Chapter Two
Seventh United Presbyterian Church

By James Wudarczyk

One of the area’s historical churches—demolished in the 1960’s—was the Seventh United Presbyterian Church. This church was founded in 1860 as the First United Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, but became the Seventh United Presbyterian Church in 1872, following Lawrenceville’s incorporation into the city of Pittsburgh in 1868. Organized in 1860 with fifteen members, the first home of the church was a one-story frame structure on Forty-third Street. In 1873 the congregation erected a one-story Victorian Second Empire brick church on the corner of 44th and Cessna Way at a cost of $40,000.00. Dedication of the edifice took place in 1874.

In the church’s first fifty years of history more than 1,900 person were members. Five pastors served the spiritual needs of the congregation during that period. They were Reverend H. Andrews (1860-1875), Reverend A. G. McCoy, Ph.D. (1876-1878), Reverend J. D. Sands (1880-1890), Reverend J. B. McIsaac (1900-1906), and the Reverend Charles W. Fulton.

This church was refurbished in 1909. At the time of the golden anniversary of the founding of the church, the board of trustees consisted of Howard S. Turner, George Keil, Sr., Dr. W. A. Clark, James McCluen, J. C. Mitchell, Charles S. M. Wilkerson, and William Wilson. Presiding at the services were the Reverend Dr. J. D. Sands, who preached in the morning on “The Household of God,” and the Reverend J. B. McIsaac, who preached in the evening on “The Bible and Its Important Details.” Reverend Dr. E. T. Jeffers, who entered the ministry from this church and who was moderator of the United Presbyterian General Assembly in 1880, as well as serving as president of Westminster College for twelve years was also present for the celebration. Anniversary services took place in 1910. Miss Emma Calvin read a history of the congregation. Other activities included a supper, followed by a reminiscent session with a number of former members speaking.

Members of the church who participated in the first communion, held February 26, 1860, were Anna Rodgers, Isabella McMillan, Elizabeth McMillian, Robert Cummings, Mary Cummings, Samuel McMahon, Elizabeth McMahon, Samuel Carothers, Sarah E. Robinson, Mary S. Robinson, James Bayne, Margaret Murdoch, John Ferguson, William Corbett, George McKee, Mary J. McKee, Samuel Kingam, Robert Kingam, Nancy Kingam, John Ritchie, Naomi Ritchie, Samuel McKim, Margaret McKim, John Tough, James Colvin, Samuel Colvin, Mary A. Colvin, Mary Matthews, Jane Carothers, L. Richmond, Ebenezer Hatch, S. Hatch, Nancy Burgess, Jane Richmond, Mary Ferguson, Archibald Kelly, Mary Ann Kelly, Ann Kelly, William Steward, Elizabeth Steward, George Leslie, and Margaret A. Andrews.

Three of the original members of the congregation were present at the fiftieth anniversary celebration. These were Mrs. M. A. Kelly, 90, of Sharpsburg, and Mr. And Mrs. Samuel Colvin, 79 and 72 years of age, respectively, of Lawrenceville.

Around 1880 the original frame structure was sold to the German Lutheran Church of Millvale. This building was moved down Forty-third Street to the Allegheny River, and taken across the river to Millvale, where it was placed on O’Brien Street.