Saint Paul Cathedral (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Paul’s Cathedral

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40°26′50.63″N 79°56′59.42″W / 40.4473972°N 79.9498389°W / 40.4473972; -79.9498389
Location	108 N. Dithridge St. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Country	United States
Denomination	Catholic
History
Founded	1834
Architecture
Architect(s)	Egan and Prindeville
Style	Gothic Revival
Completed	1906
Construction cost	US$1.1 million (1906) or US$32,129,585.35 (2020)
Specifications
Capacity	2,600
Height	247 feet (75 m)
Number of spires	Two
Materials	Limestone
Administration
Diocese	Pittsburgh

Saint Paul’s Cathedral is a very important church located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is known as the "mother church" for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. This means it is the main church for all Catholic churches in the Pittsburgh area. The church community, or parish, for St. Paul's was first started in 1833.

History of Saint Paul's Cathedral
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History of Saint Paul's Cathedral

Early Buildings and Locations

The very first St. Paul's Church was completed in 1833. When the Pittsburgh diocese was created in 1843, this church became the main cathedral. Sadly, the first building burned down in 1851. But a new, bigger church was built in its place by 1855.

Both of these early cathedrals were located on Grant Street in downtown Pittsburgh. Over time, the downtown area became more industrial. People started moving their homes to other parts of the city. Because of this, the land where St. Paul's stood was sold to a businessman named Henry Clay Frick.

The Current Cathedral Building

The beautiful church you see today was finished in 1906. It was designed by architects Egan and Prindeville from Chicago. They were inspired by the famous Cologne Cathedral in Germany. A company from Philadelphia built the new cathedral in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

This grand building is designed in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks back to the grand cathedrals of the Middle Ages. Today, the cathedral serves about 3,000 people who come to worship there. In 1983, it became a special part of the Schenley Farms Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical building.

The Cathedral's Pipe Organ

The first pipe organ for the cathedral was given by Andrew Carnegie. It was a W. W. Kimball organ from around 1895. This organ was used until the 1950s.

Later, the church decided to get a new, larger organ. They chose a company called Beckerath to build it. This new organ was finished in 1962. It is known as "one of the monument organs of the continent" because it is so impressive. It has been repaired and updated several times since it was first installed.