Shadyside Presbyterian Church
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History

The Shadyside Presbyterian Church is a large congregation of the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) The Presbyterian Church (USA), abbreviated PCUSA, is a mainline Protestant denomination in the United States. It is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States too. Its theological roots lie primarily in the Scottish Reformat ...
in an historic section of
Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...
,
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
,
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. Located at the corner of Amberson Avenue and Westminster Place in the Shadyside neighborhood of the city of Pittsburgh, the Shadyside Presbyterian Church was founded in 1866 as a congregation in the
Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...
denomination. It has enjoyed a long history of local, national, and global recognition for its outreach, missions, and music. Distinctively formal, traditional, and liturgical, worship services are described as "Reformed and Reverential" with nods to the congregation's ancestral heritage in the
Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland (CoS; ; ) is a Presbyterian denomination of Christianity that holds the status of the national church in Scotland. It is one of the country's largest, having 245,000 members in 2024 and 259,200 members in 2023. While mem ...
. The principal worship service is held at eleven o'clock on Sunday mornings.


Architecture

The Shadyside Church building, the congregation's third, is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
as a prime example of
Richardsonian Romanesque Richardsonian Romanesque is a architectural style, style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after the American architect Henry Hobson Richardson (1838–1886). The revivalism (architecture), revival style incorporates 11th- and 12th-century ...
architecture. It was completed in 1890 to designs of American architectural firm
Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge was a successful American architectural firm based in Boston. As the successor to the studio of Henry Hobson Richardson, they completed his unfinished work before developing their own practice, and had extensive commissi ...
, the successor firm to H.H. Richardson's office. The resulting design heavily echoes that of Richardson's Trinity Church in Boston. The interior of the church underwent several alterations during its first forty-eight years; what is largely seen in the worship space today dates from a major renovation undertaken in 1938. Elements of note include windows by the Gorham Company of New York, Tiffany & Company of New York, and Rudy Brothers of Pittsburgh; intricately carved stone and woodwork throughout, and a prominent Byzantine mosaic by Rudolf Scheffler which fills the chancel apse. The church is built in the Protestant "auditorium-style" popular in the late nineteenth century, a result of stout transepts and a large, central
lantern tower In architecture, the lantern tower is a tall construction above the junction of the four arms of a cruciform (cross-shaped) church, with openings through which light from outside can shine down to the crossing (so it also called a crossing lante ...
which form a Greek cross in plan. The building's dominating pyramidal roof, adorned with four dormers (architecturally referred to as "witches hat"), features prominently in the neighborhood skyline. Building Dimensions *Extreme Length (rose window to apse) = 127 feet *Extreme Width of Transepts = 85 feet *Height of Transepts = 40 feet *Length and Width of Lantern Tower = 52 feet *Height of Nave = 62 feet *Grade line to Pinnacle = 100 feet *Seating Capacity = 900 persons First and Second Churches Built on land gifted by Thomas Aiken, the first Shadyside church was built to Aiken's designs. Work began in 1866 and was completed in 1867. By the early 1870s, the first building proved too small and plans were made for a second, larger building on the same site. Despite an economic depression in 1873, a second church was built to the plans of James H. Windrom of Philadelphia. Ground was broken in 1874 and the new building dedicated in 1875 with the first church building being retained for use as a chapel. With seating for 700 to 800, the second church was "English Decorated Gothic" in style and included a tower with spire which rose 140 feet into the sky. In the late 1880s, the second building was deemed too small for the growing congregation. Underground seepage of water from springs in the hillside caused some of the walls and tower to be determined unsafe. On April 8, 1888, the second church was declared unsafe for use and the congregation voted to replace the structure with a new church and chapel, engaging the firm Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge of Boston. Additions and Renovations The first addition to the new Shadyside church was its chapel, completed two years after the church in 1892. The gallery and narthex were renovated in 1920 as a memorial to Wallace H. Rowe. A Parish Hall was added to the northeast side of the church in 1953 to the plans of the Pittsburgh firm of Hoffman and Crumpton. The addition included a gathering hall-gymnasium, stage, classrooms, and kitchen. An addition known as the "Scharfe Wing" was built in 1981 to the north of the Amberson Avenue entrance. It included restrooms and a large space designated for education. In 2009, the congregation undertook substantial renovations to all spaces except the main sanctuary. The five-phase project included office renovations, enclosing the existing exterior cloister and atrium, and converting the 1953 gathering hall-gymnasium to a formal Parish Hall. In 2023, after several years of roof leaks and crumbling tiles, the monumental task of replacing the 1890 slate roof was begun, a project which lasted ten months. The replacement roof with lifespan of 75-100 years renews the dark slate of the original roof.


Pastors

Throughout its long history, the church has been served by a succession of notable preachers, including Hugh Thomson Kerr, Sr., Robert Cleveland Holland, Howard C. Scharfe, and F. Morgan Roberts. In 1916, during his pastorate, Hugh Thomson Kerr, Sr. penned the text for the well-known hymn, "God of Our Life, Through All the Circling Years" set to the tune ''Sandon''. Between 2003 and 2012, the congregation had as its senior pastor
M. Craig Barnes M. Craig Barnes (born 1956) is an American Presbyterian minister and professor who served as president of Princeton Theological Seminary. Biography and career Born on August 28, 1956, and raised on Long Island,"Shadyside Presbyterian Church" The ...
, noted author and speaker, and professor at
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS) is a Presbyterian graduate seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1794, it houses one of the largest theological libraries in the tri-state area. History Pittsburgh Theological Seminary was for ...
, until his election as president of
Princeton Theological Seminary Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a Private university, private seminary, school of theology in Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Establish ...
. The Rev. John Allan Dalles, a well-known hymn writer, Pittsburgh native, and graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, was the church's Interim Senior Minister and Head of Staff, 2019–2021. The current pastor, the twelfth in the church's history, is the Reverend Austin Crenshaw Shelley. Senior Pastorates of the Shadyside Presbyterian Church: * William Trimble Beatty, D.D. (1867-1881) * John Morville Richmond, D.D. (1881-1888) * Richard Sill Holmes, D.D. (1890-1904) * J. Kinsey Smith, D.D. (1905-1910) * Hugh Thomson Kerr, D.D., L.L.D., S.T.D. (1913-1945) * Howard Carman Scharfe, D.D., L.L.D. (1945-1971) * Robert Cleveland Holland, D.D., D.H.L., D.Litt. (1972-1983) * F. Morgan Roberts, D.D., D.H.L. (1985-1994) * Peter Corey Bower, D.Min. (1996-1998) * M. Craig Barnes, Ph.D. (2003-2012) * Conrad C. Sharps, D.H.L. (2014-2018) * Austin Crenshaw Shelley, Ph.D. cand. (2021-present)


World Communion Sunday and Radio Ministry

It was at Shadyside Church in 1933 that the now global practice of celebrating World Communion Sunday on the first Sunday in October was originated, under the leadership of the Rev. Hugh Thomson Kerr. A commemorative medal was installed in the chancel floor as a memorial to elder C. Stanton Belfour (1906-1969). Shadyside also was the first church anywhere to pioneer regular
radio Radio is the technology of communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 3  hertz (Hz) and 300  gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmitter connec ...
broadcasts of its worship services on KDKA radio and was the first church to broadcast worship services to both the
North Pole The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is the point in the Northern Hemisphere where the Earth's rotation, Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface. It is called the True North Pole to distingu ...
and to the
South Pole The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is the point in the Southern Hemisphere where the Earth's rotation, Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface. It is called the True South Pole to distinguish ...
.


Music

The music program, under the direction of Dr. Mark A. Anderson, is renowned for its semi-professional Chancel Choir, four-manual Reuter pipe organ, and celebrated concert series,
Music in a Great Space
'. Several album recordings are available through the church office. Directors of Music *Robert Pitcairn (1867-1869) *Unknown (1869-1882) *J.P. McCollum (1882-1890) *Samuel M. Brown (1891) *Joseph Gittings (1902-1906) *William H. Oetting (1906-1911) *Herman H. Fleer (1911-1917) *Walter Wild (1917-1919) *Earl Mitchell (1919-1935) *Russell G. Wichmann (1936-1987) *J. David Hart (1987-1991) *Dudley Oakes, interim (1991-1992) *John C. Walker (1992-2004) *J. Christopher Pardini (2004-2010) *Curt Scheib, interim (2010-2011) *Mark A. Anderson (2011-present)


Organs

The Reuter organ, Op. 2175 (1994), occupying the chancel today is the congregation's fifth instrument. Significant tonal and restoration work was completed 2020-2023. Previous instruments include: * Hook and Hastings (1875; built for second church - 3 manuals, 23 stops, 27 ranks) * Kimball, Op. 475 (1903; rebuild of Hook and Hastings) * Skinner, Op. 585 (1926; modified in 1937 - 4 manuals, 45 stops, 44 ranks) * Möller, Op. 9030 (1957; 4 manuals, 77 stops, 67 ranks) * Möller, Op. A-9030 (1973; Gallery addition - 2 manuals, 29 stops, 27 ranks) * Möller, R-202 (1990; rebuild of Op. 9030 - 4 manuals, 84 stops, 85 ranks) * Reuter, Op. 2175 (1994; 4 manuals, 170 stops, 105 ranks) Chapel Organs * Möller, Op. 10264 (1966) * Walker Digital (2003)


Educational Foundings

Members of the Shadyside Presbyterian Church founded two East End education institutions.
Chatham University Chatham University is a private university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Originally founded as a women's college, it began enrolling men in undergraduate programs in 2015. It enrolls about 2,110 students, including 1,002 undergraduate students and ...
began as the Pennsylvania Female College on February 23, 1869, founded by Dr. William Trimble Beatty, first pastor, Thomas and David Aiken, Joseph Dilworth, John Renshaw, Alfred Harrison, Alexander Chambers, William B. Negley, and William O'Hara Scully. The
Shady Side Academy } Shady Side Academy is an independent preparatory school in Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania in Greater Pittsburgh. Founded in 1883 as an all-male night school in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, the academy now offers a secular coeducation ...
sprouted from the visions of Dr. John Morville Richmond, second pastor, and Dr. William R. Crabbe, first principal, in 1883. Camp Crestview (now Camp Crestfield) was established as a religious educational camp in 1946 from a bequeathment by Miss Margaret Pfeil by Dr. Hugh Thomson Kerr.


Local Missions Supported

Shadyside Presbyterian Church has served as benefactor or as a "mother church" to the following congregations and enterprises: *Brentwood Presbyterian Church *East End Cooperative Ministry *Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church, Hill District *Herron Avenue Presbyterian Church (non-extant) *John Knox Presbyterian Church, Scott Twp. *McKees Rocks Mission *Oakland Presbyterian Church (non-extant) *Penn Hills Presbyterian Church (now Mt. Hope) *Pleasant Hills Community Presbyterian Church *Providence Presbyterian Church, North Side (non-extant) *Westminster Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair *Shadyside-Walnut Street Project *South Side Presbyterian Church and Community Center *Trinity Presbyterian Church, East Liberty (non-extant)


Notable Historical Figures

* Marcus W. Acheson, ''American judge'' *Thomas Aiken, ''first architect of Shadyside Church'' * Paul R. Anderson, ''President of
Chatham College Chatham University is a private university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Originally founded as a women's college, it began enrolling men in undergraduate programs in 2015. It enrolls about 2,110 students, including 1,002 undergraduate students and ...
'' *
Edward V. Babcock Edward Vose Babcock (January 31, 1864 – September 2, 1948) was a logging, lumber industrialist who served as Mayor of Pittsburgh from 1918 to 1922. Biography Early life Edward Vose Babcock entered the lumber business from an early age. He ran ...
, ''45th Mayor of
Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...
'' * John G. Bowman, ''Chancellor of the
University of Pittsburgh The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The university is composed of seventeen undergraduate and graduate schools and colle ...
'' *William R. Crabbe, ''first principal of
Shady Side Academy } Shady Side Academy is an independent preparatory school in Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania in Greater Pittsburgh. Founded in 1883 as an all-male night school in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, the academy now offers a secular coeducation ...
'' * Stanton C. Crawford, ''Chancellor of the
University of Pittsburgh The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The university is composed of seventeen undergraduate and graduate schools and colle ...
'' *
Annie Dillard Annie Dillard (née Doak; born April 30, 1945) is an American author, best known for her narrative prose in both fiction and nonfiction. She has published works of poetry, essays, prose, and literary criticism, as well as two novels and one memo ...
, American author * Edward D. Eddy, ''President of
Chatham College Chatham University is a private university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Originally founded as a women's college, it began enrolling men in undergraduate programs in 2015. It enrolls about 2,110 students, including 1,002 undergraduate students and ...
'' * Rufus H. Fitzgerald, ''Chancellor of the
University of Pittsburgh The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The university is composed of seventeen undergraduate and graduate schools and colle ...
'' *Howard Heinz, ''
Heinz family The Kraft Heinz Foods Company, formerly the H. J. Heinz Company and commonly known as Heinz (), is an American food processing company headquartered at One PPG Place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company was founded by Henry J. Heinz in 186 ...
of Pittsburgh''
Helen Marks
''Dean of
Chatham College Chatham University is a private university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Originally founded as a women's college, it began enrolling men in undergraduate programs in 2015. It enrolls about 2,110 students, including 1,002 undergraduate students and ...
'' * William B. Negley, ''lawyer and
Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
major'' * Samuel B. McCormick, ''Chancellor of the
University of Pittsburgh The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The university is composed of seventeen undergraduate and graduate schools and colle ...
'' *
Robert Pitcairn Robert Pitcairn (May 6, 1836 – July 25, 1909) was a Scottish-American railroad executive who headed the Pittsburgh Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad in the late 19th century. He was the brother of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company (now P ...
, ''American businessman'' * William H. Rea, ''President of the Board of Public Education of Pittsburgh'' *
James H. Reed James Hay Reed (September 10, 1853 – June 17, 1927) was a United States federal judge, United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. With partner Philander C. Knox, he formed the law ...
, ''American Judge'' *Wallace H. Rowe, ''first president of Pittsburgh Steel Co.'' *
Richard Thornburgh Richard Lewis Thornburgh (July 16, 1932 – December 31, 2020) was an American lawyer, author, and politician who served as the 76th United States attorney general from 1988 to 1991 under presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. A ...
, ''Governor of
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
'' *Leslie Worthington, ''8th president of
U.S. Steel The United States Steel Corporation is an American steel company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It maintains production facilities at several additional locations in the U.S. and Central Europe. The company produces and sells steel products, ...
''


Further reading

*Belfour, Stanton. ''The Centennial History of The Shadyside Presbyterian Church'', Pittsburgh: Shadyside Presbyterian Church, 1966. *Engleman, Timothy C. ''Evidence of Things Not Seen: Architecture & Christian Symbolism at Shadyside Presbyterian Church''. Shadyside Presbyterian Church, 2010. *Engleman, Timothy C. ''Liturgy: A Reflection On Shadyside Presbyterian Church''. Shadyside Presbyterian Church, 2016.


External links


Shadyside Church WebsiteShadyside Church PublicationsShadyside Lantern: An Appreciation of the Architecture of Shadyside Presbyterian Church
*


References

{{Authority control Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks Churches in Pittsburgh Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania Churches completed in 1889 19th-century Presbyterian church buildings in the United States Romanesque Revival church buildings in Pennsylvania Richardsonian Romanesque architecture in Pennsylvania Historic American Buildings Survey in Pennsylvania National Register of Historic Places in Pittsburgh Presbyterian Church (USA) churches