St. Peter's Church (Brownsville, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Historic Church of St. Peter Roman Catholic Church
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The Historic Church of St. Peter as seen from Church Street, Brownsville, Pennsylvania, June 2009
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Church St., Brownsville, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | 1843 |
| Architect | Mr. Crisp |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003494 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1980 |
The Historic Church of St. Peter is a special Catholic church located in Brownsville, Pennsylvania. It belongs to the Diocese of Greensburg. This historic church also has a partner church, St. Cecilia's Roman Catholic Church, built in 1931 in Grindstone, Pennsylvania.
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A Church with a Long History
This church holds a very important place in history. It was the very first Catholic parish in Fayette County. It is also the oldest Catholic church that has been continuously open and active in all of Western Pennsylvania.
People believe that the first religious service ever held west of the Allegheny Mountains happened right here. On July 1, 1754, French soldiers were on their way to capture Fort Necessity from the British. Their chaplain, Rev. Denys Baron, led them in prayer for victory. This moment is even shown in one of the beautiful stained glass windows inside the church!
Built to Impress
The church building itself is made of stone and has a Gothic Revival style. This means it looks like old European churches with pointed arches and tall windows. It stands on Church Street and is a famous landmark. In 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which lists important historical sites. It is also part of the Brownsville Northside Historic District.
When the church was built, many European settlers, especially Irish Catholics, were moving into the area. They wanted to build a church that showed their importance and faith. So, they decided to build it high up, overlooking the town. This way, it could be seen from almost anywhere!
To connect with the local history, they used rough river rock for the building. The stained glass windows tell stories from Catholic history between 1754 and 1843. One window even shows the French and Indian War. These windows are amazing, with 32 different shades of blue!
A Grand Vision
The church was started in 1843 to serve the growing number of Irish American people. At that time, Brownsville was a very important place. It was a gateway to the West and South because of its location on the National Road. The founders of the church believed Brownsville, not Pittsburgh, would become the main city for the bishop. So, they built the church to be a future cathedral (a bishop's main church).
Because of this grand vision, the pulpit (where the priest gives sermons) is on the left side of the altar, just like in a cathedral. The crypt (an underground room) even has space for the tombs of bishops, just in case!
The Unique Cemetery
The Historic Church of St. Peter also has a very interesting cemetery. Besides the unique messages on the gravestones, this cemetery was once featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not! Why? Because it was known as the only cemetery with heated graves!
The boiler that warmed the church was in a separate building across the street. The pipes carrying heat to the church ran right under the cemetery. These pipes created enough warmth to melt snow on several grave sites!
Famous People Buried Here
- The parents of James G. Blaine are buried in this cemetery. James G. Blaine was born nearby in West Brownsville. He became a U.S. Senator and Secretary of State. He almost became president in the 1884 United States presidential election, but he lost to Grover Cleveland.
Images for kids
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The entrance to St. Peter's Church in Brownsville, Pennsylvania
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The stained glass window behind the altar inside St. Peter's Catholic Church in Brownsville, Pennsylvania
