Read about - Westminster Presbyterian Church

tions for development of the entire acreage on a campus plan,
were presented to the congregation and corporation at the
first annual meeting of Westminster Presbyterian Church on
November 24, 1957. The congregation accepted the third
suggestion, tentative building plans for a first unit, by a vote
of twenty-one to six, with dissenters and others so desiring
invited to present their views and suggestions in writing.
As submitted, Phase 1 was to be constructed of cement,
with a diamond-shaped glass pattern, including some colored
panes, extending to the roof line. The west wall, facing a vesper
garden, would also consist of a similar glass pattern set
into triangular wood frames which would support the roof
beams. On the Greenview side there would be a variable pattern
of colored stone.
The interesting roof shape resulted when it was determined
that ten foot beam spans would cost less than standard
building spans of eight feet with a flat roof. Originally
the structure was planned to be two bays shorter than the
final version, but a timely gift from First Presbyterian Church
made it possible to extend the building.
The west side windows were rebuilt three times and are
not interchangeable. The glass was deliberately laid (on the
west side primarily) so there would be no street view during
worship services and to avoid direct sunlight during services.
The first unit was to be financed by the $21,000 in pledges
received in the May campaign, a $5,000 gift from First Presbyterian
Church, and a $27,000 loan from the National Board
of Church Extension of the denomination. The committee
was directed to get Presbytery officials to request the proper
church agency to earmark the recommended amount of loan
funds: $27,000 for church construction, as well as $5,000 for
possible use as down payment on a manse.
At a special meeting of the congregation in January 1958
(oh, how numerous were those “specially called” meetings in
in the beginning—21