November 21, 1882, is the date of organization for the First United Presbyterian church of Wilkinsburg. The congregation dedicated a building at Wood St. and North Ave. on August 19, 1883, and a new auditorium on January 4, 1892. On January 22, 1895, the building burned down. The congregation dedicated the present church on April 5, 1896. A major fire partially destroyed the church on March 9, 1941. The congregation did extensive rebuilding and design changes for a rededication on February 22, 1942.
In 1945, Captain McCrory preached at First United Presbyterian,
A First Army chaplain will occupy the pulpit of the First United Presbyterian Church, North avenue at Wood street, next Sabbath, September 2.
Chaplain Walter Edwin McCrory, Captain, 190th Field Artillery Group, First Army, is home on furlough after three years’ service in the European Theater. A former resident of Aspinwall, Chaplain McCrory landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day plus one and was with combat troops in the push through France and into Germany.
A 1949 newspaper story tells, “Old Spire On U.P. Church Removed.”
The pointed top of the old tower on the First United Presbyterian Church is being removed by Struble Brothers, roofers.
The Church Board of Trustees decided to have the spire taken down and the tower left with a flat roof, for safety reasons, as it was beginning to show the wear of years.
. . . .
Dr. W. E. McCrory is the pastor of the church. He served during the recent war as a Captain, Chaplain.
In the 1960s, the congregation combined North Ave. and Wood St. into a new name: Norwood United Presbyterian Church. Norwood merged with Mulberry Presbyterian Church in 1971.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church acquired the former Norwood building in November of 1971.
“Guide to the Mulberry and Northwood Presbyterian Churches, Wilkinsburg, Pa. Records, 1882–1992 AIS.1992.10,” University of Pittsburgh, ULS Archives & Special Collections.
https://digital.library.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3AUS-PPiU-ais199210/viewer
Wilkinsburg Public Library Digital Archives:
“Church Honors Fifty Year Members Sunday—Anniversary Banquet Scheduled Thursday” November 14, 1957.
“Capt. McCrory To Preach at First Church,” August 30, 1945.