About three years ago, I began
an exploration of abandoned
churches in Pittsburgh. Since that time, I have read quite a lot about the
phenomenon of urban abandonment and have become very interested in photography
as a way of preserving that which is in danger of being lost. The decline
in the number of people who regularly go to church, the loss of congregations
to more contemporary services, and the trend of megachurches has fueled the
disappearance of late nineteenth and early twentieth century religious edifices
in the United States.
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| Albright United Methodist Church (Pittsburgh) |
In the Bloomfield neighborhood
of Pittsburgh, the Albright United Methodist Church stands on the edge of
oblivion. The structure, built in 1905, was slated
for demolition in 2015. Its land was to be redeveloped as space for retail
buildings, no doubt using modern building methods that are less permanent.
Seemingly, at least for now, there appears
to be a reprieve. These great stone buildings, both religious and secular,
give the neighborhood a unique feel. It makes the area an attractive destination
for urban dwellers. Yet, the demand for modern shopping and conveniences
undermine the essential quality of the neighborhood. It is an ironic situation:
the aesthetic character of Bloomfield, East Liberty, and Shadeyside that
attract modern urban dwellers create an impetus to destroy the things that make
the area attractive.
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| St. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church (Pittsburgh) |
I revisited St. Peter and Paul Roman
Catholic Church. Over the past three years nothing in the status of the
building has really changed, except that more decay has occurred. In what is ostensibly
a “bad area,” people are friendly many times offering a greeting. In my mind, I
suspect they are curious about the guy photographing abandoned buildings but
local people, nonetheless, usually offer a reticent “hello,” and are more forthcoming
when I return the greeting. Nevertheless, just in case I am challenged as to
why I am in the neighborhood, I have a cover story ready. It is along the lines
of a great aunt who attended the church in the 1970s and I am reflecting in the
past. The great aunt part is not true, but every time I run across a church like
this I think about the numerous parishioners who once offered their time and
effort, their meager financial support, to the particular institution. What
they have worked so hard for in their lifetimes stands upon a precipice of
existence. It is difficult to think about buildings such as these and not
consider the importance of them to generations of the past.
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