St. Joseph the Worker is an eight-church Catholic parish in the near eastern suburbs. Seven of those churches are scheduled to close this month. A Wikimedia Commons user got in touch with Father Pitt and asked if he could document some of those churches before they close, and it seemed nothing less than a duty to respond.
We begin with the exterior of the church that, of the seven, Father Pitt would most like to see preserved: St. Anselm in Swissvale. We have pictures of the interior as well.
Albert F. Link was the architect of this magnificent Romanesque church, which opened in 1925. It shows Link’s usual adroit combination of historically informed detail with modern Art Nouveau veering toward Art Deco feeling.
Like John T. Comès, who had been dead four years when this church opened, Link liked to decorate with abstract patterns of colorful tile.
The splendid rose window is where Link’s Art Deco sympathies are most evident in this church.
The rear towers are not mere decoration. “The church is ventilated through specially built ventilating stacks which have been given special attention and study, forming two minor turrets in the Church ave. elevation,” a Press article explained when the church was nearly complete. The article describes the church in detail, so we’ll reprint the whole thing after the pictures.
The main tower is a beautiful composition, and it does its job of guiding parishioners to the church from all over Swissvale.
Crows are among the most religious of North American birds.
Now the article from the Press: “Swissvale Church Nears Completion,” Pittsburgh Press, March 21, 1925, p. 6.
Swissvale Church Nears Completion
St. Anselm’s New Edifice to Cost $250,000
The new church for St. Anselm’s Roman Catholic congregation of Swissvale, Rev. Daniel O’Connell, pastor, is nearing completion and it is expected to have it ready for dedication the latter part of May. Completion of the interior finishings is all that remains to be done to have the new edifice ready. The contract price for the structure alone was $158,000 and with its interior furnishings and equipment complete, it will have cost approximately $250,000.
The new edifice is expected to be a material architectural asset among the churches of the diocese of Pittsburgh. It is prominently situated on a level tract between the rectory and the church building, at present in use, the front facing in McClure ave. and the rear in Church ave. At some future time it is expected to remove the old church, which will give an unobstructed view of the building from all sides. With this idea in mind, the companile [sic] has been placed in the most advantageous position.
SIZE OF STRUCTURE.
The church is 172 feet in length with an extreme width of 80 feet over the transepts, and will have a seating capacity of slightly over 900, exclusive of the choir. The exterior design of the building is a modern interpretation of the North Italian Romanesque style of architecture, with certain refinements and architectural adaptations which suggested themselves to the architect, A. F. Link, and his associates, during the study and development of the drawings. The building is constructed of a variegated brown rough texture brick, with Indiana limestone trimmings. The stone doorways, rose window, and other stone embellishments are richly carved, with the Byzantine feeling predominating throughout. The roofs are of variegated shades of vitrified tile, and all metal work is of copper.
Access to the church is from McClure ave., through three entrances having richly embellished doors leading to the front vestibule, which is brick-lined. The floor is laid with Flemish tile with symbolic insets. This vestibule is terminated at the gospel side by the baptistry, and at the other side with a carved wood stairway leading to the choir.
The interior of the church is inspired by the churches of the early Christian era, known as basilicas. The architectural type of the bascilica [sic] is characterized by its rectangular plan, the center of which is a high nave flanked by stone columns supporting the clerestory wall and two lower side aisles. The interior is in keeping with the true style. The end of the nave is terminated by a triumphal arch and circular sanctuary, and on each side are the priests’ sacristy and boys’ vestry, connected by a circular passage without the sanctuary wall.
TOWER 130 FEET HIGH.
The campanile, or tower, is on the Epistal side of the church and is 130 feet high. This will dominate the entire parish group of buildings, as well as the adjacent community. The campanile is relived with cut and penetrated stone, surmounted by a well-balanced lantern and crowned with a cross.
The church is ventilated through specially built ventilating stacks which have been given special attention and study, forming two minor turrets in the Church ave. elevation.
The erection of this beautiful edifice has been contemplated for a number of years by the pastor, who has labored incessantly to bring about the fulfillment of this achievement necessary for the accommodation of his large and fast-growing congregation, which has lent him every encouragement and support.
It is expected that the church will be ready for Easter services, the final completion being somewhat delayed pending the arrival of marble altars and communion railing, which are being imported from Italy. Henry Busse & Co. are the builders.
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