In 1909, at a time when the South Hills of Pittsburgh was just beginning to be developed, Rev. Thomas Pender started a Sunday School Society. Pender, who was serving a Methodist Church in Beechview, a community just south of the city of Pittsburgh, saw a need for a church in this area. With about a dozen families, the Sunday School Society first met in various homes, then in a school house, before moving to the lecture room of the St. Claire United Presbyterian Church for Sunday afternoon meetings.

On October 14, 1911, a charter was issued for a Methodist Church to be located on a site measuring approximately 160 x 68 feet at the corner of West Liberty Avenue and Scott Road. The chapel took about 9-1/2 months to build, costing almost $21,500. The formal opening was on August 11, 1912.

In 1914 more property was purchased along Scott Road to allow for expansion. In 1921 the congregation raised $31,000 to design and build a new sanctuary which was dedicated on November 23, 1924. This is our present sanctuary. An additional $90,000 was pledged on that same day for additions and refinements.The indebtedness remained high through the years of the Great Depression, but payments continued to be made on a reduced scale.

By 1942 the indebtedness was still around $52,000. In December, 1942, church leaders launched a new campaign to liquidate the $50,000 mortgage. In May, 1945, the church’s mortgage was burned in a ceremony at the altar.

Growth

During the 1940s additional property was purchased along Scott Road and across Washington Road (West Liberty Avenue). A new front entrance and offices were constructed in 1947. By 1950, church membership had grown to almost 3,000—hitting its peak of 3,186 members in 1959—and an ambitious plan was put in place allowing for the purchase of the remainder of the church block for parking, construction of a new four-story education building, construction and installation of a new pipe organ, installation of a modern kitchen and dining room, remodeling of the sanctuary and chancel and alteration of existing classrooms in the main church building. The plan was accomplished over a 10-year period.

On June 7, 1992, Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church was formally united with Brookline United Methodist Church, which had been struggling with demographic changes that made it difficult to maintain a strong and effective church program. The 3,500-pound marble altar from the Brookline church now resides in our narthex..

Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church
Open minds. Open hearts. Open doors.
3319 West Liberty Ave. ⁿ Pittsburgh, PA. 15216 ⁿ (412) 531-7131 ⁿ