Westminster Yesterday and Today

Current Church Building at 301 E. Whitaker Mill Road

Westminster Presbyterian Church had its beginning in 1916 when the late Mr. C.C. Mangum and Mrs. Will Ingram discussed with the late Walter Hunter (superintendent of the Wake County Home) the possibility of establishing a church school in the northern section of Raleigh, which at that time had no church. Mr. Hunter, a member of the "Amazing Vanguards" Sunday School Class of the First Church of Raleigh (known today as First Presbyterian Church), recognized the need and presented the problem to the Vanguard Class through its teacher, the late Edmund B. Crow, offering the use of the County Home as a meeting place. Under the encouragement of the late Dr. W.M. White, pastor of First Church, the Vanguard Class accepted this challenge. So a Church School was organized in 1917, meeting each Sunday afternoon in the County Home, with members of First Church serving as teachers. Among them were Mrs. B. H. Bunch, and Miss Blanche White, daughter of Dr. White.

(Above) Laying the North Vanguard Church Cornerstone--Raleigh, NC, September 1920.

When the Church School outgrew the available space, the Vanguard Class bought 40 acres in the area and made a subdivision known as Vanguard Park. Enough money was made from the selling of the lots to pay for the original ten acres for the use of building a new church. The chapel building was built on the corner of Whitaker Mill and Reaves Drive in 1921 and was known as the North Vanguard Chapel. This building had a sanctuary seating capacity of 200 and several classrooms. The sale of eight acres of land provided funds for the building. First elders were C.C. Mangum, and M.C. Grant. Photo shown is the North Vanguard Presbyterian Church: 1921-1948.

In 1923, a church was organized from First Church* with 33 charter members, and was named the North Vanguard Presbyterian Church. Rev. William Bartlett Sullivan, Assistant Minister of First Church, was the organizing pastor and, in that same year, Rev. Coyte Hunter was called as full-time pastor. Mr. C.C. Mangum and Mr. M.C. Grant were the first ruling elders.

*Note: In 1923, two other Presbyterian churches were organized from First Church: First Vanguard (today's Milner Memorial-50 members) and Ernest Myatt (78 members).

During the pastorate of Mr. Hunter, a manse (1927) was constructed on the church grounds, as well as "The Hut" ) 1928 to meet demands for additional education and fellowship facilities. The Hut stood for 30 years until it was replaced. The Chapel was redecorated in 1938 and pews installed.

(Above) North Vanguard becomes Westminster Presbyterian Church with addition of new sanctuary in 1948 (upper right in photo). The new C.C. Mangum Christian Education building (upper left) was dedicated in 1961. Note original North Vanguard church lower center.

The present sanctuary was constructed in 1948, and the name of the church was changed to "Westminster." A new manse was constructed on the corner of Cooleemee Drive and Royster Street in 1954 at which time the first manse was sold and moved off the Church property to a lot on the corner of Reaves Drive and Hudson Street where it presently stands diagonally across from the Church property. This action enabled the congregation to meet the pressing need for an enlarged and improved parking area. (The new manse was sold in 1966.) The new C.C. Mangum Christian Education building was dedicated on May 21, 1961.

In 1966 the rooms between the sanctuary and the chapel were renovated to become a parlor-library-kitchenette complex, a new sanctuary organ was purchased, and the parking lot was paved.

(Left) Westminster Presbyterian Church 1968 with new bell tower on left.

In 1967 the Chapel was renovated, and in 1968 the 76-foot bell tower, equipped with the Verdin electronic carillon, was erected and dedicated (May 19, 1968) along with the renovated chapel and sanctuary entrance. The tower has a ten-foot Celtic cross. The Westminster Weekday Kindergarten was also established.

An important aspect of Westminster's ministry to the community was the uniting of a Korean congregation with Westminster in 1977 under the leadership of Pastor Curtis Pollok Harper, Jr. and Rev. Jong Pyo Lee, Evangelist. A Korean elder and three Korean deacons were elected and installed as members of the Session and the Diaconate; and the position of Associate Pastor for Korean Ministries was established. Serving as Associate Pastors for the Korean ministries were Yong Gil Maeng (1976) and Matthew Whong (1980).

For five years, Westminster existed as one church with two congregations, which ordinarily worshipped separately and simultaneously, with Korean-language services in the chapel and English-language services in the sanctuary. The church school, however, was integrated and its classes were conducted in English, except for the Bible Class for Korean adults. Joint fellowship activities also brought the two congregations together from time to time. By 1982, the objective of Westminster's covenant with the Korean congregation was achieved. The 95 Korean members organized and formed Duraleigh Presbyterian Church. They moved into the building once occupied by the Duraleigh Road Baptist Church, and had over 200 members by the end of 1990.
Above: Pastor Curtis Harper, Jr., (left) and Associate Pastor Matthew Whong. Two ethnically different congregations were one.

A major building and renovation project began in 1990, which included the modernization and expansion of our kitchen and fellowship hall and the building of a new administration area including the church office, the pastor's study, a parlor, a work room, and an attractive lobby. The building program also included a walled patio, an elevator, modernized rest room facilities and a wheelchair ramp to more fully meet the needs of handicapped persons. This project culminated with the dedication service being held on September 15, 1991.

Another important aspect of Westminster's ministry to the community and to numerous Christian causes has been the work of the Westminster Foundation which is a charitable foundation established in 1969 by members of Westminster. The foundation enables Westminster Church to broaden the scope of its outreach by providing funds to a wide range of worthy recipients.

Christmas at Westminster

The people of Westminster Presbyterian Church seek always to be faithful to the calling which is theirs in Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church.

Ministers who have served as Pastors

(1923)	William Bartlett Sullivan, organizing Pastor
1923	Coyte Hunter, first full time pastor
1929	W.L. Wells, Pastor
1931	R.K. Davenport, Pastor
1937	Frank S. Blue, Pastor
1940	A. Leslie Thompson, Pastor
1945	R. Don Carson, Pastor
1957-60	James B. Ficklen, Pastor
1961	Richard L. Morgan (Interim Minister)
1962-65	Robert J. Blumer, Pastor
1965-86	Curtis P. Harper, Jr., Pastor
1973-75	Faulder Colby, Associate Pastor
1977	Rev. Jong Pyo Lee, Evangelist (Korean Congregation unites with Westminster)
1978-79	Dr. Yong Giel Maeng, Associate Pastor, Korean Ministries
1980-81	Dr. Matthew M.K. Whong, Associate Pastor, Korean Ministries
1982	Koreans organize as Duraleigh Presbyterian Church, move into own building
1986	James M. McChesney, Jr. (Interim Minister)
1987	Filbert C. Moore, Jr., Pastor
1990	Dr. Vance Barron (Interim Minister)
1991	Charles L. Donnell (Interim Minister)
1992-present	Rev. Conway B. Lanford, Jr