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We must begin our history far back in the past for it is there we have our beginnings. On July 21, 1831, a group of people met at the home of George P. Williams in Allegheny City to organize themselves into a parish. It was the second Episcopal church in what is now the City of Pittsburgh (after Trinity Cathedral). The property, located on the west side of Union Avenue, Allegheny City (now the North Side of Pittsburgh) was purchased from Hugh McGonnegle for $1500. The first frame building, built by James Sterrett, measured 25 x 45 ft. and was opened on December 25, 1831. The first vestry was composed of Alexander Johnston Jr., and William Staunton, wardens, and James Correy, H.F. Schweppe, Charles Brewer, Charles Plumb, Isaac Lightner and John C. Mowrey. The other communicants were James Wilson, George P. Williams, Mrs. Clair, Mrs. Lightner, Mrs. Kedwin, Mrs. Conn, Mrs Brunot and Mrs. Curry. The Rev. G. Upfold presided at the first service and the Rev. Samson K. Brunot delivered the sermon.
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In 1840 a Tudor-style brick building was constructed and the original building was torn down. The new church contained an organ that was built in 1814 in New York and was transported from Philadelphia by the old canal and portaged over the Allegheny Mountains. In 1867, with the addition of the chancel, Christ Church was completed. At this time, prominent members of Christ Church included the Oliver family of Oliver Iron & Steel, the Laughlin family of Jones & Laughlin Steel and the Brunot family of Brunots Island.
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A parish house was added in 1906 at a cost of $55,000 for the purpose of giving to its members and to the community a place for wholesome recreation and meetings. It contained a community room, large dining hall, bowling alleys, gymnasium and billiard room. The dream for a beautiful house of worship and community center had been realized. The brick and stone church building measured 56 x 112 feet and the adjacent 3-story stone Parish House/Rectory was 43 x 85 feet. (Today only this building still stands.)
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Above: Christ Episcopal Church, Allegheny City (now Pittsburgh�s North Side). The old worship space was torn down in the early 1970�s but the Parish House (on the left) still stands today. See picture above.
Below: The worship space at the old North Side location.
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Christ Church was rich in tradition and service which had been made, for the most part, in one location, on one site and for much of the time in one edifice. Consequently the decision to leave that location for the present one was wise but the transition was by no means easy. Many parishioners had carried their little ones to the Baptismal Font in that old church. They had watched them grow and as they were nurtured in the atmosphere of worship they engaged in the many activities of the parish. They had assisted in preparing them for presentation to the Bishop for Confirmation and a great many of them had been married there. To many it had been their lot to see some of their loved ones receive the final benediction of this life at her Altar.
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In 1951, due to many of its members having moved to the suburbs, the congregation decided to sell the old building (receiving $96,000 from Christian and Missionary Alliance Church) and select a site for the proposed new Christ Church.
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At this time it was observed that Pittsburgh was rapidly extending its boundaries to the North. Many new developments were growing up in the North Hills district. So it became the unanimous decision that a site be secured in the area. All were impressed by the location of the old Jones Estate in Ross Township, then owned and occupied by the Boyds, who agreed to sell. They were able to buy the property on January 22, 1952 for $47,000. The easterly border of Brown�s Lane had been a 16-foot private road, but was widened to 50 feet by 1952. Chapel Drive and Chapel Hill townhouses were just being proposed.
The original parishioners made the choice of leaving the old place with no little reluctance. It required spiritual and moral stamina to make that decision and it indeed was a mighty pull at their heart strings. By the grace of God they had the wisdom and strength to overcome their attachments to the old place for the greater good of Christ Church and for the advancement of Christ�s Kingdom. In coming to this new area they did not promote a pioneering project nor a missionary hope, valuable as those things are. Rather they brought here an organization financially solvent and spiritually robust. The need for the church here was self evident. A door-to-door survey of the entire North Hills by Episcopal Seminarians showed that there was great interest in an Episcopal church in the North Hills because Trinity Cathedral and All Saints� in Brighton Heights were a distance to travel.
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