Smithfield United Church of Christ

The sanctuary of Smithfield United Church of Christ is on the second floor of the building.  A church custodian told me that when the church was built in the ‘20s, it was decided that the sanctuary should be above street level to put some distance between it and the riffraff on the streets of downtown Pittsburgh.  This church has a very ornate ceiling.  Apparently the congregation that built the church structure was predominately made up of German immigrants, hence the German inscriptions at the front and back of the sanctuary: Glory to God in the highest and God bless this city. 

My favorite image of the day is this view of the sanctuary through a small window with a reflection of Christ’s imagine from the stained glass windows opposite the doors to the sanctuary.