Located in Pittsburgh’s bustling Downtown neighborhood, Trinity Cathedral has been a part of the city for almost as long as the city itself has existed. The story of the cathedral begins in 1787 when one of William Penn’s heirs gifted to the Episcopal church land originally used by Native Americans, the French army, and the British army as a burial ground. The first structure was “The Round Church,” built in 1805, which allowed the congregation to meet in a church rather than people’s homes or the courthouse. It took only two decades for the congregation to outgrow the current structure, so a Gothic-style structure was constructed to replace it.

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The new Trinity was built on the same spot that it still rests today and was consecrated in 1825. Following the creation of the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1865, the congregation once again outgrew Trinity’s walls. In 1872, a new English Gothic-style church was built, featuring a 200-foot tall spire and a blue chancel ceiling decorated in gold.

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Trinity church officially became Trinity Cathedral in 1927. After years of growth and stability, a disastrous fire in 1967 destroyed much of the cathedral, leading to extensive renovations as well as an opportunity to modernize the building. Alongside contemporary amenities such as air conditioning, a 14-foot cross made of steel, glass, and aluminum was suspended above the altar to honor Pittsburgh’s major industries. Just visiting the Cathedral can teach about how Pittsburgh has been shaped into the city it is today. 

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~ From Secret Pittsburgh https://secretpittsburgh.pitt.edu/sp/node/496

 

For more information also visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_Cathedral_(Pittsburgh)