John T. Comes (1873–1922) was a Pittsburgh-based architect best remembered for his many buildings for Roman Catholic communities throughout the United States.
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He was born into a family of artisans in La Rochette, Luxembourg on January 29, 1873. His father, John Richard, was an expert woodcarver, and his father’s twin brother, John Adam, was a builder by trade. The family came to America when Comes was eight years old. His early education occurred in St. Paul, MN, but he earned a master of science in architecture from Mt. St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, MD.
He came to Pittsburgh around 1897, and worked for several architectural firms before beginning his own. With the firm of Rutan and Russell, he built St. Augustine Church on 37th Street in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh. With the firm of Beezer Brothers, he built St. John the Baptist Church (now the Church Brew Works and Restaurant) also in Lawrenceville; both of these churches are named Historic Landmarks by Pittsburgh’s History and Landmarks Foundation. At least two of his churches are on the National Historic Registry—St. Fidelis Church in Victoria, Kansas, and St. Luke’s Church in St. Paul, Minn. Comes worked nearly 20 years under his own name before adding two partners – to form the firm of Comes, Perry and McMullen in 1921—just a year before his death.
Comes was involved in the design of four cathedrals all of which were built in the last years of his life. He is given sole credit for the design of Christ the King Cathedral in Atlanta. He did he original design for Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral Toledo, but he died during construction and the final design is attributed to his colleague, William R. Perry. The firm of Comes, Perry and McMullen is credited with the design of the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greenfield PA but the building was completed five years after his death. Comes is also credited with the interior design of the Cathedral of the Madeline Salt Lake City, which was designed by Carl M. Neuhausen and Bernard O. Mecklenburg.
Comes was author of the 1920 book, Catholic Art and Architecture which featured many of his designs.
under his own name:
with Comes, Perry and McMullen :