877 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT Get directions Visit Website
Dr. John Michniewicz, Former Director of Music
The United Congregational Church is now the Islamic Center of Bridgeport (as of May 2017). The UCC family has been diligent in its efforts to find new homes for the wonderful 81-rank Austin and 2 smaller pipe organs. The congregation continues a new chapter of worship and music at the Bessemer Center on North Avenue in Bridgeport. We will forever cherish the many musical concerts performed in this great worship space. Thankfully the photos and videos of concerts in these past 15 years are available on our website – click here.
A Majestic Church With Vast Musical Resources Used For Numerous Interfaith and Area Concerts
The United Congregational Church, (United Church) at the corner of Park Avenue and State Street was settled in 1695, which makes this congregation older than the city of Bridgeport by 141 years; and older than the Constitution by 81 years. The current building seating 1,000, was built in 1926. United Congregational Church has a rich musical past, and much like the Center Churches in New Haven, continues to host numerous concerts, memorial services, special events, in addition to being an active house of worship.
The Organs of United Church
1953/2000 Austin IV manuals/81 ranks, 1988 Delhumeau II manuals/11 ranks, 1983 Roche II manuals/11 ranks
Dr. John Michniewicz is the Minister of Music at United and is largely responsible, along with the church trustees, to ensure the 3 pipe organs, multiple Steinway pianos, harpsichord, and even a Hammond B-3, are available for church services and concerts.
The wonderful 1953/2000 Austin IV manuals/81 rank pipe organ is clearly a favorite instrument by visiting organist. In 2000, a new moveable console, 8 additional unenclosed pipe ranks in a floating Positive Division, along with several 32′ pedal electronic stops were added to the current extensive organ stoplist, which includes a 16-rank antiphonal division high above the balcony, almost a block away from the console.
Main Sanctuary Organ Specification, Austin No. 2093-A, 4 manuals, 81 ranks, 2000
Originally installed as Austin Organ Company No. 2093, 4 Manuals, 65 Ranks, 1953. In year 2000 additions included a new console, Positive division, and 8 ranks by the Walker Technical Company.
| Great Organ (Manual II) | |
|---|---|
| Rohrbourdon | 16 |
| Diapason | 8 |
| Spitzprincipal | 8 |
| Gemshorn | 8 |
| Octave | 4 |
| Rohrbourdon | 4 |
| Twelth | 2/ 2/3 |
| Fifteenth | 2 |
| Mixture | IV |
| Fanfare Trumpet (ant) | 8 |
| Chimes (solo) | |
| Tower Chimes (solo) | |
| Great Sub | |
| Great Unison off | |
| Great super | |
| Antiphonal | I on Great |
| Antiphonal | II on Great |
| MIDI | 1 |
| MIDI | 2 |
| MIDI | 3 |
| Choir Organ (Manual I Expressive) | |
| Viola | 8 |
| Bourdon | 8 |
| Dolce | 8 |
| Dolce Celeste | 8 |
| Octave Gemshorn | 4 |
| Koppelflöte | 4 |
| Nazard | 2 2/3 |
| Blockflöte | 2 |
| Tierce | 1 3/5 |
| Trompette | 8 |
| Cor Anglais | 4 |
| Fanfare Trumpet (ant) | 8 |
| Tremolo | |
| Choir Sub | |
| Choir Unison off | |
| Choir Super | |
| Harp (prepared) | |
| Celesta (prepared) | |
| Antiphonal | I on Choir |
| Antiphonal | II on Choir |
| MIDI | 4 |
| MIDI | 5 |
| MIDI | 6 |
| POSITIVE ORGAN (Manual I) | |
| Montre | 8 |
| Rohrflöte | 8 |
| Spitzprincipal | 4 |
| Koppelflöte | 4 |
| Mixture III | |
| Octave | 2 |
| Krummhorn | 8 |
| Tremolo | |
| Positive Super | |
| Positive Unison off | |
| Positive Sub | |
| SWELL ORGAN (Manual III expressive) | |
| Geigen Diapason | 8 |
| Melodia | 8 |
| Viole de gambe | 8 |
| Salicional | 8 |
| Viole Céleste | 8 |
| Voix Céleste | 8 |
| Fugara | 4 |
| Chimney Flute | 4 |
| Flautino | 2 |
| Mixture | III |
| Contra Oboe | 16 |
| Trumpet | 8 |
| Oboe | 8 |
| Clarion | 4 |
| Fanfare Trumpet (ant) | |
| Tremolo | |
| Swell Sub | |
| Swell Unison Off | |
| Swell Super | |
| Antiphonal | I on Swell |
| Antiphonal | II on Swell |
| Positive on Swell | |
| MIDI | 7 |
| MIDI | 8 |
| MIDI | 9 |
| SOLO ORGAN (Manual IV, expressive) | |
| Principal Flute | 8 |
| Gambe (digital) | 8 |
| Gambe Celeste (digital) | 8 |
| Orchestral Flute (digital) | 4 |
| Harmonic Trumpet | 8 |
| French Horn | 8 |
| Clarinet | 8 |
| Orchestral Oboe | 4 |
| Fanfare Trumpet (ant) | 8 |
| Tremolo | |
| Tower Chimes | |
| Chimes (digital) | |
| Harp (choir) | |
| Celesta (choir) | |
| Zimbelstern | |
| Solo Sub | |
| Solo Unison Off | |
| Solo Super | |
| Antiphonal | I on Solo |
| Antiphonal | II on Solo |
| MIDI | 10 |
| MIDI | 11 |
| MIDI | 12 |
| MIDI | 13 |
| ANTIPHONAL ORGAN I (Floating) | |
| Diapason | 8 |
| Trumpet | 8 |
| Concert Flute | 8 |
| Spitz Flute | 8 |
| Spitz Flute Celeste | 8 |
| Viole | 8 |
| Nacht Horn | 4 |
| Octave | 4 |
| Mixture III | |
| Trumpet | 8 |
| Vox Humana | |
| Cor d’Amour | |
| Tremolo | |
| Antiphonal | I Sub |
| Antiphonal | I Unison Off |
| Antiphonal | I Super |
| ANTIPHONAL ORGAN II (Floating) | |
| Diapason Conique | 8 |
| Concert Flute | 8 (Antiphonal 1) |
| Spitz Flute | 8 (Antiphonal 1) |
| Spitz Flute Celeste | 8 (Antiphonal 1) |
| Viole | 8 (Antiphonal 1) |
| Nacht Horn | 4 (Antiphonal 1) |
| Tremolo | (Antiphonal 1) |
| Antiphonal | II Sub |
| Antiphonal | II Unison Off |
| Antiphonal | II Super |
| Trumpet | 8 |
| PEDAL ORGAN | |
| Contre Violone (digital) | 32 |
| Contra Bourdon (digital) | 32 |
| Diapason | 16 |
| Bourdon | 16 |
| Contra Salicional (swell) | 16 |
| Lieblich Gedeckt | 16 |
| Rohrbourdon (great) | 16 |
| Octave | 8 |
| Bourdon | 8 |
| Principal | 8 |
| Flute | 8 |
| Rohrbourdon (great) | 8 |
| Dolce Flute | 8 |
| Choral Bass | 4 |
| Rohrbourdon (great) | 4 |
| Flute | 4 |
| Flute | 2 |
| Mixture | III |
| Contra Bombarde (digital) | 32 |
| Bombarde | 16 |
| Contra Oboe (swell) | 16 |
| Bombarde | 8 |
| Fanfare Trumpet (ant) | 8 |
| Clarion | 4 |
| Chimes (solo) | |
| Tower Chimes (solo) | 8 |
| Antiphonal I To Pedal | 8 |
| Antiphonal II To Pedal | 8 |
| MIDI | 14 |
| MIDI | 15 |
| MIDI | 16 |
| COUPLER (TILTING TABLETS) | |
| Great To Pedal | 8 |
| Swell To Pedal | 8 |
| Choir To Pedal | 8 |
| Positive To Pedal | 8 |
| Solo To Pedal | 8 |
| Great To Pedal | 4 |
| Swell To Pedal | 4 |
| Choir To Pedal | 4 |
| Positive To Pedal | 4 |
| Solo To Pedal | 4 |
| Swell to Great | 16 |
| Swell to Great | 8 |
| Swell to Great | 4 |
| Choir to Great | 16 |
| Choir to Great | 8 |
| Choir to Great | 4 |
| Positive to Great | 16 |
| Positive to Great | 8 |
| Positive to Great | 4 |
| Solo to Great | 16 |
| Solo to Great | 8 |
| Solo to Great | 4 |
| Swell To Choir | 16 |
| Swell To Choir | 8 |
| Swell To Choir | 4 |
| Solo To Choir | 16 |
| Solo To Choir | 8 |
| Solo To Choir | 4 |
| Solo to Swell | 16 |
| Solo To Swell | 8 |
| Solo to Swell | 4 |
| Positive on Solo | 8 |
| Positive on Swell | 8 |
| All Swells To Swell | |
| Pedal Divide | |
| Great/ Choir Transfer | |
Also in the Sanctuary is the 1988 Delhumeau II manuals/11 rank tracker organ, Hammond B-3, Harpsichord and Steinway grand piano. In the Chapel, but within ear-shot of the other organs (we have had several concerts using the 3 pipe organs), is the 1983 Roche II manuals/11 rank tracker organ.
Concerts/Worship at United Church
With the help of many, United Church continues to host many fine musical concerts, is home to the United Chorale, Norma Pfriem Children’s Choir, and supports a Schola program for young choral students. The Greater Bridgeport AGO Chapter and United Congregational Church host an Annual Pipe Screams Concert that features many of our AGO Chapter members, university choirs, that entertains 850+ attendees. The net proceeds from this joint effort goes to support the M. Louise Scholarship Award used to help young organists with college tuition and expenses. We are very appreciative for the staff and congregational support for our POE event using this great venue.
Recent AGO Performances
Programs, Videos, Photos:
March 6, 2011 – 2nd Annual Community Choral Festival
June 6, 2010 – Frederick Teado Pipe Organ Encounter Recital
October 21, 2012 – 11th Annual Pipescreams
October 30, 2011 – 10th Annual Pipescreams
October 30, 2010 – 9th Annual Pipescreams
October 25, 2009 – 8th Annual Pipescreams
October 19, 2008 – 7th Annual Pipescreams
October 21, 2007 – 6th Annual Pipescreams
October 22, 2006 – 5th Annual Pipescreams
October 23, 2005 – 4th Annual Pipescreams
October 24, 2004 – 3rd Annual Pipescreams
October 25, 2003 – 2nd Annual Pipescreams
October 27, 2002 – 1st Annual Pipescreams
Videos:
March 6, 2011 – 2nd Annual Community Choral Festival
Variations on an Easter Theme, (John Rutter), Galen Tate, Jeffrey Wood, dual organists
Welcome, About Our Program, Rev. Sara D. Smith, John Polo, Constance Chase
Improvisation-Hymn to Joy, Dr. John Michniewicz, organist
Femina Melodia Drummers, Jan Gregory, director
Come, O Come, Our Voices Raise, (Alec Wyton), Frank Martignetti, director; Dr. John Michniewicz, organist
Psalm 150, (Cesar Franck), Dr. Carole Ann Maxwell, director; Galen Tate, organist
Light a Candle, (Marta Keen)-Norma Pfriem Children’s Choir, Delia Motavalli, Anika Vanderwal, duet; Traci Galla, director
Come Away to the Skies (Paul Halley) – United Congregational Church, Bridgeport, Allegra DeVita, soloist, Dr. John Michniewicz, director
Gloria (Guillaume Dufay) -Femina Melodia, Jan Gregory, director
This Little Light of Mine – Rev Sara Smith/Congregation
Message-Community of Hope, Rev. Sara D. Smith, Esq
Singing Hallelujah All Day (Eddie Robinson)-Messiah Baptist Church, Bridgeport, Jonathan Berryman, director
Followers of the Lamb (Shaker Melody, arr. Robert Wetzler) – Stratford Methodist Church, Rev. Meg Williams, director
Verleih uns Frieden (Grant Us Peace – Felix Mendelssohn), Dr. Carolina Flores, director; Jeffrey Wood, organist
Like A Mighty Stream (Moses Hogan), Constance Chase, director; Dr. Joe Utterback, pianist; Dr. John Michniewicz, organist
God of the Ages (George Warren), Dr. Carole Ann Maxwell, director; Jeffrey Wood, organist
Allegro assai Vivace from Sonata I (Felix Mendelssohn), Jeffrey Wood, organist
Photo Galleries:
October 25, 2009 – 8th Annual Pipescreams
October 30, 2010 – 9th Annual Pipescreams
October 30, 2011 – 10th Annual Pipescreams
October 21,2012 – 11th Annual Pipescreams
March 6, 2011 – 2nd Annual Community Choral Festival