Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church (now PUCS)

The Calvary Lutheran congregation was formed in Wilkinsburg in 1897 by Rev. F. H. Crissman who served as its first pastor until 1898.

In 1901, the first Calvary Lutheran Church was built on a plot of land on South Ave. In the early 1900s the Gothic style church was built and can still be seen today as part of the Pittsburgh Urban Christian School.

1906 was the year 33 persons met to form St. Paul's Lutheran congregation and built a church on a plot of land on the northeast corner of Ross Avenue at Center Street. The first pastor was the Rev. John P. Heckert who served from 1898 to 1910.

In December 1919 the two congregations merged to form Calvary Evangelical Luthern Church in America. St. Paul's congregation sold their building at that time to he YWCA.

1929 saw a major expansion, which added the tower, the balcony and the Rose Window in the chancel. In the late 1960s an educational wing was added.

In the late 1950s Calvary purchased additional plots of land on Center Street toward Ross Avenue. The existing houses there were razed and plans were made for a large educational complex on the property. Groundbreaking was September 1968 and the new Calvary Lutheran Center was dedicated June 8, 1969.

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Pittsburgh Urban Christian School (PUCs) which stands at this site today has been a boon to the youth and general community of Wilkinsburg since its move from Pittsburgh to Wilkinsburg in 1987. PUCS has a long history of civic engagement, participating in various beautifying activities around the Wilkinsburg community.

More info in our digital archives.