Better Pipe Organ Database

F. A. Bartholomay (& Sons) (1925)

First Reformed Church
50th and Locust
Philadelphia, PA

Images

2010ish - Interior of church during a worship service, showing pipe facade. (Photograph by Retrieved from the churches Facebook page., submitted by Jonathan M. Bowen/Jonathan M. Bowen)

1925 - 1925 building exterior (Photograph from an archival source: Church website, submitted by Jeff Scofield/Jeff Scofield)

Consoles

Main

3 manuals
32 stops
35 registers
4 divisions

Notes

2022-12-26 - The nucleus ot the instrument is the old organ, originally installed forty-two years ago in the old edifice of the First Reformed Church and then regarded as one of the best organs in the city. As rebuilt and modernized by the Bartholomay factory, it has thirty- six stops and 2,335 pipes. The console, chests, etc., are all new. The City of Philadelphia and the federal government began an effort to revitalize the Old City section of Philadelphia in advance of the country’s bicentennial. In 1969 the congregation moved back to its previous location at 4th and Race. At that time, Schantz installed 3/35 Nr. 922. -Jeff Scofield

2023-03-23 - When First Reformed Church went back to their original 4th and Race location, the Bartholomay remained in the 50th and Locust St. building. That building became Monumental Baptist Church. The organ was used up until the late 1980's when it was replaced by a Rodgers. The original organ was a Hook and Hastings, opus 1180, 1883. It had 3 manuals and 39 registers. When the Rodgers was installed, they got rid of the Bartholomay console. They placed speakers in the organ chamber, but during an 1990's inspection, pipework was still in place. Facade consisted of a substantial 16' open metal. -Jonathan M. Bowen

Stoplist

Source: From THE DIAPASON May 1925

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Old First Reformed Church

    Bartholomay   1925   3/34
    _______________________________________

    GREAT                  SWELL
16' Open Diapason      16' Bourdon
 8' Major Diapason      8' Open Diapason
 8' 2nd Diapason        8' Stopped Diapason
 8' Viol d'Gamba        8' Quintadena
 8' Flute               8' Viol d'Orchestre
 8' Dulciana            8' Vox Celestes
 4' Octave              4' Flauto Traverso
 4' Harmonic Flute    III  Dolce Cornet
 2' Fifteenth           8' Cornopean
 8' Trumpet             8' Oboe
    Chimes              8' Vox Humana

    CHOIR                  PEDAL
 8' Geigen Principal   32' Resultant
 8' Melodia            16' Open Diapason
 8' Aeoline            16' Bourdon
 8' Unda Maris         16' Lieblich Gedeckt
 4' Fugara              8' Bass Flute
 4' Flute d'Amour       8' Cello
 2' Piccolo
 8' Clarinet

[Received from Jeff Scofield December 26, 2022]