Organs

Organ music has been an integral element of worship at S. Clement's since it's inception. The two current organs fill an essential role in the musical and liturgical life of the parish. The Austin organ was preceded by an 1854 organ by J. C. B. Standbridge of Philadelphia which was originally designed for the Harmonia Sacred Music Society, and  was relocated to Saint Clement's when the society was disbanded; as well as Hilborne L. Roosevelt's opus 125, built in 1883, a smaller instrument which incorporated some of the Standbridge pipework.

The Austin Organ

In 1914, the Austin Organ Company was contracted to build a new organ for the church, in consultation with Mr. Henry Fry, organist of Saint Clement's. This instrument, Austin's opus 507, was installed at a cost of $11,900, incorporating much of the Roosevelt, and, therefore, some original Standbridge pipework. Mr. Fry's contractual requirements included 'Swell boxes of double construction, 3 1/2 inches thick', rendering a more effective crescendo/diminuendo of the enclosed pipe voices. Mr. Fry performed the first recital on 16 December 1914.

In 1948, a new Austin console was installed, and some tonal changes were made; additional tonal 'modernizations' occurred in the 1960's. With the exception of a few new voices, the instrument is now restored to its original 1914 specification, using vintage Austin pipework wherever possible. Several orchestral voices, including a French Horn (E.M. Skinner) have been added to the specification.

A comprehensive restoration project, completed in 1997, involved several fine craftsmen: Samuel H. Hughes (reed voices restoration), Steven Emery (mechanical restoration and tuning), Robert Wuestoff/Fritzsche Organ Co. (chamber and pipe cleaning), Bynum Petty (Choir Organ pipework revoicing) and Bob Schopp (Façade refinishing and Trumpets En Chamade).

The restoration was capped off with the installation of a new console built by Roger Colby, of Johnson City, TN. Saint Clement's gratefully acknowledges the generosity of Suzie Williamson of blessed memory, who underwrote the cost of this restoration.

The Gordon Reid Organ

The M. P. Möller company of Hagerstown, Maryland built opus 6136 for the now-defunct Church of St. Paul the Apostle, a mission church of Old St. Paul’s Church Baltimore. The tonal designer of this organ was Richard O. Whitelegg, who came to the Möller Organ Company in 1931 from the noted British firm Henry Willis and Sons Ltd. His voicing can be heard at Liverpool and Westminster Cathedrals. The organ is installed in Saint John’s Chapel, but also speaks as an Echo Organ into the Nave of the main church.  Both the Austin and Moller organs can be played from the Colby console in the main sanctuary.

Sadly, all but a few Whitelegg-era Möller organs have disappeared or are no longer intact. Opus 6136 was built in 1933, and represents the very high quality of artistry that marked Mr. Whitelegg's tenure. Saint Clement's is extremely fortunate to have this elegant organ, and gratefully acknowledges the generous gift from the Wyncote Foundation as recommended by Frederick R. Haas that has made the installation and restoration possible.  We also are grateful for the considerable efforts of Messrs. Bard Wickkiser and Rick Tomlinson, both of Baltimore, who were able to secure this historic instrument from certain demolition.