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For 145 years, Westminster Presbyterian Church has worked to fulfill its mission of serving as “a telling presence in the city.” Beginning as a gathering of eight people of Scottish, Irish and Welsh heritage in 1857, the congregation built its first church in 1857, on Fourth Street between Nicollet and Hennepin Avenues in Minneapolis. The congregation grew rapidly, prompting construction of a new church at Seventh Street and Nicollet in 1883 (where the downtown Marshall Fields department store now stands). Unfortunately the church was heavily damaged by fire some 12 years later. After selling the property to George Dayton, the congregation rebuilt on the current site of 12th Street and Nicollet, and opened its doors for services in 1897.
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Fourth Street between Hennepin and Nicollet, Minneapolis. 1865
Photographer: Benjamin Franklin Upton
Communion table and sanctuary chancel, 1905
In 1991, to coincide with the building’s centennial, Westminster began an massive renovation of the sanctuary, followed by an even more ambitious restoration of the exterior. Working from photos dating back to 1897, features of the original structure and interior decor were also restored. Renovation projects continued into 1999 and 2000 with significant improvements to the exterior, including custom sheet metal trim, stonework, roofing and many stained glass windows.
Westminster Sanctuary 1905.
With all sanctuary and exterior renovations complete, the church began construction of a new education building in February 2001. Completion of the new Marquette Wing is upon us, and Westminster expects to hold the wing’s grand opening on June 9, 2002. The entire project has been funded out of the church’s $16 million Building Centennial Capital Campaign.
Westminster today, from the corner of Marquette Avenue and 12th Street, showing the new wing near completion.
Westminster Presbyterian Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and received the 1999 Heritage Preservation Award from the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission and the Minnesota Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
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Do you have information about one of the Boys of 1901 or their teacher, Andrew Benton? If you know about one or more of these boys or would like more about the Book, we would love to hear from you. Send the church an email by clicking here.
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