westminster history

In the past.....

Westminster Presbyterian Church
has served the Rockford community for over 150 years.

Ministry projects started at Westminster have grown into full agencies serving the unemployed.

Grateful for our heritage we stepped out in faith moving to another cornfield.

In 2001 members of our family said:

"It is exciting to be a part of the future! For families – for our youth - for Westminster’s place in our community." The Lamberts

"It’s the right time, the right place, and the right mission for this church to grow and serve God." Pete Petersen

"We were married at Westminster 19 years ago, and of course, the present church is very precious to us. But 50 years ago, members built a church on the edge of town surrounded by a cornfield-now it’s our turn to plant Westminster Presbyterian Church on the edge of town surrounded by a cornfield, so that many other couples may have the benefit of beginning their marriage and raising a family of faith." Paul & Karen Weis

Westminster celebrated our 150th anniversary through out 2006!

Bits of Interesting History:
*The first meeting of the Westminster Church was on January 3, 1856 and 22 people attended.
*Westminster’s own church was built at South Second and Oak. It was dedicated December 20, 1858. A custodian was hired for $38.00 a year.
*Rev. Morrison Higgins from N.Y. State was the first minister at an annual salary of $800. Only 47 days later he died of pneumonia at the age of 42. The new church was draped in black.
*In 1879 hitching posts were installed along the church. In those early years, pews were rented.
*In the first 50 years of our church history the average tenure of 12 ministers was 4 1/2 yrs. Church officers changed little. Membership grew to 326.
*In early years, several members were excommunicated by session for “improper conduct, drinking and non-attendance.” As late as 1947, three members were dropped for “continued unchristian conduct”.
*On Saturday, April 6, 1946, fire devastated the building that had been Westminster’s home for 87 years.
*After the fire, Mr. & Mrs. O.D. Corbridge gave as a gift a site for a new church at 3000 Rural St., in the middle of a cornfield. During the five intervening years, services were held in the Masonic Temple. The new church was dedicated Dec. 9, 1951.
*Through wars, depression and a disastrous fire this congregation grew from 22 charter members to 776 in the new, expanding neighborhood on Rural Street.
*On Sept. 11, 2001 the request was made to Presbytery to buy 80 acres of land for a future church. On April 15, 2004 ground was broken on land at Spring Creek and Bell School . . . again in a cornfield.
*On Palm Sunday, April 9, 2006, we held our first service in our new building.