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| Construction of St. Thomas More Church, 1968. Above the construction is the original aluminum church. | Interior of first St. Thomas More Church, 1969. | St. Thomas More Church, 2002 | Interior of church, circa 1969 |
St. Thomas More, Bethel Park
St. Thomas More was founded on June 18, 1953. The parish was formed to meet the needs of a growing population in the South Hills. The first Mass in the new parish was celebrated on June 21 in the Upper St. Clair Fire Hall. By the end of August, the number of parishioners attending Sunday Mass outgrew the space available in the fire hall. Beginning on September 6, Sunday Mass was moved to the vacant Clifton School.
Fund raising for a church began in October of 1953. A decision was made to build a small, portable, church on land belonging to the Sister of St. Joseph. On April 19, 1954, ground was broken for the new church. The church was unique in that it had an aluminum frame and was constructed entirely of aluminum. On July 19, 1954, construction began and the completed church was dedicated on October 2, 1954. In 1958 the Sisters needed the land to build Fontbonne Academy, so the church was dismantled and rebuilt on the site the parish bought in October of 1958.
By the mid 1960's the congregation had outgrown its small aluminum church. On June 12, 1968, ground was broken for the new church. The cornerstone of the church was laid on April 21, 1969, and on September 14, 1969, the church was dedicated. The old church was sold to the Chartiers Valley School District.
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| Construction of St. Thomas More Church, 1968. Above the construction is the original aluminum church. | Interior of first St. Thomas More Church, 1969. | St. Thomas More Church, 2002 | Interior of church, circa 1969 |
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| Altar of St. Thomas More Church, 2002 |
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