organ installation in the United States which is still playable. -Database Manager
Typed stoplist (Source: Osche, 1975) Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
King's Chapel
Boston, Massachussetts
Unknown Builder, c.1665
"Brattle Organ," installed here 1714
OHS ID: 50059
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MANUAL
8 Stopt Diapason 49 Wood Pipes
4 Principal 49 Open Wood Pipes
2 Fifteenth Bass 25 Open Metal Pipes
2 Fifeenth Treble 24 Open Metal Pipes
1-1/3 Sesquialtera II Bass (19th-22nd)
2-2/3 Sesquialtera II Treble (12th-17th)
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[Received online from T. Daniel Hancock, 2012-10-18]Regrettably, it is not possible to display the information about the sponsor of this pipeorgandatabase entry or if there is a sponsor. Please see About Sponsors on Pipe Organ Database.