Former First Church of Christ, Scientist
Architect: Charles Draper Faulkner of Chicago
General Contractor: Ira C. Wilcox, Inc.
Completed: 1952
The Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph called the First Church of Christ, Scientist, the “First edifice of its type east of the Rockies” and “ultra-modern.” The church is designed with a view toward light, both in the entrance and in the tall windows on both sides of the sanctuary.
The article “Christ Scientist Church to Open.” describes, “An outstanding feature of the new structure is the circular entrance, largely of glass.” Windows admit light not only from the entrance but from opposite the entrance.
The 1999 Church Tour booklet tells, “Its architecture with its 30 foot drum rotunda entrance is based on art deco design. The Greek key design is repeated from the exterior grills to inside doors, platform railing, the pews, and around the ceiling.”
Wikipedia defines the Greek key design as “a decorative border contructed from a continuous line, shaped into a repeated motif.” It goes by several names including meander, meandros, and Greek fret.
The key design in the church has a motif shaped with right angles and straight lines.
The building is of red brick and stone trim.
Grit newspaper in 1955 ran a photo with the caption, “This ultra-modern church is drawing more tourists than many of the conventional attractions in the Pittsburgh area. It’s the worship center of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, at Wilkinsburg.“Landscape
The green area behind the building is bordered with rhododendrum that are in bloom in the early summer..
Charles Draper Faulkner
Charles Draper Faulkner, born in San Francisco, graduated from Calumet High School in Chicago. He studied at the Armour Institute of Technology. A.I.T. became the Illinois Institute of Technology. In his senior year a traveling scholarship gave the chance to experience and study in Canada and six European countries. He graduated with a B.S. in Architecture. After working as the chief designer for Solon Spencer Berman, he opened his own office. He was “renowned for the churches and other buildings that he designed in the United States and Japan. He designed over 33 Christian Science church buildings and wrote a book called Christian Science Church Edifices.”
“Meander (art),” Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meander_(art)
“Charles Draper Faulkner,” Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Draper_Faulkner
Wilkinsburg Public Library Digital Archives:
“Opens Tomorrow,” Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, March 22, 1952.
“Christ Scientist Church to Open.”
“Modern Church Draws Attention,” Grit, May 1, 1955.
“Wilkinsburg ‘The City of Churches’ Presents A Tour of Churches,” Sunday May 23, 1999. Co-Sponsored by Wilkinsburg Ministerial Association, Wilkinsburg Chamber of Commerce, and Wilkinsburg Historical Society.