University of Pittsburgh Worship Sites

The University of Pittsburgh has an odd assortment of cathedrals and churches. It's famous for the Cathedral of Learning, a building that really looks like a skyscraper and is not a cathedral at all. Built in the 1930s, it is one of the tallest educational structure in the Western Hemisphere, with forty-two stories of classrooms, auditoriums, academic departments, study labs, etc. The Late Gothic style makes it look impressive. But not like a cathedral. More like something out of Fritz Lang's Metropolis. 

Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh

Across a field from it is the Heinz Memorial Chapel was also built in the 1930 but in the French Gothic Revival style. Intended for interdenominational use, it has some standard chapel trappings along with some unique choices.

Heinz Memorial Chapel

The interior looks like any classic church built in Europe from the Middle Ages, with high vaulted ceilings and lots of stained glass.

Nave of chapel

The altar is surrounded by choir stalls that would have been used by the monks of a monastery supporting the chapel.

Altar

Above the altar

The stained glass is amazing, and not just in its beauty. The subjects were mostly secular people. Surely they are admirable people but I was expecting saints or biblical figures (most of whom are saints). 

Isaac Newton and Emily Dickinson

Abraham Lincoln

Saint Thomas More (it even admits he's a saint!)

Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross

They do have an organ at the entrance though nothing was played while we visited.

The entrance

Across campus is Bellefield Presbyterian Church, which also looks very impressive but is not part of the campus.

Bellefield Presbyterian Church

View from a side street

The story goes that the University of Pittsburgh started as a log cabin in the 1780s. On the campus is a cabin from the early 1800s that represents that first home of education in the area.

Not open for visitors

This is more of a landmark than a religious site but is on the grounds of the Cathedral of Learning, its spiritual successor.