Trinity Church, Pittsburgh

Trinity Church in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania dates back to the Penn's land grants of 1787 the church consists of Trinity Cathedral and Trinity Churchyard. The rich history of the site dates even before the establishment of the church, centered on a terrace above the historic "point" (where the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River join to form the Ohio River) it was one of the few places in this strategic area that was immune from once-a-decade flooding or erosion. For this reason it was long sacred ground for the Iroquois and other native American tribes as a burial ground, the French also used this site as a cemetery. The Trinity Churchyard has the oldest marked graves west of the Atlantic Seaboard, of both native American leaders, French, English, and American colonists.

The "Round Church"

The Cathedral was built two blocks to the west of this burial ground at the base of the hill or terrace initially. It was constructed from the 1780s to 1805.

1824 Cathedral

In 1824 Trinity moved to its current site in the middle of the terrace churchyard with what is regarded as the first gothic structure in Western Pennsylvania. John Henry Hopkins led the design and construction of the cathedral complete with butresses, a tower, pointed arches and a vaulted ceiling. The growing congregation built St. Peter as a chapel of ease. However , in 1869 the growing congregation erected a new structure.

1872 Cathedral

In 1872 the new Trinity Cathedral was completed.

External links

* [Official website http://www.trinitycathedralpgh.org/]
* [City of Pittsburgh Trinity Church website http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/wt/html/trinity_cathedral_1870-71.html]
* [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article on the graveyard and cathedral http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07176/796927-53.stm]

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