Rising from the Ashes: Pittsburgh UCC Church celebrates 175 year anniversary after fire damages sanctuary

On Wednesday, May 3, the Rev. David Mears was working in his office at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Pittsburgh’s Indiana Township area, as he typically did. Nothing out of the ordinary, until Mears’ secretary began to smell something unusual. They went on a search around the building, but were unable to locate the originating source of the smell. 

It was 2 o’clock in the afternoon. The secretary went home for the day, but the smell, according to Mears, was getting stronger and stronger. Finally, Mears decided to call Trinity’s building committee head to come help investigate. The lead showed up, went on a search, and Mears returned to his office. Moments later, everything changed. 

“[Dennis] came in and said, ‘Get out and call 911,’” recalled Mears. “I looked at him and said ‘Really’? He goes, ‘Really!’” Within a matter of minutes, the 150-year-old sanctuary was engulfed in flames. The fire caused the roof at the back of the church to collapse, and smoke could be seen rising from the building’s landmark steeple. It was devastating, said Mears, but thankfully, no one was injured. 

On Sunday, June 28, Trinity UCC celebrated its 175th anniversary at the Hampton Inn and Suites in nearby Harmanville. While the congregation wasn’t celebrating the way it had hoped, congregants filled the conference room with songs, prayers, community, and hope for the future. 

A Welcoming Church

The Rev. Carl Richter, a retired UCC minister who served Trinity from 1994-2003, served as the guest preacher for that Sunday’s service. His message centered around Trinity being a ‘welcoming church,’ and looking at the fire as an opportunity to more fully live into that vision.

“The idea of extravagant welcome has to go beyond the new walls you’re about to build,” said Richter in his sermon to the congregation. “Beyond our weekly passing of the peace, so please keep that in mind as you’re designing your new meeting space.” 

It was a message that longtime church member Dana Schulte, agrees with. 

“The church isn’t the walls, the church is the people, something we’ve been saying for years,” said Schulte. 

Trinity has long been a pillar in the Pittsburgh area, from its landmark steeple, white frame, and red doors, to its service throughout the community. The outpouring of support from that community, as well as others from around the country, has been heartwarming for Mears.

“I want to thank my many colleagues from across the country, and especially my colleagues from the Keystone Conference,” said Mears. “They have been remarkable. We have received so many gifts. It probably chokes me up more than anything, because you don’t think anyone knows what you’re doing, but they do.” 

Tearing Down to Rebuild Anew

The 150-year-old sanctuary fire on Saxonburg Boulevard was ruled accidental by the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office. From the outside, the building doesn’t appear to have taken a bad hit. Inside, it’s a different story. The roof of the building was destroyed, and the walls of the inside are soaked with water. The pews and floor are covered with charred remains and ashes, and the congregation’s piano was also destroyed. 

After meeting with the church’s restoration committee, it was determined that the sanctuary will have to be torn down and rebuilt.

“We’re going to try to put it back on the outside as similar as possible,” said Mears of the rebuilding plans. “We knew we were a landmark, but we did not realize how much of a landmark we were.” 

Mears shared that the fire is, in a way, a blessing in disguise, because it will allow the church to build a new, modern, ADA compliant worship space that will be accessible to all persons. 

“You can’t have resurrections unless there’s death, so I said, ‘This is the death. Now it’s time for your resurrection,” said Richter. 

Along with making the worship space more accessible, it will be lifted so that rooms that sit underneath can be used. In its current layout, the ceilings are too low, and much of the basement space wasn’t up to code. 

Both Mears and Richter have expressed optimism about the future of Trinity. They hope that with the new sanctuary, and a renewed commitment to being a welcoming church, this will set them up for success now and in the future.

“Knowing this congregation, this isn’t going to stop them. They’re going to move forward,” said Richter. 

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