First Congregational Church / First Baptist Congregational Church
60 N. Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL
OHS convention: 2002
Images
Unknown - Facade and Console (Church Archives, courtesy of Mr Arthur Griffin (2009)/Database Manager)
Unknown - Console (Church archive, courtesy of Mr Arthur Griffin (2009)/Database Manager)
Unknown - Dedication Plaque (Church Archive, courtesy of Mr Arthur Griffin (2009)/Database Manager)
Unknown - Pipework (Church Archives, courtesy of Mr Arthur Griffin (2009)/Database Manager)
Unknown - Church Exterior (Church Archive, courtesy of Mr Arthur Griffin (2009)/Database Manager)
Unknown - Sanctuary, Facade and Organ Chambers (Church Archive, courtesy of Mr Arthur Griffin (2009)/Database Manager)
Unknown - Left Stop Tabs (Church archives, courtesy of Mr Arthur Griffin (2009)/Database Manager)
Unknown - Right Stop Tabs (Church Archives, courtesy of Mr Arthur Griffin (2009)/Database Manager)
Unknown - Builder's Nameplate (Church Archives, courtesy of Mr Arthur Griffin (2009)/Database Manager)
Unknown - Pipe Work (Church Archives, courtesy of Mr Arthur Griffin (2009)/Database Manager)
Unknown - Hook Hasting Casework prior to 1927 Kimball installation & Current 2009 Facade (Church Archives, courtesy of Mr Arthur Griffin (2009)/Database Manager)
Consoles
Main
- Organ type: Traditional With Roll Top
- Console position: Console in Fixed Position, Center
- 4 manuals
- 74 stops
- 111 registers
- 7 divisions
- Key action Type: Electrical
- Stop action Type: Electrical
- Stop layout Type: Stop Keys on Angled Jambs
- Manual compass: 61 notes
- Pedal compass: 32 notes
- Pedal Type: Concave Radiating (Meeting AGO Standards)
- Expression Type: Balanced Expression Shoes/Pedals (Meeting AGO Standards)
- Has crescendo
- Combination action: Computerized/Digital
- Has combination thumb pistons
- Has combination toe pistons
- Has coupler thumb pistons
- Has coupler toe pistons
- Has tutti thumb pistons
- Has tutti toe pistons
Notes
2004-10-30 - Status Note: There 1995 -Database Manager
2004-10-30 - Main bldg. for merger of 1st Cong.l and Union Park Cong., as 1st Congregational. Bldg. acquired by 1st Baptist Cong. in 1970. Behind casework of 1871 Hook & Hastings Op. 578 (7 H & H ranks in organ). -Database Manager
2007-02-09 - Updated through online information from Arthur D. Griffin. -- A Kimball pipe organ was commissioned and donated as a gift by the Andrew & Mary Dole. It became the largest totally enclosed organ in the country, if not the world. The new, larger organ retained much of the Hook and Hastings casework, its entire façade and some of its interior pipe work, revoiced. The Kimball organ was dedicated on Sunday, October 9, 1927 and was immediately used for community concerts as well as for worship services. -Database Manager
2011-06-14 - Updated through online information from Ronald Crowl. -Database Manager
2024-02-25 - Updated through online information from Mr. Arthur D. Griffin: In 1927, the Andrew R. Dole family donated the Great Kimball Organ to this church. Designed by Dr. William Lester and purchased from the Chicago based Kimball Organ Firm. The W. W. Kimball organ containing 121 speaking stops and is divided over four manuals (keyboards). Today the Kimball organ at First Baptist Congregational Church remains the largest totally enclosed organ in the United States. The organ is housed in 6 large chambers; four of these chambers are in the West Balcony. Two of the west chambers include two full-length 32’ pedal stops (four stories tall) and are housed in the Great and Solo Chambers. Two additional chambers; Each division encased in the rear corners of the east balcony contains the Echo and Antiphonal manual and pedal divisions. The organ retains the 1871 E & G. G. Hook and Hastings façade and some of its pipe work, revoiced. The Organ was dedicated on October 9, 1927. Traditionally, the organ is used to accompany the Church Congregation & the Sanctuary Choir each Sunday and used and featured in many Choral Concerts throughout the year. -Jim Stettner
2025-03-08 - Updated through online information from Ron Damholt (February 12, 2025): The console is original to the 1927 Kimball, though Bradford Organ Company refinished and rebuilt it in 1993, using all Peterson materials (including MIDI) and adding wings to accommodate more pedal pistons. Both key and stop actions are electro-pneumatic, and the console does have a crescendo pedal. This information is based on the files of Bradford Organ Company. -Jim Stettner
Stoplist
Stoplist taken from console and private notes/recordings - October, 1969 Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
W.W. KIMBALL CO.
New First Congregational Church
Chicago, Illinois
KPO 6949 – 1927
GREAT: Expressive
16’ Open Diapason 12
16’ Bourdon 73
8’ First Open Diapason 73
8’ Second Open Diapason 73
8’ Third Open Diapason 73
8’ Doppel Flute 73
8’ Gamba 73
8’ Gemshorn 73
8’ Gemshorn Celeste 73
4’ Octave 12
4’ Flute Harmonic 12
2-2/3’ Twelfth 73
2’ Fifteenth 73
1-3/5’ Seventeenth 61
1-1/3’ Nineteenth 61
1-1/7’ Septieme 61
1’ Twenty-Second 61
IV rk. Mixture (collective)
16’ Double Trombone 12
8’ Tromba 73
8’ Trumpet 73
4’ Clarion 12
Tremolo
8’ Chimes ECHO
Celesta CH
Sub
Unison Off
Super
SWELL: Expressive
16’ Bourdon 12
8’ Open Diapason 73
8’ Violin Diapason 73
8’ Clarabella 73
8’ Viola da Gamba 73
8’ Viola Celeste 73
8’ Stopped Flute 73
8’ Salicional 73
8’ Vox Celeste 73
8’ Aeoline 73
4’ Octave 73
4’ Flute 12
4’ Violina 73
2-2/3’ Twelfth 7
2’ Flautino 5
IV rk. Solo Dolce Cornet 12.15.17.19 244
16’ Contra Posaune 73
16’ Contra Fagotto 12
8’ Cornopean 73
8’ Oboe 73
8’ Vox Humana 61
4’ Tromba Clarion 73
4’ Oboe Clarion 12
Tremolo
Vox Vibrato
Celesta Sub CH
Celesta CH
Sub
Unison Off
Super
CHOIR: Expressive
16’ Contra Salicional 73
8’ English Diapason 73
8’ Concert Flute 73
8’ Stopped Diapasonj 73
8’ Flauto Dolce 73
8’ Flute Celeste 61
8’ Dolce 73
8’ Unda Maris 73
4’ Fugara 73
4’ Flute d’Amour 73
2-2/3’ Nazard 73
2’ Piccolo 73
1-3/5’ Tierce 61
8’ Clarinet 73
8’ Orchestral Oboe 73
Tremolo
Celesta
Octave Celesta
Sub
Unison Off
Super
SOLO: Expressive
8’ Stentorphone 73
8’ Melophone 73
8’ Gross Gamba 73
4’ Orchestral Flute 73
16’ Tuba Profunda 12
8’ Tuba Mirabilis 73
8’ Tuba 73
8’ French Horn 73
8’ English Horn 73
4’ Tuba Clarion 12
Tremolo
8’ Chimes ECHO
Celesta CH
Sub
Unison Off
Super
ANTIPHONAL: Expressive
8’ Open Diapason 73
8’ Gross Flute 73
8’ Rohr Flute 73
8’ Viola 73
8’ Viola Celeste 73
8’ Horn 73
Tremolo
Sub
Super
Antiphonal on Swell
Main Organ Off
ECHO: Expressive
16’ Lieblich Gedeckt 73
8’ Fern Flute 73
8’ Flute Celeste 61
8’ Viola Aetheria 73
4’ Wald Flute 73
8’ Corno d’Amour 73
8’ Vox Humana 61
Tremolo
Vox Vibrato
8’ Chimes
Sub
Super
Echo on Solo
Main Organ Off
PEDAL: Expressive
32’ Diaphone 12
32’ Acoustic Bass RES
16’ Diaphone 32
16’ First Open Diapason 32
16’ Second Open Diapason GT
16’ Violone 32
16’ First Bourdon 32
16’ Second Bourdon GT
16’ Contra Salicional CH
16’ Lieblich Gedeckt SW
16’ Antiphonal Contra Bass 12
16’ Antiphonal Contra Viola 12
16’ Echo Lieblich Gedeckt ECHO
8’ Octave 12
8’ Flute 12
8’ Cello 12
8’ Still Gedeckt SW
4’ Super Octave 12
4’ Flute 12
32’ Bombarde 12-SO
16’ Ophiecleide 32
16’ Tuba SO
16’ Trombone GT
16’ Contra Posaune SW
16’ Bassoon SW’
8’ Tromba 12
8’ Trumpet GT
4’ Clarion 12
[Received from Ronald Crowl 2011-06-14.]
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