St. Stanislaus Kostka Church (Pittsburgh) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

St. Stanislaus Kostka Roman Catholic Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places


Location in Pittsburgh Show map of Pittsburgh Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	21st and Smallman Sts., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Built	1891–1892
Architect	Frederick C. Sauer (1860–1942)
Architectural style	Romanesque
NRHP reference No.	72001089
Added to NRHP	September 14, 1972

St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a very old and important Catholic church. In Polish, its name is Kościół Świętego Stanisława Kostki. It is located in the Strip District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.

This church is a great example of the 'Polish Cathedral' style. This means it's a large and impressive church. It was built by Polish immigrants. People also know it as the 21st and Smallman Street Church. It is so special that it is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

A Look Back: History of St. Stanislaus Kostka
The Design of St. Stanislaus Kostka
See also

A Look Back: History of St. Stanislaus Kostka

How the Church Began

The church community started in 1873. About 200 Polish families joined together. They formed the St. Stanislaus Kostka Beneficial Society. The first priest was Antoni Klawiter. He arrived in October 1875 and stayed until 1877.

Many immigrants from Eastern Europe came to Pittsburgh in the late 1800s. They found jobs in the mills. By 1915, most people in the Strip District were from other countries. About 30% of them were Polish. St. Stanislaus Kostka Church was built in 1891. Pittsburgh architect Frederick C. Sauer designed it.

Challenges and Changes

In March 1936, a big flood happened on Saint Patrick's Day. Water filled the church. It reached as high as the lower part of the walls. The church pews floated around. The priest was stuck on the second floor of the rectory.

Later in December 1936, an explosion happened nearby. It was at the Pittsburgh Banana Company. This explosion made the church towers weaker. The original fancy tops, called baroque style bonnets, had to be taken off. You can still see similar bonnet styles on the side walls. There is also one on the roof's ventilation cupola. Three round windows above the altars were also covered up.

A Special Visitor

On September 20, 1969, a very important person visited the church. It was Cardinal Karol Wojtyła. He later became Pope John Paul II. He prayed at St. Stanislaus Kostka. He said the church was beautiful. He also said it reminded him of churches in Poland. He knelt to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. Then he prayed at the Side Altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today, there is a small memorial to the Pope there.

The Design of St. Stanislaus Kostka

Church Style and Size

St. Stanislaus Kostka has a mix of building styles. It combines Romanesque and Baroque designs. It also has some Byzantine influences. Building the church started in April 1891. It was officially opened on July 31, 1892.

The church is a one-story brick building. It covers about 8,337 square feet (774 square meters). It is built right on the ground. There is no basement. The walls are very thick, from 17 to 21 inches (43 to 53 cm). The church is 67 feet (20 meters) wide. It is 105 feet (32 meters) deep. The building stands 63 feet (19 meters) high.

The Church Bells

The church has two tall towers. These towers hold a total of seven bells. The right tower has three bells:

The St. Michel bell, weighing 2,500 pounds (1,134 kg).
The St. Barbara bell, weighing 1,200 pounds (544 kg).
The St. Anthony bell, weighing 750 pounds (340 kg).

The left tower holds four bells:

The St. Casimer bell, weighing 1,800 pounds (816 kg).
The St. Joseph bell, weighing 1,000 pounds (454 kg).
The St. Rosa bell, weighing 750 pounds (340 kg).
The St. Stanislaus bell, weighing 550 pounds (249 kg).

In 1956, five of these bells were changed to ring using electricity.

Beautiful Stained Glass Windows

The church has amazing stained glass windows. They show figures and scenes. These windows were made in Munich, Germany. They came from the Royal Bavarian Art Institute. They cost $27,672 at the time. That was a huge amount of money back then! Today, it would be like spending almost $538,000. Experts say these windows are some of the best examples of the "Munich Style" stained glass in the United States.

Messages in Latin

Inside the church, there are three messages written in Latin.

On the front of the old main altar, it says: Se Nascens Deditsocium. This means "By his birth He offers himself as a companion."
On the altar canopy, it says: Se Moriens In Praetium. This means "Dying, he offers himself as victim."
On the window above the altar canopy, it says: Se Regnans Dat In Praemium. This means "Reigning, He offers himself as a reward."

On the Christ the King center window, above the crown, Christ holds a banner. It reads: Qui Vicerit Dabei Sedere, Mecum In Throno Meo. This means "He who has conquered (God) will grant you to sit with me on my throne."

Art and Murals

The church's inside looked different when it was first built. It did not have the wall paintings, or murals, that you see today. The murals have changed over the years. The current paintings are in the half-dome above the altar. An Italian artist named Vincent Scatena painted them. They were finished in 1925 for the church's 50th anniversary.

St. Stanislaus Kostka Church (Pittsburgh) facts for kids

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