When one begins to write the history of a church, or in fact any organization, one must begin with recorded facts. Such an event as the founding of a church does not just happen. Back of it in the hearts of some persons is an earnest desire to worship God, and to build a sanctuary for that purpose even as David longed to build the Temple, because he felt it wrong to dwell in ceiled houses when there was no fixed place for the worship of God. Only those who were responsible for the founding of this church know of the longings and prayers, the planning and thought that went into the project before an organization was effected and the house of worship completed.
Wilkinsburg was a small village in 1882, but it was taking on new life. People were moving here from the city and elsewhere to make new homes and among these were a number of United Presbyterian members. Those who were already here had their church home in Hebron church or went to the city to worship. To the latter this was inconvenient as at that time the train was the only means of transportation unless one was fortunate enough to own his own conveyance.
A request for preaching was made to Presbytery in December, 1881; the request was granted and services were held in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, corner of South Avenue and Center Street, until the autumn of 1882, when the United Brethren Church, then located on Ross Avenue, between Coal Street and Swissvale Avenue, was secured for afternoon preaching and Sabbath School.
A meeting for organization was held in this building November 21, 1882 at which the Rev. James D. Turner presided. Messrs. T. D. Turner and Z. J. McIlvaine were elected elders; Trustees, John Bartley, William Turner for 3 years; George McKee, Charles W. Hutchinson for 2 years; W. S. Watt, James Porter for 1 year. December 5th, Mr. Turner, who had been an elder in Hebron Church, was installed, and Mr. Mcllvaine ordained and installed ruling elders. Fifty persons formed the charter membership.
Steps were immediately taken to secure a building lot. One was purchased for $600 at the northwest corner of Wood Street and North Avenue.The building was planned with the intention of adding to it as the growth of the church would require. Financial help was received from the Board of Church Extension, and the members did their utmost to raise sufficient funds to finance the project.
A suggestion was made that others outside the membership might be glad to help with a contribution to the fund. Two active workers, Mrs. Hutchinson and Miss Venie Smith, determined to see what they could do among their friends in the city. One man who was well able to help refused, saying, “You don’t need a U.P. Church out there, there is no room for it, go into the Presbyterian Church and don’t be bringing a preacher there to starve him.” Mrs. Hutchinson, to whom he was talking, replied in her spirited way, “We are going to have a church in Wilkinsburg and we are not going to starve him either.” Both her statements proved true. They were happy to turn over to the Treasurer $89 as the result of their first day’s effort. The building cost $3,239 and was dedicated August 19, 1883.
There must have been thanksgiving on their lips and joy in the hearts of those devoted few when they were able to dedicate to the worship of God that little church for which they had labored and prayed.
Now they must turn their attention to securing a pastor, and how careful they must be in making their choice. Paul says in his letter to the church at Ephesus that God gave some prophets, and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints; so to this infant church there was sent a man from God to minister to them who would lay a good foundation upon which to build.
September 27, 1883 Rev. David Barclay, pastor of the Hebron Church, moderated in a call for the Rev. M. M. Patterson, who took charge January 1, 1884, and was installed March 18. He was a faithful pastor, friend, and teacher, an untiring worker, a welcome visitor in every home, loved by the children, honored by congregation and community alike; his influence will long be felt in our congregation.
Our membership grew rapidly, and in a few years it became necessary to add to our building. At this time fifteen feet on the west side of the original lot were donated by Mr. John Kochenderfer. The enlarged house of worship was completed and dedicated January 4, 1893 at a cost of $16,300. Upon the third anniversary of the dedication the treasurer announced that the church was free of debt. Three weeks later, on Sabbath, January 27, 1895, the church was completely destroyed by fire, and once more we put our shoulders to the wheel and began again.
The first Sabbath in February, 1895 preaching services and Sabbath School were held in the Opera House on Penn Avenue. I remember well the sermon and the text on which it was based: also the spiritual power of our beloved pastor as he sought to encourage his people in the face of disaster, by drawing practical help from Deuteronomy 32:11, 12 first clause. “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them on her wings, so the Lord alone did lead him. ”
Services were held in the Opera House until the lecture room of the new church was finished in December, 1895. During the same time prayer meetings were held in the Y.M.C.A assembly room, Ross Avenue, now occupied by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
In order to provide space for the erection of a more commodious church edifice, fourteen feet of ground were purchased on the north side of the original plot.
The present building, which provided better facilities for Sabbath school work, a larger auditorium, offices and pastor’s study, was erected at the cost of $30,000.
The church was dedicated April 5, 1896.
Thirty-one men have served as ruling elders since the organization of the congregation. In fifty years of our history but two men have served as Clerk of Session—Mr. T. D. Turner, acting from the organization until his resignation March 30, 1904, and Mr. S. A. Taylor, who succeeded him.
Rachel Calderwood Robinson, “The Organization of the First United Presbyterian Church of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania” in Elizabeth M. Davison and Ellen B. McKee eds., Annals of Old Wilkinsburg and Vicinity: The Village 1788–1888. Wilkinsburg, Pa.: Group for Historical Research, 1940, pp. 500–503.