Members and associates of Westminster Presbyterian Church will
collect on Founders’ Sunday, Could 18, to have a good time 190 years of religion, artwork and advocacy.
Our story begins with religion and a dedication to advocacy. The 30 founding
members who signed the church constitution on Could 26, 1835, had sturdy abolitionist
convictions and constructive initiatives advocating justice and freedom for all
God’s youngsters. We’re grateful for his or her steadfast refusal to acquiesce to the
slavery established order. A number of of the founding members signed the Rev. Elijah
Parish Lovejoy’s 1837 petition for an anti-slavery conference in Alton.
The Rev. Albert Hale (1840-1867), who was often known as the
buddy and counselor of the martyrd president, and his spouse, Abiah, who
established the Dorcas Society which turned the Illinois Youngsters and Household
Companies, fashioned the character of Westminster. Following three earlier
places, in 1908 our rural English Gothic-style constructing at 533 S. Walnut St.
was devoted. The 1840 bell, put in within the second constructing, rang for the
Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and continues to name worshippers to church
right now. The architectural magnificence and distinct stain glass home windows (with a number of
biblical ladies) replicate our appreciation and dedication to the humanities.
As Westminster approached the twenty first century, social and
monetary forces confronted the congregation with the necessity for an additional
determination. Following the civil rights motion and within the context of faculty
desegregation, our Historic Westside Neighborhood of pretty Victorian properties noticed
migration, divestment and monetary decline. In 1999, 4 years following the
institution of the Westminster Endowment Plan, Westminster made one other
essential determination to stay in its stead and to proceed its ministry in our
historic neighborhood.
In 2013, when Peter and I first walked via the doorways of
Westminster upon my arrival as senior minister, we had been each shocked by the
fantastic thing about this facility. Not solely did the partitions converse of the wealthy historical past of
this congregation, additionally they echoed the devoted nurture given to the
generations of youngsters and youth who walked via these doorways. The rooms
reverberated with the beautiful, steadfast present of music and the congregation’s
constant dedication via the generations to achieve outdoors their doorways in
mission.
Following a profitable anniversary endowment marketing campaign in
2020, monetary sources made yet one more outreach attainable within the Steadfast
Neighbor Endeavor. The homestead of our church as an anchor throughout the
neighborhood was strengthened in a Web site and Panorama Plan, and the homesteads
of our quick neighbors proceed to be strengthened via mission outreach
which gives matching grants, an annual service week, and the Little Pantry
and Library at Graham Elementary College.
This month, as we have a good time 190 years of religion, artwork and advocacy,
our prayer, with the Apostle Paul, is that we by no means develop weary of doing what’s
proper and that we work for the nice of all each time we’ve got the chance. For
generations to come back, could we proceed to advocate for our neighbors and proclaim
God’s steadfast love and faithfulness to all.
The Rev. Dr. Blythe Denham Kieffer is pastor and head of
workers at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Springfield.
