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The Frontier Church
Old St. Luke's Church is the oldest church in Pennsylvania west of the Allegheny Mountains. Services are first recorded at this site at a British outpost during the French and Indian War. In 1774 a log structure was built for regular services. This structure as replaced by a frame building. Major William Lea, a member of the Forbes expedition, in his will set aside a plot of ten rods square (165'x165') for the Church and Burial Ground. In 1790 a frame church replaced the log structure. Prominent in the congregation were Major William Lea and General John Neville.

John Neville was the federal tax collector during the Whiskey Rebellion of 1791-1794. It is believed that St. Luke's Church was the meeting place for Federalists. (Federalists were those that supported the Whiskey tax).

The present stone structure was built in 1852. Included in the furnishing is the operational Joseph Harvey pipe organ, built in London in 1823. The organ was donated to Old St. Luke's Church soon after the stone structure was finished.

As the area around Pittsburgh grew, the small church, considered the "Mother Church" of the local Episcopal Churches, fell into disrepair Several attempts were made to restore the the church. In 1949 repairs were made to the roof trusses and interior walls. In the 1960's volunteers from St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Mt. Lebanon, led work to put a concrete base to the deteriorating floors and hand dug space in the basement for the installation of restrooms. In 1974 "Old" was added to the name of St. Luke's Church and fundraising and maintenance work once again began.

In 1976 the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation recognized the church as a Historic Landmark. Under the leadership of two dedicated Episcopal clergy, the Rev. Victor Zuck and the Rev. Canon Richard Davies, the church was dramatically restored to a beautiful historic gem capable of servicing its community. As part of their leadership the windows were replaced, new ceiling trusses were added, old wooden floors were refinished and, new pews replicating the old pews were installed. The crumbling plaster was stripped away to reveal the beautiful stone walls. The front entryway (narthex) was rebuilt.

Today Old St. Luke's Church, Burial Ground and Gard is a 501-c3 nonprofit corporation receiving not federal or state funding. The church has no congregation. Old St. Luke's relies on revenue generated by the use of the building as a wedding chapel and contributions from the Friends of Old St. Luke's who donate for it's preservation.

More information about the church can be found at the website: oldsaintlukes.org Category:History Category:Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks