Westminster Presbyterian Church (Minneapolis) facts for kids
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Westminster Presbyterian Church
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| Location | 83 12th St. S. Minneapolis, MN |
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| Built | 1897 |
| Architect | Warren Howard Hayes and Charles Sumner Sedgwick |
| Architectural style | Romanesque, Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000716 |
| Added to NRHP | June 26, 1998 |
Westminster Presbyterian Church is a historic church located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. This building is the third home for the church in over 140 years. It is officially recognized as a special place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
A Look at Westminster's History
Westminster Presbyterian Church started small in 1857. Eight people from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales came together to form the first group.
Building the First Church Home
By 1860, the growing group built their very first church. It was located on Fourth Street in downtown Minneapolis. However, the church quickly became too small. More and more people wanted to join the congregation.
Moving to a Bigger Location
Because the church was growing so fast, they needed a larger space. In 1883, they started building a new, bigger church. This second building was located at Seventh Street and Nicollet Avenue.
Just twelve years after it opened, the second church building was badly damaged by a fire. This event meant the church needed to move again.
The Current Church Building
The church decided to build a new home at its current spot. This is at Twelfth Street and Nicollet Mall. The doors of this new church opened for services in 1897.
Two well-known architects from Minneapolis, Warren Howard Hayes and Charles Sumner Sedgwick, worked together to design the current church building.
Restoring the Sanctuary
In 1998, the church celebrated its 100th birthday in the current building. To mark this special occasion, they started a big project. They worked to restore the main worship area, called the sanctuary.
This project brought back many of the original design details. It also made the building stronger and improved the lights and sound. The newly restored sanctuary opened for services on December 20, 1998.
A Recognized Landmark
Westminster Presbyterian Church is important for its history and its role in the community. In 1998, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special place recognized by the United States government.
In May 1999, the church received another award. It won the 1999 Heritage Preservation Award. This award came from the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission and the Minnesota Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
What Westminster Church Believes In
The church has a special statement that guides what they do. It talks about their goals and how they want to serve their community. Here are some of the things they aim to do:
- Share the good news of Jesus Christ.
- Come together as an open community to worship God with respect and happiness.
- Help people grow their personal faith through learning, prayer, and friendship.
- Work to create a world with more love, peace, and fairness.
- Be a welcoming and caring Christian community, showing God's love every day.
- Work with other churches and groups both locally and beyond.
- Be an important and positive presence in the city.
