Westminster Presbyterian Church, St. Joseph, Missouri

Name/Title

Westminster Presbyterian Church, St. Joseph, Missouri

Entry/Object ID

9999.CHU.46

Scope and Content

Westminster Presbyterian Church, St. Joseph, Missouri Chapel of Felix Street, St. Joseph MO; located 709-711 Felix, organized with 21 members on November 9, 1863; services held in McLaughlin's Hall on corner of Second and Francis Streets1864; first building roofed with slate in city; 1865 earth broken and lot was conscreated to holy purposes; modeled in the Grocian style; material mainly stone; basement divided into compartments; Chapel is on second or main floor; large rooms ladies parlors and the smaller ones as dressing room; cost of the building was $15,000; one of the most generous patrons was Mr. Elbridge Gurney;1872 church was sold. St. Joseph News-Press/Gazette November 5, 1988; Westminster to videotape 125th anniversary; picture Robin Kash, Betty Blakeley, Bill Sawyers, Tony Kahs, and Sue, Stinson; picture of the early building that was nearly destroyed by fire in 1933; next 17 years congregation worshiped in the YWCA building; in 1910 joined first Cumberland Church; Rev. Elmer Whitcomb served as pastor for 30 years. St. Joseph News-Press 11 6 06 postcards from the Past; postcard shows congregation of the church; was established as an off-shoot of the Presbyterian Church at Sixth and Faraon; founding members backers of the union during the Civil War; Rev Henry N. Bullard D. D. hired in 1868-1911; before coming to St. Joseph gained notoriety as a companion to a famous Missouri author and humorist Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain. Mr. Clemens would refer to the reverend as the doctor in his book "Innocents Abroad," the hilarious account of their European tour; church closed door in 2004 due to shrinking congregation; joined with Second Presbyterian Church to form Trinity Presbyterian Church at 33 and Penn. History of Buchanan Co. MO Vol I MO River Heritage Association 1984 picture of the church on the corner of 21st and Jules. St. Joseph A Pictorial History; picture of church. Letter to Reverend Robin E. Kash about history of the church. Our Heritage History of Westminster Presbyterian Church in St. Joseph, MO compiled and written by Mrs. E. B. Whitcomb. Alma Whitcomb's Memories July 15, 1987. The history of Westminster Presbyterian Church compiled and written by Dr. Roger Williams 1956-1988--125 years; Welcome to the Celebration of Worship of the Fellowship of the Westminster Presbyterian Church brochure November 13, 1988 . Our Heritage Westminster Presbyterian Church 21st and Jules Centennial Observance November 8,9,10, 1963; pictures in booklet. Our Heritage Westminster Presbyterian Church Quasquicentennial Observance booklet; pictures inside booklet. St. Joseph News-Press 1933 picture of old drawing of new Westminster Presbyterian Church. Glossy Black and White picture of Westminster Presbyterian Church Dec. 2019, St. Joseph News Press Postcards from the Past: News photo of interior of church, c. 1950s

Lexicon

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Churches

Search Terms

Westminster Presbyterian Church

Legacy Lexicon

Object Name

File, Folder

Maintenance

Maintenance History

Date

Apr 4, 2017

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Bullard Henry N..

Person or Organization

Samuel Clemens

Person or Organization

Elbridge Gurney

Person or Organization

Rev. Robin E. Kash

Person or Organization

Mark Twain

Person or Organization

Whitcomb, E. B., Mrs.

Person or Organization

Whitcomb, Elmer, Rev.

Person or Organization

Whitcomb, Wlma