Westminster Presbyterian Church (Los Angeles) facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Westminster Presbyterian Church
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, CA
34°1′31.04″N 118°19′11.27″W / 34.0252889°N 118.3197972°W / 34.0252889; -118.3197972
Location	2230 West Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018
Country	United States
Denomination	Presbyterian Church (USA)
Website	https://www.wpcofla.org/
History
Founded	October 9, 1904
Architecture
Architect(s)	Scott Quentin (Alhambra, CA)
Style	Romanesque
Years built	1931

Westminster Presbyterian Church is located in the Jefferson Park area of Los Angeles, California. It is part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The church was started in 1904. It is one of the oldest African American Presbyterian churches in California. It is also one of the oldest west of the Mississippi River.

History of Westminster Presbyterian Church
List of Pastors at Westminster Presbyterian Church
Westminster Presbyterian Church Building: A Historic Landmark
Presbyterian Churches in Los Angeles Today
See also

History of Westminster Presbyterian Church

In the early 1900s, eighteen African Americans began meeting on Sundays. They met at Central Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles. This group asked the Los Angeles Presbytery for support. On October 21, 1904, they officially became a church. They named it Westminster Presbyterian Church. Rev. Enos P. Baker was the first minister in charge.

The Los Angeles Times newspaper wrote about the church's first building. It was located at West 35th Place and Denker Avenue. The church paid $3,300 for the property. The dedication ceremony was held in 1908. Dr. Hugh K. Walker from Immanuel Presbyterian Church gave the sermon. The newspaper said it was likely the "only colored Presbyterian church on this coast." They believed it would become a strong church. The Los Angeles Herald newspaper also reported on the church. It said Westminster was the only Presbyterian church doing special work for the 1,500 African Americans in Los Angeles at that time.

Early Pastors and Growth

Rev. R. W. Holman came from South Carolina. He became Westminster Presbyterian Church's first official pastor on May 17, 1908. Rev. Holman was a graduate of Wallingford Institute. He had served as pastor of Zion Presbyterian Church in Charleston, SC, for fourteen years. That church was the oldest and largest Black Presbyterian church there.

The Los Angeles Evening Express reported that Rev. Holman was the first Black pastor. He was the first to lead a Presbyterian church on the Pacific coast. Later that year, several Black churches worked together. They raised money for a gymnasium at the YWCA. This gym was for African American residents. Rev. Holman was a speaker at this event. Mrs. Lucy Stanton also spoke. She was the first Black woman to graduate from a four-year college.

By 1909, the church had forty members. The church's parsonage, or pastor's home, was at 3232 Denker Street.

Rev. Hampton B. Hawes, Sr.'s Long Service

In 1912, Rev. Hampton B. Hawes became the new pastor. He took over after Rev. Holman retired. Rev. Hawes was a graduate of Fisk University and Lincoln University Theological Seminary. Two years later, he married Gertrude Holman. She was one of Rev. Holman's daughters and the church pianist. In 1937, Rev. Hawes was chosen as Moderator of the Los Angeles Presbytery. This was a big meeting with 325 ministers and delegates.

The church grew a lot in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Rev. Hawes supported building a recreation center for young people. On his 26th anniversary, the Sunday School classes celebrated Rev. Hawes. In 1941, the church had 19 Bible school classrooms. It also held two Sunday services. The Westminster Presbyterian Choir had 40 members. Mabel Hawes, another daughter of Rev. Hawes, was the organist. Cyrus Keller directed the choir. In 1944, Rev. Hawes was chosen as Moderator of the California Synod. This is a high honor in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Westminster started a Boy Scout Troop in 1947. In 1957, Golden State Mutual Insurance gave free tickets. These tickets were for Westminster's Scout Troop 205. They went to the annual high school football Shrine Hi Classic. This event was held at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

In 1948, the Los Angeles Times reported on a big change. Westminster Presbyterian Church paid $125,000 for a new property. This property was at 2230 West Jefferson Boulevard. It was being left by St. Paul's Presbyterian Church. St. Paul's was joining another church and moving. The newspaper noted that Westminster had 800 active members. On Sunday, June 19, 1949, Westminster moved to its new home. The first service was held there that evening.

One important project during Rev. Hawes' time was helping children. After visiting Seoul, he started a campaign. He wanted to find homes for Korean children who had lost their families. The California Eagle reported in 1956 that over thirty families had applied to adopt. By 1958, more than fifty families were recommended for the adoption program. This program was led by Henry Holt.

In 1958, Rev. Hawes celebrated 45 years of service. The church gave him a new 1958 Ford Mercury car. Mrs. Sarah A. McPherson, one of the church's first members, gave him the keys. When he retired, Rev. Hawes had helped place 70 Korean children for adoption. Forty of these children joined families within Westminster Presbyterian Church. The Los Angeles Sentinel showed a photo of Rev. Hawes with a dozen adopted children at his retirement service. Church membership had grown to 1,500 when he retired.

Rev. Dr. James E. Jones and Community Action

The 1960s brought more attention to Westminster Presbyterian Church. This was because of its new pastor, Rev. James E. Jones. He was known for his community and political work. Rev. Jones had been a pastor in Detroit. He also directed a community center there. Church members said Rev. Jones quickly won their hearts. He proposed an exciting plan for the church. News reports stated that membership reached about 1,600.

In 1963, Rev. Jones traveled to Brazil. He spent 30 days visiting nine cities. His goal was to build connections with Brazilian churches. Earlier, the church had a special two-year partnership with Brazilian Rev. Zacharias Bravo. Rev. Bravo focused on sharing the church's message. He started 85 neighborhood prayer and Bible study groups during his time.

During Rev. Jones' time, in the early 1960s, Frederick K. C. Price was an active member. He later became a famous author and TV preacher. He also started the Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles.

Rev. Jones served on the Los Angeles Board of Education from 1965 to 1969. He was elected Board president in 1968. He was the first African American to hold this position. He supported voluntary busing to help integrate Los Angeles schools. After the 1965 Watts Riots, California Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown, Sr. asked Jones to join the McCone Commission. This group studied why the riots happened and how to prevent future problems. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson invited Jones to a White House meeting. This meeting was about civil rights. Jones was also active in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He marched with Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, Alabama. Jones also advised the team planning the children's TV show Sesame Street.

In 1974, Westminster celebrated its 70th anniversary. Los Angeles Mayor Thomas Bradley was a special speaker. He had been mayor for almost two years.

In 1975, Rev. Michael Livingston became a Presbyterian minister. He was ordained at Westminster, his home church. He later served as an assistant pastor in Los Angeles. He also became an interim senior minister at the Riverside Church in New York City.

The church's 75th Diamond Anniversary dinner was in 1979. It was held at the Biltmore Hotel. Academy Award-winning actor Gregory Peck hosted the event. Mayor Tom Bradley gave Rev. Jones an award from the city. Benjamin Hooks, the NAACP Executive Director, was the main speaker. Other important guests included US Congressman Julian Dixon. Rabbi Edgar F. Magnin from Wilshire Boulevard Temple also attended. Dr. H. Claude Hudson, a founder of the Los Angeles NAACP chapter, was there too. The anniversary celebration continued through the holidays. The Pre-Christmas Communion service was led by theologian Dr. Howard Thurman. Rev. William Abbot, Rev. Dr. H. Garnett Lee, Dr. Charles Marks, and Rev. Jones helped him.

Rev. Oliver L. Brown, II's Ministry

Rev. Brown's time as pastor was known for inviting many guest speakers and musicians. Rev. Brown hosted Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Jr. for an annual week-long revival. Dr. Wright was a pastor from Chicago. This revival happened every year from 1993 to 2000.

List of Pastors at Westminster Presbyterian Church

Westminster Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles has had many spiritual leaders over the years. Here are some of them:

Years	Role	Name	Notes
1904 – 1908	Minister in charge	Rev. Enos Pomeroy Baker (1856–1911)	A white minister who helped the church get started. He graduated from McCormick Theological Seminary in 1886.
1908 – 1912	Installed Pastor	Rev. Robert W. Holman (1854–1931)	The church's first official pastor. He had served Zion Presbyterian Church in Charleston, SC, since 1884.
1912 – 1959	Installed Pastor	Rev. Hampton B. Hawes (1888–1976)	The pastor who served the longest. He was the father of jazz pianist Hampton Hawes.
1959 – 1985	Installed Pastor	Rev. Dr. James E. Jones (1916–1998)	A graduate of Lincoln University Theological Seminary. An elementary school, Dr. James Edward Jones Primary Center, opened in 2008 in his honor.
1960 – 1962	Fraternal Associate Pastor	Rev. Zacharias Bravo (1918–1962)	One of the first pastors sent from the Presbyterian church in Brazil to serve in the USA. He passed away in 1962.
1966 – 1973	Associate Pastor	Rev. Dr. Warren Lee	He was ordained at Westminster as a minister of Christian Education. He later became a director at San Francisco Theological Seminary.
1972	Assistant Pastor	Rev. William Brimberry Abbot (1923–1997)	A graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary.
1980 – 1983	Parish Associate	Rev. Arthur C. Ross, Jr. (1949–2022)	Later served as pastor of Bel-Vue Community United Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles.
1984 - unknown	Parish Associate	Rev. John F. Warner (1946–2010)	A graduate of Union Theological Seminary. He later became pastor of Crerar Memorial Presbyterian Church in Chicago.
1986 – 1988	Supply Pastor	Rev. William Brimberry Abbot (1923–1997)	Rev. Abbot returned to Westminster for a second time.
1988 – 2001	Installed Pastor	Rev. Oliver L. Brown, II (1941–2006)	Westminster's fourth installed pastor. He later founded First African Presbyterian Church in America in Los Angeles.
1990 - 1995	Associate Pastor	Rev. David M. Morris (1946–2009)	He attended Westminster as a child. He was also a grandson of Rev. H.B. Hawes, Sr.
2001 – 2005	Interim Pastor	Rev. Glenn L. Jones	He led the opening of the Dr. Charles H. Moore Westminster Arms Senior Housing complex in 2004. He is also a music composer.
2006 – 2011	Installed Designated Pastor	Rev. Virginia M. Brown	The church's first female pastor. She graduated from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
2011 – 2014	Interim Pastor	Rev. Dr. Charles Marks	A graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. A 2009 film was inspired by Rev. Marks.
2014 – Present	Installed Pastor	Rev. Carlton A. Rhoden	A 2005 graduate of American Baptist Seminary of the West.

Westminster Presbyterian Church Building: A Historic Landmark

The current Westminster Presbyterian Church building was first built for St. Paul's Presbyterian Church. It cost about $60,000 to build. Architect Scott Quentin designed the building. It included a large banquet room, a social hall, and an auditorium for 600 people. There were also Sunday School rooms for 800 students. On top of the church tower is a twelve-foot cross that lights up and turns.

The beautiful stained glass windows in the church were made by Judson of Los Angeles. The church's organ and chimes were built by the Artcraft Company. The building also has a full kitchen, a special stage, and dressing rooms in the Fellowship Hall. Small kitchens were built on each floor too. An outdoor play area and a Boy Scout Club were even built on the church's roof.

The money for St. Paul's building came from a loan from the Bank of America. A local businessman, Charles H. Crawford, also helped. In June 1930, Mr. Crawford joined St. Paul's Presbyterian Church. On the day he was baptized, he gave a valuable ring to the church. He asked the pastor, Rev. Gustav A. Briegleb, to sell the ring. The money was to help build a parish house. In November 1930, Mr. Crawford gave another $25,000. This money was used to build a parish hall. It was named Amelia Crawford House, in honor of his mother.

The Westminster Presbyterian Church building on Jefferson Boulevard is very important. On June 11, 1980, it was named a City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (No. 229). This means the building is recognized for its importance to the history of Los Angeles.

Presbyterian Churches in Los Angeles Today

Within the Pacific Presbytery, there are eight main African American Presbyterian churches. These include Angeles Mesa Presbyterian Church, Bel-Vue Community Presbyterian Church, Church of the Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Community United Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church of Inglewood, First Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles, St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, and Westminster Presbyterian Church.