In February 1880, the Presbytery of East Texas sent Rev. S. F. Tenney and Rev. W. C. Wallace to Beaumont, Texas, to organize a Presbyterian Church "if the way be clear." On February 28, 1880, the two pastors organized a church with seven charter members: Mrs. Clara Baldwin Chaison; Miss Harriet P. Baldwin (Clara Baldwin Chaison's sister); Mrs. Viola Fenwick; Mr. W. S. Keahey; Mrs. H. M. Keahey; Mrs. Mary P. Watson and Mrs. M. C. Alexander. Rev. W. C. Wallace remained as Stated Supply Pastor for three years. Thirteen members were added, and ten children were baptized. The group met "Sabbath by Sabbath" in the county courthouse and a little rented hall. This early group of worshipers also met in the Magnolia Park Chapel in Beaumont at the time that Rev. Robbins came to Beaumont: "It was later moved to its present location, 2390 Magnolia Avenue to serve as a Mission Chapel in 1914, and to give place to the present building in which the Congregation of the Westminster Presbyterian Church now worships."
In 1881, the church purchased the lot where the present church building now stands. This location would eventually be known as 530 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas. It is located at the intersection of North Main and Elizabeth Streets. In 1882, the group managed to build a mere church frame, without ceiling, spire or bell. The members considered it their church home, however, and worshipped there, at what they called the First Presbyterian Church. It would eventually be known as the Westminster Presbyterian Church. In 1888, the manse next to the church was built.
In 1909, this original church building was moved to 3290 Magnolia Avenue as a Mission fostered by the "First Church" (i.e., the First Presbyterian Church), and it later grew into the Second Presbyterian Church of Beaumont, Texas. Also in 1909, on June 2, ground was broken for the new church building. The permanent structure ("a handsome brick building") of the First Presbyterian Church was erected at 530 North Main Street (corner of North Main Street and Calder Avenue), Beaumont, Texas, during the pastorate of Dr. F. E. Robbins. On January 27, 1910, the cornerstone of the main church building was laid, with Masonic ceremonies.
On January 15, 1911, the church was first opened for public worship. Dr. W. McF. Alexander, D.D., preached the first sermon. The total amount expended on the building and equipment of the church was $41,171.12. The building was soon paid off and remained free of encumbrance. This church fostered three missions: Royal Street, North End, and Robbins Memorial. In May 1921, at a meeting held at the First Methodist Church, Beaumont, the Westminster Presbyterian Church was established with 484 charter members, combining the former First Presbyterian and Central Christian Presbyterian churches into one church. The meeting was held at the First Methodist Church because of construction on the First Presbyterian Church building. This construction expanded the church building to accommodate the larger congregation which would result from the merger. Additionally, in 1912, the Ladies Aid Society of Central Presbyterian Church had purchased a lot and building, built in 1912, known as the manse and located at 2105 Liberty Avenue, Beaumont. Later, in 1921, the union of the First and Central Presbyterian Churches caused the manse to become the property of the newly organized Westminster Presbyterian Church.
In 1930, an Educational Building was added adjacent to the main building, during the pastorate of Dr. T. M. Hunter. The 1930s and 1940s saw the establishment of several long-running Sunday School classes for children and adults, including the Allison Class, the Berean Class, the Bethany Covenant Adult Class, and the Couples Class. In 1940, the interior of the main church building was remodeled, during the pastorate of Dr. David Worth Roberts. The Westminster Youth Center, at 498 Walnut Street, Beaumont, catered to the young people of the congregation, and was located near the other Westminster buildings.
Several pastors served Westminster throughout its history. They include Rev. H. S. Henderson, who oversaw the union of Westminster and Central Presbyterian Churches; Dr. T. M. Hunter (1921-1937); Dr. David W. Roberts (1937-1965); Dr. John R. Hendricks (1966-1973); Rev. Phineas A. Washer (1973-1980); Rev. Richard Knott (1981-1985); Rev. George Williams (1986-1991); Interim Supply Rev. Ed Gearhart (1991-1993); Rev. Dr. Roger D. M. Harano (1993-1996); Interim Supply Rev. Lloyd Crosby (1997-1998); Rev. Wayne Rhodes (1993-2003); Stated Supply Rev. Mark Vernon (2003); and Rev. Carol Tompkins (2003-2009). Westminster also had the first woman in the pastoral position in the Presbyterian Church U.S., as Rev. Patricia McClurg became the Assistant Pastor in June 1967. McClurg later became president of the National Council of Churches, in 1987.
Westminster helped establish other Presbyterian churches in Southeast Texas, including Amelia Presbyterian Church, Robbins Memorial Presbyterian Church, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Second Presbyterian Church, Silsbee Presbyterian Church, Sour Lake Presbyterian Church, and Vidor Presbyterian Church. It also did great good among the wider community. Among other accomplishments, it supported a Boy Scout troop, was a charter member of Some Other Place (a joint mission which helps low-income and homeless persons), was the meeting place of the Seaman's Center, had a strong Prison Ministry, and it participated in the Souper Bowl every year. The Ladies Aid Society, founded in 1888, continued to serve throughout the church's history, later becoming known as the Presbyterian Women. In 1986, the church also established the Westminster Children's Center, which was a full-time day care program which cared for the children of downtown workers. The church also lent support to the Beaumont Baroque Ensemble.
Westminster possessed several stained glass windows which may have been the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany. The east window portrayed "I am the Door; By Me If any Man enter in He Shall Be Blessed" (John 10:9), the west windows portrayed "Because I live, Ye Shall Live Also" (John 14:19) and "I am the resurrection and the Life" (John 11:25), and the north window depicted "If Any Man Hear My Voice and Open the Door, I will Come in to Him" (Rev. 3:20).
Westminster Presbyterian Church was successful for more than 125 years. On its 125th anniversary, in 2005, the church received congratulations and recognition from President George W. Bush; U. S. Senator John Cornyn (Texas); U. S. Representative Judge Ted Poe (Texas) and other dignitaries. But as younger members of the church grew up and left for college, military service, marriage and careers, the membership gradually declined. In 2009, under the leadership of Rev. Carol Tompkins, the church reluctantly closed its doors, having served God and humanity for about 130 years. This extended period of Westminster's growth and service to Southeast Texas and beyond has been well documented by its members through correspondence and pictures, mementos and especially through scrapbooks. The importance of the church building has been recognized by the Texas Historical Commission with an official marker installed near the main entrance.
The Westminster Presbyterian Church Records provide a comprehensive look at the activities of a thriving twentieth-century Christian church. Covering the years from approximately 1904 to 2009, these papers depict decades of the Church's growth. Although their content primarily focuses on the internal, local activities of the Church, the effects of national and international events are also felt, especially during the World War II years.
These records were produced by the Westminster Presbyterian Church as it worked to spread Christianity in the Southeast Texas region. Its educational activities are especially well-represented through the records of its religious education classes. The collection also includes important administrative records of the church, such as its session minutes and diaconate minutes. The Membership subseries shows how the church's membership grew and declined throughout its history, and the church's bulletins and newsletters provide details about the church's weekly events. The collection holds many scrapbooks and photograph albums created by members of the church, which show the vibrancy of its membership. The church's financial records make up a significant portion of the collection, and include annual reports, bank statements, and disbursement records.
This collection is organized into 9 series.
Some restrictions may apply. Note that the Tyrrell Historical Library does not have the equipment necessary for playing the tapes in the Audiovisual Materials series.
The Tyrrell Historical Library holds copyright for the collection. The researcher must secure permission to publish. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the Tyrrell Historical Library. The researcher assumes full responsibility for complying with copyright, literary property rights, and libel laws.
Beaumont Interfaith Choral Society Collection, AC-228.
[Item], [Folder], [Box], Westminster Presbyterian Church Records, 1904-2009, AC-606, Tyrrell Historical Library, Beaumont, Texas.
Donated by Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2009.
Processed by Tyrrell Historical Library staff, 2012 October.
Finding aid revised and encoded by Tyrrell Historical Library staff, 2012 November.
"Westminster Families, Early Years, Supplemental 1922 –"
"A Brief History of a Church with a Lot of History!: Westminster Presbyterian Church, Beaumont, TX." Program of the Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of the New Covenant, page 22-23. Saturday, February 7, 2009. Grace Presbyterian, Houston, Texas. Accessed 16 October 2012.
This series includes many historical papers from Westminster's history, such as its constitution and bylaws, and other papers describing its organization. It holds the papers of some of its pastors and staff, and also includes records from some of the churches it helped establish, along with the records of Westminster's Extension Committee. Papers from Westminster's 125th anniversary celebrations are also included here, along with the contents of the cornerstone box laid inside the cornerstone of First Presbyterian Church on January 27, 1910.
This series documents the activities of the Women of the Church, an organization of women founded as the Ladies' Auxiliary Society. The Women of the Church of Westminster was a local branch of the southern Presbyterian organization, Women of the Church. After the 1983 merger of the United Presbyterian Church in North America (UPCNA), and the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS), the Women of the Church also merged with its northern counterpart, the United Presbyterian Women, and became known as the Presbyterian Women. This organization supported female missionaries, domestic and foreign. The series includes meeting minutes, scrapbooks, financial records, reports, and membership rolls.
This series includes records of Westminster Church's programs, primarily its educational activities. It holds the records of several of its educational classes, including the Allison Class, Berean Class, Bethany Covenant Class, the Couples' Class, the children's Sunday School classes, and the Sara Hunter Bible Class. It also includes records from ordinations performed at the church.
The Allison Class, named for Cave Davant Allison, the wife of a former Presbyterian minister, formed in 1935 as a Bible class for young women. Its first teacher was Mrs. R. J. Orrick. In addition to its study, the Allison Class performed annual social service projects. The Allison Class voted to disband on December 10, 1999, and merged with the Hope Class.
The Bethany Covenant Adult Class formed in the early 1930s. The class studied the Bible, and was open to all adult women.
The Couples Class was an opportunity for married couples to study the Bible together.
The Administrative Records series contains the minutes of the Westminster Session, the body of elected elders which governed the church, and the minutes of the diaconate, or deacons, of the church. This series also includes membership records, such as membership rolls and directories, and worship aids, bulletins, and newsletters. The Property Records subseries documents the church's acquisition of property over the decades.
This subseries collects the minutes and records of the diaconate of the church.
This subseries collects the minutes of several other committees and groups at the Church, including congregational minutes, and the minutes of the Women's Auxiliary.
The Membership subseries holds records of reception to and dismissal from Westminster, in additon to directories, church rolls, and baptismal and death records.
This subseries collects church programs, bulletins, and newsletters published by Westminster from the 1920s through the 1990s.
This subseries holds deeds, liens, wills, and titles related to properties acquired by Westminster, both through purchase and through donation.
This series collects the scrapbooks and photo albums made by Westminster's congregation. The Westminster's Families scrapbooks include many newspaper clippings and photographs which tell of the achievements of Westminster's congregation, while the Music scrapbook records the history of the music program at Westminster. The Allison Class produced many scrapbooks which are also collected here. This series lists the individual framed paintings and photographs which hung on the walls of Westminster church.
These photographs and portraits are currently unboxed.
This series collects the sheet music used by Westminster's music program. Westminster had a very successful music program for many years, with a pipe organ, choir, handbell choir, and other instrumentalists all contributing their talent. They performed many major works of classical music, which are listed individually, in addition to smaller pieces.
This series contains four boxes of tape reels, many unlabelled. Some tapes hold recordings of sermons given at Westminster. Note that the library does not have equipment to play these tapes.
This series holds records from Robbins Memorial Presbyterian Church, which began as a mission of Westminster, and merged back with Westminster in 1980.
The Financial Records series contains much of the church's financial records from throughout the years. It is divided into four series: Financial Reports, which includes annual reports, audits, treasurer's reports, and other comprehensive reports; Bank Statements; Disbursements, which details the church's expenses; and Receipts.
This subseries holds annual reports, audit reports, stewardship reports, statistical reports, treasurer's reports, and budgets regarding Westminster's finances.
This subseries holds Westminster's bank statements from approximately 1929 to 2007.