Westminster Presbyterian Church
see below for our heritage in Decatur, Illinois	click on the logo for the Presbyterian Church USA (above) to explore our world and national heritage

The Second Presbyterian Church (formerly the Cumberland Presbyterian Church) of Decatur was organized June 24, 1891.    It was located in the G.A.R. Hall in the 300 block of North Main Street.    A new church building was erected in 1898 at the North-East corner of West Eldorado and North Monroe Streets.    The founding and opening of Millikin University in 1901 - 1903 gave new life and strength to the congregation.    In May, 1906 the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was held in Decatur and approved the union with the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America.    The name of the local church was changed to Second Presbyterian Church.

The Westminster Presbyterian Church was organized from the Mission Sunday School maintained by the First Presbyterian Church in their building on the southwest corner of West Macon Street and Haworth Avenue in 1908.    In 1917 the church building was erected at West Main Street and Park Place.    The original building is now our Blue chapel and Library Lounge, with the Lottie Cook Lounge and kitchen on the lower level.    Some rooms on the second floor are used at present as the office for the Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois.    This is the South-West corner of our present building.

Following overtures by the sessions of the two churches, the merger of the Second Presbyterian Church and the Westminster Presbyterian Church was effected on November 23, 1920, under the name of Westminster Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.    Mrs. James Millikin bought the lot East of the Westminster building and presented it to the church for a new building.    Ministers of the two churches, the Reverend J. W. McDonald and the Reverend W. S. Dando, served as co-pastors and the first service of the newly organized church was held in the auditorium of Millikin University on January 2, 1921.    Plans were drawn up for a new building to the East of the original structure and it was dedicated on February 3, 1929.    This contains our present sanctuary and gymnasium.        As our church school membership grew, more room was needed and plans were made for the addition of a new Education Unit. This was added to the North of the building and was dedicated on March 18, 1956.    This addition also includes a new comercial kitchen, much larger fellowship hall, and even a stage for special events.        The gymnasium, many levels, and complex layout of the total campus has proven interesting for the youth in the area.    It is the best place in town for overnight youth programs.    At least that is what our young people tell us.    However, as all of us are not that young, we have two elevators and a wheelchair lift.