Laying the foundation.

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 the 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. 

When the Church School outgrew the available space, the Vanguard Class bought 40 acres in the area and made a subdivision knows 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. 

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. 

Also 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" - in 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. 

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 Pollock Harper, Jr. and Rev. Jong Pyo Lee, Evangelist.  A Korean elder and three Korean deacons were elected and installed as members of the position of Associate Pastor for Korean Ministries was established.  Serving as Associate Pastors for the Korean ministries wee 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 int the building once occupied by the Duraleigh Road Baptist Church, and had over 200 members by the end of 1990.