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PASADENA, CA

History & Heritage

The Story of a Congregation

The Story of the Congregation

Founded in 1908 with 51 members, Westminster Presbyterian Church rapidly became a significant spiritual home in Pasadena. By the 1960s, membership exceeded 2,500 and represented more than 30 Christian traditions, creating a vibrant and diverse community.
The 1960s marked both a high point and a period of transition. Membership reached a peak of 2,503 in 1963. During this era, Westminster publicly supported the Presbyterian General Assembly’s actions on civil rights and church-state issues. Social upheaval led to mixed reactions within the congregation—some members left, others retired or relocated—but the church continued to grow in mission and clarity. In 1965, Westminster published its first all-photo directory. Three years later, in 1968, the church adopted a unicameral Session, allowing elders to serve simultaneously as trustees.

For more than a century, Westminster has cultivated a rich array of ministries. Women of Westminster, founded in 1913, played a central role in congregational life. The Mariners Club welcomed couples; Vanguard Fellowship supported seniors; and thriving youth and scouting programs—including Boy Scout Troop 4, the region’s longest continuously active troop—shaped generations of young people. Community dinners, festivals, and adult education groups fostered fellowship and belonging.

Westminster has long held a commitment to justice and representation. In 1967, Edward Soza became the church’s first elder from an ethnic minority. Three years later, in 1970, William Sims was ordained as Westminster’s first Black ruling elder. That same year, the congregation publicly supported school integration efforts in Pasadena, demonstrating a continued dedication to equity and community engagement.

1906

Founded in 1906 – A New Community of Faith

Westminster Presbyterian Church began in 1906 as a small mission outpost on the corner of Lake Avenue and Claremont Street — a few faithful families dreaming of a neighborhood church that would reflect God’s love in word and deed. Guided by the Spirit and grounded in Reformed tradition, these charter members laid the foundation for a community of faith that would grow alongside the city of Pasadena itself. By 1908, fifty-one members formally organized Westminster Presbyterian Church, committing to worship, fellowship, and service that continues to this day.

1926

A New Home in 1926 – Building for the Future

By the mid-1920s, the young congregation had outgrown their original bungalow chapel and envisioned a new home where generations could gather. In 1926, plans began for a new sanctuary — and in 1928, the soaring French Gothic building at 1757 N. Lake Avenue was completed. Designed by renowned architects Marston, Van Pelt & Maybury, with consulting architect Ralph Adams Cram, the sanctuary’s rose windows, vaulted ceilings, and stone façade were built as a lasting expression of faith, beauty, and welcome. For nearly a century, our sacred space has stood as a beacon at the crossroads of Pasadena and Altadena.

1950's

A Place to Thrive – The 1950s

The postwar years brought tremendous vitality to Westminster. The 1950s marked a time of growth, connection, and community life, as the congregation flourished with ministries for all ages. Worship attendance filled the sanctuary; choirs and Sunday schools thrived; and new groups like the Women of Westminster, the Mariners Fellowship, and Vanguard Seniors nurtured fellowship and service. The 1950s were an era of optimism and expansion, as Westminster became a spiritual and social hub for Pasadena families seeking faith, belonging, and purpose.

1960's

A Place of Challenge – The 1960s

The 1960s brought social transformation — and Westminster was not untouched. When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke in Pasadena, some protested while others rejoiced — and Westminster’s leadership chose courage over comfort, standing for justice and inclusion. The church faced the realities of redlining and the changing demographics of the surrounding neighborhoods, wrestling with what it meant to live faithfully in a city divided by race and class. Through prayer, dialogue, and discernment, Westminster began to claim our call as a congregation committed to reconciliation, equity, and the gospel of peace.

1990's

A Place of Change – The 1990s
The 1990s ushered in a new season of ministry marked by diversity, creativity, and outreach. Westminster expanded partnerships with local schools, community groups, and the arts — opening its campus as a shared space for non-profits, recovery groups, and after-school programs. In a time of rapid social and technological change, the church reimagined how to live out our mission in a multicultural Los Angeles, creating new ways to worship, serve, and build bridges across difference.

2000's

A Place of Consistency – The 2000s

Through the early 2000s, Westminster became known for steady leadership and faithful presence. Amid national and cultural shifts, the congregation remained anchored by values of worship, community care, and hospitality. The church’s stability during this era provided a deep sense of continuity — a reminder that while the world changes, God’s steadfast love endures from generation to generation.

2020's

A Place of Renewal – The 2020s
In the 2020s, Westminster stands at a crossroads of renewal and recommitment. After years of pandemic disruption and social change, the church has embraced a new vision — to be a center for spiritual vitality, neighborhood partnership, and regional transformation. With a focus on rebuilding community, deepening faith, and serving the greater Los Angeles area (especially after the Eaton Fires in 2025), Westminster is rediscovering our calling as a place where tradition meets possibility, and where all are invited to grow, belong, and be transformed by the love of Christ.

Campus History & Architecture

Westminster Presbyterian Church began as the Lake Avenue Mission Branch of Pasadena Presbyterian Church. A modest first chapel, built in 1906 at North Lake Avenue and Claremont Street for $2,000, served the growing community. Two years later, in 1908, Westminster formally organized as an independent congregation with 51 charter members.

In 1909, the entire chapel structure was moved—by mule teams—to the corner of Lake Avenue and Woodbury Road. The building soon garnered national attention, earning first place in Ladies’ Home Journal for “Outstanding Bungalow Church Design.”

The current French Gothic sanctuary at 1757 N. Lake Avenue was designed by Marston, Van Pelt & Maybury, with celebrated medievalist architect Ralph Adams Cram serving as consultant. The cornerstone was laid on October 23, 1927, and the project ultimately cost $552,001.10. The mortgage was fully paid by 1949.

The sanctuary seats 1,100 on the main floor, with original galleries designed for 350 each. Architectural influences are drawn from the Cathedral of Metz; Église Saint-Ouen in Rouen; Gothic motifs from Bressuire, France; and rose window designs reminiscent of Beauvais and Amiens. Ornamentation throughout includes crown motifs, honoring Pasadena’s identity as the “Crown City.”

Stained Glass at Westminster

Crafted by the renowned artisans of Judson Studios, the stained glass collection at Westminster Presbyterian Church stands among Southern California’s most significant examples of French Gothic–inspired ecclesiastical art. These windows transform the sanctuary into a luminous gallery of theology, history, and devotion.

Designed in the thirteenth-century grisaille style, the Chancel Window portrays the Ascension of Christ, illuminated by the promise from John 14:3: “And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again to receive you unto myself.”

Three narrative panels depict formative moments in Jesus’ earthly ministry: the Baptism of Christ, The Lord’s Supper, and the Sermon on the Mount.

Surrounding the scenes, the side lancets display ancient Christian symbols—the Alpha and Omega—and, in the center, the historic “Hand of God,” a motif that has appeared in Christian art since the fifth century. Above, a choir of angels crowns the composition in a quatrefoil, drawing the eye heavenward.

The sanctuary houses three brilliantly colored rose windows, each expressing its own theological theme.

The North Rose – Sapphire

Rendered in blues and whites accented with ruby tones, the North Rose symbolizes heaven and divine faith. Its imagery narrates the Parable of the Good Samaritan, unfolding clockwise around the window.

The South Rose – Emerald

Washed in green hues, this window evokes themes of spring, eternal hope, and spiritual renewal. Its design centers on the Parable of the Prodigal Son, capturing the compassion and forgiveness of God.

The East Rose – Ruby

Radiating deep red glass, the East Rose embodies Christian love and compassion. It illustrates the Six Works of Mercy found in Matthew 25:35–36—feeding the hungry, quenching the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, healing the sick, and visiting the imprisoned.

The Nave and Transept

Throughout the nave and transepts, twenty paired windows in the grisaille tradition portray key figures from Scripture. Arranged in approximate chronological sequence—from Abraham and Sarah to Dorcas—they highlight the faithful service of both women and men across biblical history.

The Narthex Windows

The narthex windows honor David Joseph Macpherson and Emma Maxfield Macpherson. David Macpherson, an early trustee, played a vital role in relocating the church campus and is remembered for co-building the famed Mt. Lowe Railway with Thaddeus Lowe.

Pastoral Leadership through the Early Years

Westminster’s earliest pastoral leadership includes Rev. William E. Dodge (1906–1911), who guided the congregation during its mission-chapel era, followed by Rev. C.A. Spaulding (1912–1918), who concluded his service to become a chaplain during World War I.

The church’s senior pastors have shaped its theological identity and community life across generations. Among them are Rev. Arthur O. Pritchard (1919–1921); Dr. Angus H. Cameron (1921–1925); and Dr. Josiah Sibley (1925–1932), who oversaw the planning of the current sanctuary. Leadership continued under Dr. Merle K.W. Heicher (1934–1940); Dr. Max M. Morrison (1942–1966), remembered for guiding Westminster’s “Golden Era”; Dr. Harry W. Eberts, Jr.; Dr. John R. Chandler; and Dr. Kent D. Lawrence.

Throughout the early years, Westminster was also shepherded at key moments by respected interim leaders such as Dr. John Gilbert Blue, Dr. H.H. Shawhan, Dr. Joseph A. Stevenson, Dr. Henry Marcotte, Rev. John L. McCreight, and Dr. John L. Reid, Jr.