Calvary Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
Calvary Episcopal Church occupies a corner lot in a largely residential part of Pittsburgh. Construction ran from 1906 to 1907 under the Boston architect Ralph Adams Cram, with the Howard Hager Company of Pittsburgh as general contractor. The church is built of smooth pale grey limestone under dark slate roofs, with engaged buttresses, parapeted gables and tall lancet windows. A square stone tower over the crossing carries an octagonal spire about twenty stories high, visible for several miles. The stone carving, wood carving and stained glass were supplied by firms from Philadelphia, Boston, London and Pittsburgh. Its significance rests on its architecture and craftsmanship. The church also holds a place in broadcasting history, as the site of the first radio broadcast of a church service on January 2, 1921. The Kingsley Association settlement house, founded in 1893, was sponsored by the parish.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a significant example of Late Gothic Revival ecclesiastical architecture, designed by Ralph Adams Cram, with custom stone, wood and stained glass work showing craftsmanship with few parallels in the region. It also cites its 1921 status as the site of the first radio broadcast of a church service and its role as the largest and most influential parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 12000219, listed April 18, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 315 Shady Ave., Pittsburgh |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | April 18, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000219 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1907-1924 |
| Architect / builder | Ralph Adams Cram (architect); Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson (architects); Howard Hager Company of Pittsburgh (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.45645, -79.92139 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 12000219.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5024179
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.