First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh

First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh stands among the office towers of downtown Pittsburgh as one of the city’s oldest religious institutions. Founded in 1784, the congregation has been part of Pittsburgh’s history since the years following the American Revolution. The current church, completed in 1905, reflects the Neo-Gothic style popular at the turn of the 20th century.

Designed by architect Theophilus P. Chandler Jr., the church was built using Indiana limestone and detailed with carved stonework and large stained-glass windows. Inside, several specific features stand out beyond the stained glass and vaulted ceiling. At the eastern end of the sanctuary, near the chancel and altar, visitors can see the richly carved oak reredos rising behind the communion table, decorated with Gothic tracery and religious motifs. Nearby, the pulpit and lectern stand along the front of the nave, their hand-carved woodwork reflecting early 20th-century craftsmanship.

Among the stained-glass collection, the 13 windows created by Tiffany Studios are particular highlights. These memorial windows are positioned along the side aisles and transepts. Above the main entrance at the western end of the church, the large rose window forms a focal point, drawing attention with its circular Gothic design and colored light.

Visitors should also look toward the rear gallery, where the church’s large pipe organ is housed in a Baroque-style wooden case containing roughly 4,400 pipes. Positioned above the entrance, it dominates the western wall of the sanctuary both visually and acoustically. Along the chancel area, carved choir stalls line either side, while stone columns and pointed arches frame the nave from front to back.