Westminster Presbyterian Church Centennial Books

I knew right away that Westminster had something different, and I wanted to be a part of what was going on there. I am so thankful for the solid reformed teaching I have enjoyed here. God used the women of Westminster to love and nurture me in so many ways.

Eighteen faithful men had endorsed the church mortgage with the Life Insurance Company of Virginia for the amount of $60,000, with annual payments on the loan of $6000 – plus interest. This certainly became a burden on the church since times were so bad. Originally, it had been a ten year loan. Now, it would have to be renewed several times. Despite all the penny pinching by the congregation, payments sometimes were skipped, and at times it looked like Westminster would lose the property through foreclosure. Some of the affluent men who had signed their name to this note, and other members who made substantial pledges in the prosperous days of 1927, lost heavily during the Great Depression. Still others died or moved out of town, adding to the back breaking job of paying off the mortgage. The church, with the debt constantly hanging over its head, tried all sorts of economizing. At one time any church long - distance calls had to be authorized by the chairman of the deacons . Do you remember, back in the day, when calling someone long distance cost a lot of money? Endorsers on the note have been heralded as heroes by a grateful church. Today, they might be known as the “ Rock Stars ” of our Church History. Do you recognize any of these names? J. E. Nelson would have been grandfather to Jim and Kathy Nelson. Clyde C. Sarver would have been grandfather to Pete and Steve Sarver, and Dr. Albert H. Hoge was Charlie Hoge ’ s great uncle. Do you recognize other names? Unless one lived back then during the Depression years, there ’ s no way to adequately describe it. The average American family lived by the Depression - era motto: “ Use it up, wear it out, make do or -- do without. ” Potluck suppers -- often organized by churches, became a popular way to share food and a cheap form of social entertainment. Board games like Scrabble and Monopoly were invented for folks spending all their time at home. Listening to the radio was a common way for a family to spend an evening. If you did have an extra 25 cents to splurge, you might go to one of 30,000 miniature golf locations that had sprung up all across the country. Average life expectancy in 1935 was 60 years for men, and 64 for women. There is no final paragraph to the church mortgage story. The conclusion will be shared in Chapter Three, with the chapter that focuses on Dr. Patterson. Dr. Gunn, Westminster ’ s second pastor, served Westminster for 17 years, from 1926 - 1943. You know, the same God we serve and love today in 2023 is the exact same God these men and women, and boys and girls loved 100 years ago in 1923, and during those ten years of terrible economic Depression. “ Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me! ” And this concludes Chapter Two of -- Our Story, Your Story, His Story.

Lana Hartzog

Many of the folks we worshiped with are now in heaven, but we still treasure the memories, pray for Westminster daily, and are thankful for the teachings as passed along to our family.

Ray and Jackie Williford

I feel thankful that my journey brought me to this church family at Westminster and excited to know that the Lord is using all of us here to proclaim His good news and to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ in our community.

Harriet Warf

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