The History of Holy Cross

This mural in the chapel portrays the historic figures of the African-American Episcopal Church as well as significant events in the life of Holy Cross.
credit: Pierre R. Wheaton

The History of the Church of The Holy Cross spans over 130 years of service to the African American Episcopal Community of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

In the late 1800's several Blacks, concerned about the social isolation of their children and the segregated religious setting they experienced began to push for the establishment of a separate mission to serve their needs. Among those who were insturmental in this effort was Sadie B. Hamilton, a graduate of Wilberforce University, life long Epscopalian and the namesake of the Sadie B. Hamilton Guild.

In 1875, Bishop Kerfoot of the Diocese of Pittsburgh called the Reverend W.F.Floyd to Pittsburgh to establish a mission amongst the "colored people" of the community. St. Cyprian's Mission was established and met in Trinity Church's parish house. In December, 1877 Reverend Floyd was transferred to Cincinnati.

On January 15,1878, the Reverend William Wilson was ordained by Bishop Kerfoot and placed in charge of St. Cyprian's Mission which held services on Wylie Ave in the Hill District. Rev. Wilson served for one year and the mission was closed by Bishop Whitehead in 1879.

The Mission was reopened by the Church Army and was relocated to a storeroom at the corner of Centre Ave and Roberts Street in the Hill District. In subsequent years, worship services were held at various locations including: Trinity Church, St.Peter's Church, and Christ Church. the congregation was led by a number of lay persons and clergy at this time.

In 1905, Archdeacon Flint invited the Reverend Scott Wood to come to Pittsburgh and reorganize the mission. Under Father Wood's leadership the mission was renamed St. Augustine's. With the money given by a Mr. Stewart, the mission was able to rent the Odd Fellows Hall at Jackson Street and Brighton Road on the North Side. A building was purchased at 319 Jackson Street marking the permanant beginning of a Black Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh.

Father Wood then established a mission named St. Phillip's in the Hill District. The Mission pruchased the church building on Centre Avenue formerly owned by the congregation of St. Paul's which had moved to Mt. Lebanon. Father Wood took charge of St.Phillip's and the Reverend Shelton Hale Bishop took over St. Augustine's on the North Side. In 1917, Father Wood left his post due to failing health and the two missions were combined in the building on Centre Ave, under the present name of the Church of the Holy Cross. The Reverend Bishop became Priest-in-Charge.

Under his leadership, the parish experienced dramatic growth in both membership and opportunities for ministry. Among those organizations which flourished during this time were: The Rector's Guild established in 1911; The Sunday School under the leadership of E.C.Alexander; The Altar Guild, headed by Miss Dolly Johnson; and the Junior Women's Auxiliary subsequently remamed the Sadie B. Hamilton Guild.

In December 1923, Father Bishop resigned to become the assistant rector of St. Phillips in New York City, and later succeeded his father as Rector of that church.

January 1924 brought the Reverend Robert D. Brown to Holy Cross. Brown, a graduate of Dartmouth College and General Seminary was greatly loved by the congregation and was known for his excellent preaching. In April, 1940, the Reverend Brown became ill while on a parochial visit and passed away before he could get to the hospital. By Fall, 1940, The Reverend Lewis Baskerville of Calvary Church in Charleston, South Carolina was called to the Rectorship, but had to serve in World War II as a chaplin before he could begin his ministry.

Holy Cross experienced great difficulty in securing a full-time rector during the war years. Bishop E. Thomas Demby of Cleveland, Ohio consented to serve the parish on an interim basis, but travel between the two cities became too difficult so a new search was begun. This resulted in a call being extended to the Reverend Charles Levy of New York who served the parish until February 1945.

In December 1945, the Reverend Samuel D. Rudder of St.Barnabas, Brooklyn was called and served until September 1953 whe he accepted the position as chaplin of St Augustine College in North Carolina. In March 1954, a call was extended to the Reverend Walter P.H. Parker of St Phillips, Syracuse, New York. It was during his pastorate that the congregation outgrew it's existing building and purchased the current church building on the corner of Kelly and Collier Streets in Homewood-Brushton.

Upon the 1966 resignation of Father Parker to accept a call to St. Phillip's Brooklyn, the Reverend Canon Junius Carter was called to the rectorship of Holy Cross. Under Canon Carter's administration, the parish was elevated to full independent status, and became highly visible in the community as a result of its dedication to outreach ministry. Canon Carter resigned on the 1st of December 1991.

The Vestry, with the permission of Bishop Hathaway called the Reverend John Golden as an interim rector. Father Golden served Holy Cross for fifteen months. During his tenure, Father Golden emphasized the empowerment of the laity to assume more responsibility for parish life.

After a nationwide search, and reflecting its desire for a strong spiritual leader, the Vestry called the Reverend Jerome W. Burns of St. Stephens, Petersburg, Virginia to be the eighth rector of the Church of The Holy Cross. Father Burns preachd his first sermon on Palm Sunday, 1993. His ministry has been characterized by concerns for spiritual revitalization, community outreach, and capital improvements to the church buildings.

Father Burns served the parish of Holy Cross faithfully until Angust 31, 2002 when he accepted a call to a parish in Columbus, Ohio. The Vestry then called the Reverend Dr. Moni McIntyre to become the Priest-In-Charge and also the first female priest to assume authority over the parish. Dr. McIntyre previously served as the Assistant to Fr. Burns since she was assigned to this parish after being ordained as a deacon in 2000. She has been charged with the responsibility of providing pastoral care and leadership to the congregation until such time as the Vestry, with God's guidance, shall call a permanent rector. At the 2005 annual meeting, the parish voted to call Dr. McIntyre as a part-time rector. On May 11, 2005, Bishop Robert Duncan recommended that Dr. McIntyre be elected as the Rector, and at the next vestry meeting, Dr. McIntyre was formally elected as the Eighth rector of the Church of the Holy Cross, with her installation held on September 17, 2005.

Today, over one hundred and thirty years after the first Episcopal mission for "colored people" was begun in Pittsburgh, and through the prayers, leadership, and stewardship of hundreds of loyal and faithful parishioners-some known only to God, The Church of the Holy Cross stands firm and resolute in it's mission to continue the work of our Lord Jesus Christ here in this community.

History courtesy of 120th Anniversary Celebration Program Book.

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