Chicago-Midwest Chapter

Organ Historical Society

St. John Lutheran Church
4707 Pratt Avenue
Lincolnwood, Illinois

Towering over Pratt Avenue is the brick and glass structure known as St. John's Lutheran Church of Lincolnwood. As early as 1941 Lincolnwood and Skokie were canvassed for establishing a new church while the first session of Sunday Church School was held in the Village Municipal Building. It was not until October 11 of the following year that St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church was officially organized with 91 Charter Members. Included on that historic day for the church was the GroundBreaking ceremony for the construction of a combination Chapel and parsonage on North Kilpatrick Street. Two weeks later the first pastor of St. John's was installed. In 1948 the congregation purchased additional property and engaged architect William F. Kramer to design the new church building, although ground breaking for this present church did not occur until 1951. Work proceeded very fast with the first unit of the church's building being dedicated the very next year - the nave. As early as 1957 a full time Director of Music and Youth was hired. 1962 was a very important year in the life of this parish church as it became a part of the LCA - Lutheran Church in America and saw the installation of the M. P. Moeller Organ Opus 9656. The Moeller Organ (built at a cost of $35,000.00) was installed in the center of a high alcove at the rear of the nave with the console located at the front of a very spacious choir gallery loft. This gallery was designed to accommodate a large choir and the full forces of an instrumental ensemble. Chief among the many noted organists that have played organ recitals at St. John's was the blind Parisian Jean Langlais. As you visit this church complex, please note the many works of fine art housed here including the nearby elegant chapel.

 

Specification of M. P. Moeller Organ Company - Opus 9656 (1962)

Great Organ (Manual II):

8' Principal
8' Bourdon
4' Octave
2' Blockflote
IV Fourniture
16' Sordun
Tremolo
Chimes
Great 4'
Great Unison Off

Swell Organ (Manual III):

8' Rohrflote
8' Viola Pomposa
8' Viola Celeste
4' Spitz Prinzipal
4' Chimney Flute
2' Harmonic Piccolo
III Plein Jeu
16' Trumpet
8' Trumpet
4' Oboe Schalmei
Tremolo
Swell 16'
Swell 4'
Swell Unison Off

 

Choir Organ (Manual I):

16' Erzahler
8' Cor de Nuit
8' Gemshorn
8' Gemshorn Celeste (T.C.)
4' Koppelflote
2' Doublette
1 1/3 Larigot
II Zimbel (now Zimbelstern)
8' Trompette-en-Chamade
Tremolo
Choir 16'
Choir 4'
Choir Unison Off

 

Pedal Organ:

32' Resultant
16' Violone
16' Bourdon
16' Erzahler (from Choir 16' Erzahler)
8' Geigen Prinzipal
8' Gedeckt
8' Gemshorn (from Choir 8' Gemshorn)
4' Octave Geigen (from 8' Geigen Prinzipal)
4' Gedeckt (from 8' Gedeckt)
II Mixture
16' Double Trumpet
8' Sordun
8' Trumpet (from 16' Double Trumpet)
4' Trumpet (from 16' Double Trumpet)
4' Sordun (from 8' Sordun)

Accessories:

8 General Pistons with Toe Studs duplicating 5 - 8
7 Swell Pistons (thumb below Manual III)
6 Great Pistons (thumb below Manual II)
6 Choir Pistons (thumb below Manual I)
5 Pedal Toe Studs

Thumb Pistons:
Swell to Pedal
Great to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
Tutti (Reversible)
General Cancel

Toe Studs:
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
Tutti (Reversible)

Couplers:
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Swell to Pedal 4'
Choir to Pedal
Choir to Pedal 4'

Swell to Great 16'
Swell to Great
Swell to Great 4'
Choir to Great 16'
Choir to Great
Choir to Great 4'

Swell to Choir
Swell to Choir 4'

Swell Expression Shoe
Choir Expression Shoe
Crescendo Shoe

Glockenstern Switch (on/off)

En-Chamade (indicator lights for Stop and Blower)

 

(Information resourced from a published church history and on-site visit.)

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1/22/2006 - © Chicago-Midwest Chapter, Organ Historical Society