Our history
The Beginnings
Westminster Presbyterian Church dates its birth in 1861, when the Rev. Henry Fowler was forced to leave Second Presbyterian Church because of the controversy he caused there by his frequent abolitionist sermons and by praying publicly for the soul of John Brown. A group of 66 abolitionist members of Second followed the Rev. Fowler to start a new church, to be called Central Presbyterian Church.
The new church was officially chartered on January 28, 1862, at a meeting of Presbytery held at the original YMCA building on Genesee St (a building since torn down). The minutes relate that there were 60 charter members, and after "necessary business" was conducted, afternoon and evening services took place. The original 60 members were mostly Presbyterians, but also included individuals from the Episcopal, Congregational, Dutch Reformed, Methodist churches, and an "organizer from the Theological Seminary." A majority of the founding members (at least 40) were women.
Central Presbyterian Church
The original Central Presbyterian congregation worshiped for a while in the YMCA, then purchased property on the corner of Genesee and William Streets, next to the present courthouse. They constructed a basement chapel, with seating up to 600, with plans to later construct a church building over it. They worshiped in this basement chapel, which was furnished with "railroad pews" (so called because the seatbacks flipped back and forth so that parishioners could face either direction). Contrary to the usual practice in other churches, pews were assigned by lottery rather than by the amount of the pew rental, so that wealthier parishioners and those not so privileged were given equal status. The leader of the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman, was married to Charles Nelson Davis in the basement chapel on March 18, 1869, and abolitionist Frederick Douglas gave a lecture there.
It was quickly determined that the corner lot was not large enough, so in 1869 the church purchased the present site on William Street (named after William Bostwick, an influential early Auburnian) from Sarah Underwood and laid the cornerstone of the present sanctuary. Plans to construct a narthex, additional rooms, and a grand facade with bell towers were originally drafted but delayed till the congregation was financially viable. The church struggled with finances and changing leadership for a number of years.
In 1887, as finances permitted, the church was expanded, mostly according to the original plans, to create the façade which still exists in substantially the same appearance today. The new addition included a narthex, parlor, Sunday School rooms, meeting rooms, and a kitchen.
In the mid 1880's, "old" Westminster Church had its beginnings in Auburn's west end. Originally a Sunday School group which began meeting in a home on Baker Ave as a missionary endeavor of the Auburn Presbyterian churches, the fledgling congregation built a church on West Genesee Street and was officially organized in 1885 with 43 charter members. Originally called the Willard Chapel, it took the name Westminster so that the chapel at the Auburn Theological Seminary could be named in honor of Dr. Sylvester Willard, who contributed to both ventures. “Westminster” was and still is a popular name for Presbyterian churches because of the Westminster Confession of Faith, a Calvinist creed drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, which became a standard doctrine in the Church of Scotland and has been influential in Presbyterian churches worldwide.
In the late 1800s, Presbyterianism thrived in Auburn, due in large part to the presence of the Auburn Theological Seminary, which was founded in 1818 to prepare hardy ministers for the frontier life. The seminary had a campus in the center of the city, and was at its peak in 1899 with 105 students and 11 faculty, sending missionaries all over the world. The seminary students and faculty were active in the local Presbyterian churches, providing young leadership, energy and ideas. The seminary continued to thrive well into the 1920s, but declined in the 1930’s, finally closing the Auburn campus in 1940 to merge with the Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where it still exists today.
In 1910, the year before the church’s semi-centennial celebration, the Tiffany Rainbow Window, depicting the 23rd Psalm, was given in memory of one of the church's early members, Margaret Standart Watson, by her daughter, Janet Seward, the daughter-in-law of Lincoln’s Secretary of State. This era was a high point in Tiffany's ecclesiastical commissions. The Rainbow Window is a prime example of Tiffany's landscape windows, rare among religious commissions and considered his supreme achievements in stained glass. Louis Comfort Tiffany began his career as a painter, but quickly moved to interior decorations and leaded glass windows, creating a revolutionary technique using opalescent colored glass, rather than painted glass. Using variations in color, thickness of glass, and creative application techniques, Tiffany achieved pictorial effects of unsurpassed subtlety and beauty. One hundred years later, in 2010, with the help of congregational and community support, the Tiffany Rainbow Window was cleaned, repaired, and restored by Jerome Duerr as part of the church’s “Legacy Campaign.”
(New) Second Presbyterian Church
In 1921, "old" Second Presbyterian Church re-united with Central at the William Street location of Central. Central took back the name of Second Presbyterian Church in the merger. After the merger, the church thrived under the leadership of Rev. Frank Gosnell (1921-1947) and through its relationship with the seminary. The “old” Second Presbyterian Church building, which stood next to the old Masonic Building on the first block of South Street, burned to the ground in August of 1932.
The E.M. Skinner organ, with its 2069 pipes, was installed in the rear of the Second Church sanctuary in 1926. Ernest Martin Skinner (1866-1960) was one of America’s premier organ builders in the early 1900s. Skinner was both an artistic and mechanical engineering genius. He is credited with refining the Pitman windchest (the wooden “box” containing the pipes and valves) and was one of the first to establish a systematic method for fixed dimensions in consoles so that organs would have consistent keyboards and pedalboards. Skinner strived to increase the expressive sounds of his organs, and his organs are known for their rich orchestral tones. E.M. Skinner organs which still exist in the fine condition of Westminster’s are a rare treasure. It is structurally in original condition, but its working mechanisms are in need of restoration due to the organ's age. The church embarked on a capital campaign in 2020 (Ode to Joy Organ Restoration Campaign) to restore the organ.
“New” Second Presbyterian was booming in the 1920’s and the church leadership began raising funds for the construction of a new facility next to the church to house its educational and social programs. It was designed by local architects Hillger and Beardsley to include church offices, the “Primary Department” and Scout Rooms on the first floor, the “Junior Department” and a large multi-use Assembly Hall (for stage productions, dinners, dances, and basketball games) on the second floor, and the “Senior Department” on the third floor. The goal was to raise $125,000 for its construction, which was completed and dedicated in 1932. The construction of the fully funded new "church house" (as it was called) was a remarkable achievement in the middle of the Great Depression. To this day, we continue to call the corner room on the second floor the “Junior Room,” even though few recall the Junior High Department which once called that entire floor its home.
The War Memorial Chapel, off the narthex in the church building, was dedicated in 1945 to honor members who served in World War II. Mr and Mrs Edwin F. Metcalf were the donors of the chapel, which was open daily to the public for private prayer and devotions, as well as for worship services. The chapel was planned by Charles Collens F.A.I.A, and Carl Beckonert, Associate Architects, of Boston, and was built by the William E. Bouley Company of Auburn. The angels in the windows represent Alpha, the beginning , and Omega, the end, and the carved angels represent communion and meditation, thereby symbolizing the use of the Metcalf Chapel for baptisms, memorial services, communion, and private devotion.
In 1952, the women of Second Presbyterian Church founded the "Weekday Nursery School" to provide preschool education for children in the community. Originally a project of Westminster members, who taught and even transported the students in their personal vehicles, the school gradually shifted to professional staff, but remained a program of the church through a majority on its board of directors. Its name changed to the Westminster Nursery School, and it was chartered by the NYS Department of Education. Sadly, the availability of free Universal Pre-K and "3PK" and changing needs for longer day programs forced the closure of the nursery school in 2018. It laid the foundation, however, for the church new REACH ministries which are housed in the former preschool wing.
(New) Westminster Presbyterian Church
In 1968, “old” Westminster Church on West Genesee Street made the decision to sell its building and merge with Second Presbyterian. Second Presbyterian and Westminster Presbyterian Church merged at the William Street site, taking the name of Westminster, continuing the precedent set in 1921 of the newly merged congregations taking the name of the church which had given up its building to move into a new site. The sanctuary was renovated shortly thereafter to make the worship space new for the newly merged congregation. The renovation included the installation of a large chancel cross, tapestry curtains in front of the Tiffany Window, and turquoise and gold paint on the chancel arch.
Westminster pastors (including assistants and interims) from the merger to the present included: Richard Northrup, Grant Miller, Lyle Dykstra, Gary Hall, Thomas Hedges (interim, twice), Michael Miladin, Cynthia Crowell (the first woman pastor), Harvey Sindima (interim), Philip Windsor, Dwain Lee (interim), and Patrick Heery.
Today
The last four decades have witnessed major changes for mainline churches in general, and Westminster as well. Mobile populations, blended families, women in the workforce, competition with weekend work hours and other secular options, and skepticism and disillusionment have all contributed to a societal decline in church attendance and membership. Westminster’s membership has remained fairly stable at just below 200 members for a number of decades. Now a “small church in a big building,” the Education Building houses church offices, Pride House (a drop-in center for LGBTQ+ youth), church education programs and a wide variety of community groups, For almost 4 decades, The Rev Musical Theater Company (formerly the Merry-Go-Round Theater and Finger Lakes Musical Theater Festival) had their offices and rehearsal space in much of the Education Building.
Westminster has made it a priority to open its doors to the community, sharing space with other community organizations for short and long term bases. Seeing its large buildings as a gift, the church has become a community center for arts, human services, educational, and other not-for-profit agencies, programs, and events. The church is open mid-days during the week for meditation, prayer, or reflection.
Intentional hospitality is also practiced with church programs; community members often attend educational programs, lectures, arts and cultural events, special services, and fellowship events. The church was the site of the popular Adams Piano Series for fourteen years, which brought world renowned pianists to perform in chamber settings in small communities. Successful children’s programs over the last few decades have included “Music and More,” a highly successful Wednesday night music, meal, education, and fellowship program, and the Children’s Worship Center, an age-appropriate worship experience for young children.
In 2011, the church engaged in a “New Beginnings” self-study which resulted in an intentional shift to focus the church’s ministries and mission outward into the community. Westminster adopted a new “hospitality statement” which is a bold statement of inclusiveness to persons of every race, gender, age, sexual orientation, family status, and economic status.
As part of the 150th “Legacy Campaign,” Westminster conducted a capital campaign, which accomplished many projects, one of which was the renovation of the sanctuary, restoring it to a more historically authentic look. In 2022, the church completely restored its E.M. Skinner pipe organ to original specifications, a one-year project which cost over $350,000.
Westminster adapted to the challenges of the pandemic by adopting online worship, which continues now as hybrid worship, and learning new technologies to conduct hybrid meetings. It also examined its priorities and discovered what was missed and what wasn't. In 2022, the congregation adopted the "Holy Conversations Report," a mission and vision study which was conducted over several years. The report made a number of suggestions (including a seasonal ministry team planning process, encouraging small groups, innovating worship, offering more special worship services, and increasing our community witness).
The common threads throughout Westminster's history--social justice, education, and active ministry in the community--continue to be important to Westminster today, and into the future.
Pastors
(Old) Second Presbyterian Church 1828-1921
(Founded by 66 members who withdrew from First Presbyterian)
Daniel C. Axtell, 1830-1836
Leonard E. Lathrop, 1836-1852
Edward D. Morris, 1852-1855
Ezra Abel Huntington, 1855-1858
Henry Fowler, 1858-1861
Samuel W. Boardman, 1862-1877
Edward P. Sprague, 1887-1895
J. Wilson Brainerd, 1896-1905
Allen Macy Dulles, 1905-1916
C. Carson Bransby, 1916-1921
Central Presbyterian Church 1861-1921
(Founded by 66 members, many of whom withdrew from Old Second)
Henry Fowler, 1861-1871
Henry F. Hickok, 1872-1875
Samuel W. Duffield, 1876-1878
Charles C. Hemenway, 1878-1891
Frederick W. Palmer, 1893-1921
(Old) Westminster Presbyterian Church 1885-1968
Albert S. Hughey, 1886-1889
Erastus W. Twitchell, 1890-1892
Oliver T. Mather, 1893-1897
Tracy B. Griswold, 1898-1903
Arthur A. McKay, 1903-1910
Lem A. Losey, 1911-1915
David M. Geddes, 1915-1918
Arthur W. Ratz, 1919-1920
Donald H. MacKenzie, 1921-1928
Clarence Laman, 1929-1937
James T.M. Wilson, 1938-1944
Robert Loyer, 1944-1951
John Aalfs, 1952-1953
Grant S. Miller, 1953-1968
(New) Second Presbyterian Church 1921-1968
(Merger of Central and Old Second)
Frank L. Gosnell, 1921-1947
Byron E. Higgon, 1948-1957
Richard R. Northrup, 1958-1968
James Harvey Irwin, Jr, Assistant Pastor, 1962-1965
Lyle John Dykstra, Assistant Pastor 1966-1969
(New) Westminster Presbyterian Church 1968-present
(Merger of Old Westminster and New Second)
Richard R. Northrup, Minister, 1968-1977
Grant S. Miller, Associate Minister, 1968-1969
Gary W. Hall, 1978-1985
Thomas Hedges (interim 1985-1986)
Michael D. Miladin, 1986-1990
Thomas Hedges (interim 1990-1992)
Cynthia Warner Crowell, 1992-1999
Harvey Sindima (interim 1999-2000)
Philip S. Windsor, 2000-2014
Dwain Lee (interim 2014-2016)
Patrick David Heery (2016-2023 )
Stacy Smith (temporary pastor, 2023)
Westminster Presbyterian Church dates its birth in 1861, when the Rev. Henry Fowler was forced to leave Second Presbyterian Church because of the controversy he caused there by his frequent abolitionist sermons and by praying publicly for the soul of John Brown. A group of 66 abolitionist members of Second followed the Rev. Fowler to start a new church, to be called Central Presbyterian Church.
The new church was officially chartered on January 28, 1862, at a meeting of Presbytery held at the original YMCA building on Genesee St (a building since torn down). The minutes relate that there were 60 charter members, and after "necessary business" was conducted, afternoon and evening services took place. The original 60 members were mostly Presbyterians, but also included individuals from the Episcopal, Congregational, Dutch Reformed, Methodist churches, and an "organizer from the Theological Seminary." A majority of the founding members (at least 40) were women.
Central Presbyterian Church
The original Central Presbyterian congregation worshiped for a while in the YMCA, then purchased property on the corner of Genesee and William Streets, next to the present courthouse. They constructed a basement chapel, with seating up to 600, with plans to later construct a church building over it. They worshiped in this basement chapel, which was furnished with "railroad pews" (so called because the seatbacks flipped back and forth so that parishioners could face either direction). Contrary to the usual practice in other churches, pews were assigned by lottery rather than by the amount of the pew rental, so that wealthier parishioners and those not so privileged were given equal status. The leader of the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman, was married to Charles Nelson Davis in the basement chapel on March 18, 1869, and abolitionist Frederick Douglas gave a lecture there.
It was quickly determined that the corner lot was not large enough, so in 1869 the church purchased the present site on William Street (named after William Bostwick, an influential early Auburnian) from Sarah Underwood and laid the cornerstone of the present sanctuary. Plans to construct a narthex, additional rooms, and a grand facade with bell towers were originally drafted but delayed till the congregation was financially viable. The church struggled with finances and changing leadership for a number of years.
In 1887, as finances permitted, the church was expanded, mostly according to the original plans, to create the façade which still exists in substantially the same appearance today. The new addition included a narthex, parlor, Sunday School rooms, meeting rooms, and a kitchen.
In the mid 1880's, "old" Westminster Church had its beginnings in Auburn's west end. Originally a Sunday School group which began meeting in a home on Baker Ave as a missionary endeavor of the Auburn Presbyterian churches, the fledgling congregation built a church on West Genesee Street and was officially organized in 1885 with 43 charter members. Originally called the Willard Chapel, it took the name Westminster so that the chapel at the Auburn Theological Seminary could be named in honor of Dr. Sylvester Willard, who contributed to both ventures. “Westminster” was and still is a popular name for Presbyterian churches because of the Westminster Confession of Faith, a Calvinist creed drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, which became a standard doctrine in the Church of Scotland and has been influential in Presbyterian churches worldwide.
In the late 1800s, Presbyterianism thrived in Auburn, due in large part to the presence of the Auburn Theological Seminary, which was founded in 1818 to prepare hardy ministers for the frontier life. The seminary had a campus in the center of the city, and was at its peak in 1899 with 105 students and 11 faculty, sending missionaries all over the world. The seminary students and faculty were active in the local Presbyterian churches, providing young leadership, energy and ideas. The seminary continued to thrive well into the 1920s, but declined in the 1930’s, finally closing the Auburn campus in 1940 to merge with the Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where it still exists today.
In 1910, the year before the church’s semi-centennial celebration, the Tiffany Rainbow Window, depicting the 23rd Psalm, was given in memory of one of the church's early members, Margaret Standart Watson, by her daughter, Janet Seward, the daughter-in-law of Lincoln’s Secretary of State. This era was a high point in Tiffany's ecclesiastical commissions. The Rainbow Window is a prime example of Tiffany's landscape windows, rare among religious commissions and considered his supreme achievements in stained glass. Louis Comfort Tiffany began his career as a painter, but quickly moved to interior decorations and leaded glass windows, creating a revolutionary technique using opalescent colored glass, rather than painted glass. Using variations in color, thickness of glass, and creative application techniques, Tiffany achieved pictorial effects of unsurpassed subtlety and beauty. One hundred years later, in 2010, with the help of congregational and community support, the Tiffany Rainbow Window was cleaned, repaired, and restored by Jerome Duerr as part of the church’s “Legacy Campaign.”
(New) Second Presbyterian Church
In 1921, "old" Second Presbyterian Church re-united with Central at the William Street location of Central. Central took back the name of Second Presbyterian Church in the merger. After the merger, the church thrived under the leadership of Rev. Frank Gosnell (1921-1947) and through its relationship with the seminary. The “old” Second Presbyterian Church building, which stood next to the old Masonic Building on the first block of South Street, burned to the ground in August of 1932.
The E.M. Skinner organ, with its 2069 pipes, was installed in the rear of the Second Church sanctuary in 1926. Ernest Martin Skinner (1866-1960) was one of America’s premier organ builders in the early 1900s. Skinner was both an artistic and mechanical engineering genius. He is credited with refining the Pitman windchest (the wooden “box” containing the pipes and valves) and was one of the first to establish a systematic method for fixed dimensions in consoles so that organs would have consistent keyboards and pedalboards. Skinner strived to increase the expressive sounds of his organs, and his organs are known for their rich orchestral tones. E.M. Skinner organs which still exist in the fine condition of Westminster’s are a rare treasure. It is structurally in original condition, but its working mechanisms are in need of restoration due to the organ's age. The church embarked on a capital campaign in 2020 (Ode to Joy Organ Restoration Campaign) to restore the organ.
“New” Second Presbyterian was booming in the 1920’s and the church leadership began raising funds for the construction of a new facility next to the church to house its educational and social programs. It was designed by local architects Hillger and Beardsley to include church offices, the “Primary Department” and Scout Rooms on the first floor, the “Junior Department” and a large multi-use Assembly Hall (for stage productions, dinners, dances, and basketball games) on the second floor, and the “Senior Department” on the third floor. The goal was to raise $125,000 for its construction, which was completed and dedicated in 1932. The construction of the fully funded new "church house" (as it was called) was a remarkable achievement in the middle of the Great Depression. To this day, we continue to call the corner room on the second floor the “Junior Room,” even though few recall the Junior High Department which once called that entire floor its home.
The War Memorial Chapel, off the narthex in the church building, was dedicated in 1945 to honor members who served in World War II. Mr and Mrs Edwin F. Metcalf were the donors of the chapel, which was open daily to the public for private prayer and devotions, as well as for worship services. The chapel was planned by Charles Collens F.A.I.A, and Carl Beckonert, Associate Architects, of Boston, and was built by the William E. Bouley Company of Auburn. The angels in the windows represent Alpha, the beginning , and Omega, the end, and the carved angels represent communion and meditation, thereby symbolizing the use of the Metcalf Chapel for baptisms, memorial services, communion, and private devotion.
In 1952, the women of Second Presbyterian Church founded the "Weekday Nursery School" to provide preschool education for children in the community. Originally a project of Westminster members, who taught and even transported the students in their personal vehicles, the school gradually shifted to professional staff, but remained a program of the church through a majority on its board of directors. Its name changed to the Westminster Nursery School, and it was chartered by the NYS Department of Education. Sadly, the availability of free Universal Pre-K and "3PK" and changing needs for longer day programs forced the closure of the nursery school in 2018. It laid the foundation, however, for the church new REACH ministries which are housed in the former preschool wing.
(New) Westminster Presbyterian Church
In 1968, “old” Westminster Church on West Genesee Street made the decision to sell its building and merge with Second Presbyterian. Second Presbyterian and Westminster Presbyterian Church merged at the William Street site, taking the name of Westminster, continuing the precedent set in 1921 of the newly merged congregations taking the name of the church which had given up its building to move into a new site. The sanctuary was renovated shortly thereafter to make the worship space new for the newly merged congregation. The renovation included the installation of a large chancel cross, tapestry curtains in front of the Tiffany Window, and turquoise and gold paint on the chancel arch.
Westminster pastors (including assistants and interims) from the merger to the present included: Richard Northrup, Grant Miller, Lyle Dykstra, Gary Hall, Thomas Hedges (interim, twice), Michael Miladin, Cynthia Crowell (the first woman pastor), Harvey Sindima (interim), Philip Windsor, Dwain Lee (interim), and Patrick Heery.
Today
The last four decades have witnessed major changes for mainline churches in general, and Westminster as well. Mobile populations, blended families, women in the workforce, competition with weekend work hours and other secular options, and skepticism and disillusionment have all contributed to a societal decline in church attendance and membership. Westminster’s membership has remained fairly stable at just below 200 members for a number of decades. Now a “small church in a big building,” the Education Building houses church offices, Pride House (a drop-in center for LGBTQ+ youth), church education programs and a wide variety of community groups, For almost 4 decades, The Rev Musical Theater Company (formerly the Merry-Go-Round Theater and Finger Lakes Musical Theater Festival) had their offices and rehearsal space in much of the Education Building.
Westminster has made it a priority to open its doors to the community, sharing space with other community organizations for short and long term bases. Seeing its large buildings as a gift, the church has become a community center for arts, human services, educational, and other not-for-profit agencies, programs, and events. The church is open mid-days during the week for meditation, prayer, or reflection.
Intentional hospitality is also practiced with church programs; community members often attend educational programs, lectures, arts and cultural events, special services, and fellowship events. The church was the site of the popular Adams Piano Series for fourteen years, which brought world renowned pianists to perform in chamber settings in small communities. Successful children’s programs over the last few decades have included “Music and More,” a highly successful Wednesday night music, meal, education, and fellowship program, and the Children’s Worship Center, an age-appropriate worship experience for young children.
In 2011, the church engaged in a “New Beginnings” self-study which resulted in an intentional shift to focus the church’s ministries and mission outward into the community. Westminster adopted a new “hospitality statement” which is a bold statement of inclusiveness to persons of every race, gender, age, sexual orientation, family status, and economic status.
As part of the 150th “Legacy Campaign,” Westminster conducted a capital campaign, which accomplished many projects, one of which was the renovation of the sanctuary, restoring it to a more historically authentic look. In 2022, the church completely restored its E.M. Skinner pipe organ to original specifications, a one-year project which cost over $350,000.
Westminster adapted to the challenges of the pandemic by adopting online worship, which continues now as hybrid worship, and learning new technologies to conduct hybrid meetings. It also examined its priorities and discovered what was missed and what wasn't. In 2022, the congregation adopted the "Holy Conversations Report," a mission and vision study which was conducted over several years. The report made a number of suggestions (including a seasonal ministry team planning process, encouraging small groups, innovating worship, offering more special worship services, and increasing our community witness).
The common threads throughout Westminster's history--social justice, education, and active ministry in the community--continue to be important to Westminster today, and into the future.
Pastors
(Old) Second Presbyterian Church 1828-1921
(Founded by 66 members who withdrew from First Presbyterian)
Daniel C. Axtell, 1830-1836
Leonard E. Lathrop, 1836-1852
Edward D. Morris, 1852-1855
Ezra Abel Huntington, 1855-1858
Henry Fowler, 1858-1861
Samuel W. Boardman, 1862-1877
Edward P. Sprague, 1887-1895
J. Wilson Brainerd, 1896-1905
Allen Macy Dulles, 1905-1916
C. Carson Bransby, 1916-1921
Central Presbyterian Church 1861-1921
(Founded by 66 members, many of whom withdrew from Old Second)
Henry Fowler, 1861-1871
Henry F. Hickok, 1872-1875
Samuel W. Duffield, 1876-1878
Charles C. Hemenway, 1878-1891
Frederick W. Palmer, 1893-1921
(Old) Westminster Presbyterian Church 1885-1968
Albert S. Hughey, 1886-1889
Erastus W. Twitchell, 1890-1892
Oliver T. Mather, 1893-1897
Tracy B. Griswold, 1898-1903
Arthur A. McKay, 1903-1910
Lem A. Losey, 1911-1915
David M. Geddes, 1915-1918
Arthur W. Ratz, 1919-1920
Donald H. MacKenzie, 1921-1928
Clarence Laman, 1929-1937
James T.M. Wilson, 1938-1944
Robert Loyer, 1944-1951
John Aalfs, 1952-1953
Grant S. Miller, 1953-1968
(New) Second Presbyterian Church 1921-1968
(Merger of Central and Old Second)
Frank L. Gosnell, 1921-1947
Byron E. Higgon, 1948-1957
Richard R. Northrup, 1958-1968
James Harvey Irwin, Jr, Assistant Pastor, 1962-1965
Lyle John Dykstra, Assistant Pastor 1966-1969
(New) Westminster Presbyterian Church 1968-present
(Merger of Old Westminster and New Second)
Richard R. Northrup, Minister, 1968-1977
Grant S. Miller, Associate Minister, 1968-1969
Gary W. Hall, 1978-1985
Thomas Hedges (interim 1985-1986)
Michael D. Miladin, 1986-1990
Thomas Hedges (interim 1990-1992)
Cynthia Warner Crowell, 1992-1999
Harvey Sindima (interim 1999-2000)
Philip S. Windsor, 2000-2014
Dwain Lee (interim 2014-2016)
Patrick David Heery (2016-2023 )
Stacy Smith (temporary pastor, 2023)