The Second Presbyterian Church – organized in 1813 was located on Chapel and Lodge Streets. The cod and pumpkin weathervane from this church now is on the Albany Academy. DeWitt Clinton attended this church.

The Third Presbyterian Church – organized in 1817 was located in the Clinton Square area and was familiarly known as the “Clinton Square Presbyterian Church”. However in 1910, as the trend of the population of the city had moved steadily southward and westward away from this section – this church joined with the Second Presbyterian Church.

State Street Presbyterian Church – organized in 1861. As Albany first expanded west of Eagle Street, the Church and this is when State Street Church was started on this very site. Ground was broken for the new church April 17, 1861, and it was completed and dedicated on October 12, 1862.

Westminster Presbyterian Church – 1919. In 1919 the Second Presbyterian Church (combination of Second and Third) joined State Street Church and formed Westminster. In 1918 the State Street Church (built here) was without a minister – the Second Presbyterian Church had an outstanding minister, Rev. J. V. Moldenhawer, but due to a wartime scarcity the church did not have coal so the congregations joined at first on an emergency measure but as the temporary union proved agreeable, it became permanent in 1919 and years of growth have followed.

In August 1928 a disastrous fire broke out in the church. It was caused by a spark from a blowtorch which ignited the lathe and plaster under the roof during repairs. The roof burned and fell in and for a while it was feared the steeple would fall.

The congregation of Temple Beth Emeth – then at the corner of Lancaster and Swan – very generously opened their doors to us and we had Worship Services and other services there until our church was rebuilt.

Westminster, briefly for the next 70 years.

Under the inspired leadership of Dr. Kenneth B. Welles, whose tenure at Westminster spanned 25 years, the rebirth of our spiritual home saw a similar expansion in our spiritual activities. As membership rose to over 800, church music expanded from a quartet to both a Senior and Young Peoples Choir. Westminster’s long involvement in dramatics was launched when, in 1934, the first chancel drama, Peter’s Denial, was presented.

In the area of education, our Sunday School young people became pioneers in a 20-year research and development effort in association with faculty from Union College. Called the Character Research Program, the experimental curriculum stressed the teaching of Christian and humanitarian ethics and values, involving parents as well as teachers in the weekly lessons.

Our mission support in the 30’s was two-fold; extending to the nearby Sacandaga Valley and as far away as Iran and Brazil.

With our membership swelling to 1,300 in 1941, the Assembly Room was amplified to accommodate the large number of people who attended Easter Service. We also had annual Laymen and Youth Services.

Our music and drama activities were expanded. Our outreach to the community also began in 1943, with the establishment of a game room for community children. The Evening Guild which sponsored this activity was soon joined by the Men’s Group which set up a draft and woodworking shop to work with area youths. A Couples Club was also formed to provide fellowship opportunities especially for young married couples of the church.

In 1942 we were able to fully repay for the rebuilding of the sanctuary and church house. Further, in 1945, pew rentals ceased and the annual giving by members became an important source of income to support the work of the church. It was also during these years that they began to consider the possibility of women serving on the boards.

Our mission support in the field took on a special meaning when one of Westminster’s own, Richard Smith, was ordained in 1941. For a number of years we supported Rev. Smith’s service in Morgantown, West Virginia.

The decade of the 50’s saw both a continuation of our rich traditions from the past and dramatic changes for the future.

We were saddened by the loss in 1953 of Dr. Welles, our spiritual leader and friend for 25 years. His concern and inspiration for young people can be traced to the seven young men of our congregation who were studying for the ministry.

Change came in other ways including the addition of the Welles Chapel, remodeled kitchen and new parking lot. There was a significant change in governance. Women finally found their way into church boards with the election in 1957 of Dorothy Bennet and Marion Humphrey as Elders.

Worship service and fellowship guilds continued in their usual fine tradition. The music and drama interests of the congregation carried on, as did our outreach to neighborhood children through the Game Room and Craft Club. The various Women’s Guilds also continued their long established service to local hospitals and the needy with various sewing and welfare projects.

In our mission efforts over the years, we have supported people assigned to us by Presbyterian Mission Board but especially beginning in 1957, we started support of the Lloyds in Japan.

Rev. John Laske came to Westminster in 1959 and served as Senior Minister throughout the 60’s until 1972.

In the early 60’s Westminster began joining with other downtown churches for special musical and dramatic events. In 1962 the religious drama “The Third Day” was presented on Easter morning. These early cooperative efforts eventually became the impetus for Westminster to join in 1967 with three other neighborhood churches in an association called the Focus Churches of Capitol Hill. Since then Focus efforts have expanded to include a broad range of missionary education, worship and fellowship activities.

Among the Focus endeavors was the outstanding Educational Institute – an educational experience in the fall and spring offering social action courses led by outstanding instructors and others from area colleges and universities.

Besides music and drama, the arts added another dimension to our worship in the 60’s. From ’63 to ’65 Westminster celebrated Adventures in Religious Art as all members, adult and youth alike, were invited to turn their creative talents toward God. The special outpouring of paintings, drawings, crafts, poems and stories were displayed in the church during Holy Week for everyone to share.

In our mission outreach, in addition to the Lloyd’s, we were fortunate to support one of our own again, as Douglas King served in Indonesia. The Sunday School also supported a missionary, Un Ja, in Korea.

In 1972, Rev. Carl Cooper and his family came to Westminster. During this period, new worship services such as Evensong and the early Communion Service were added.

The drama program, always an important means of building community in the church, produced a varied repertory such as A Doll House, Inherit the Wind, Barefoot in the Park, and The Male Animal, providing an opportunity for youth and adults to participate in a shared project.

The Focus churches undertook the ambitious and successful production of the chancel opera Noye’s Fludde in 1974. Singing City camp was established in 1976, a week-long opportunity for church and neighborhood children to join together for singing, handbell ringing, bible study, worship, field trips and arts and crafts.

And again in the 70’s, Westminster was blessed to see two of its own, Richard Otty and Gail Faithfull heed the call to Christian service in the ministry.

The early Communion Service started in the late 70’s, continued during the 80’s and 90’s. This was most meaningful to those who enjoyed the friendship of such an intimate service.

Bible study for Westminster adults varied. There was Circle A which was for women primarily led by one of the ministers. At the same time a men’s group formed for weekly Bible study which they led by themselves. Later, a women’s group was formed to meet in various homes led by a minister or one of the members of the group.

1983 – 1987 - The Doctor James A. Moore, Distinguished Preachers Series, brought distinguished preachers to Westminster in honor of Dr. Moore. This series included Dr. J. Randolph Taylor, moderator of General Assembly, the Honorable Mario Cuomo, governor of New York State, and Dr. William Sloane Coffin, Jr. Governor Cuomo pointed out that Westminster is a house of both prayer and work – both worship of God and service to humanity, that were linked together in all we do.

Worship at Westminster was led in October 25, 1987 by “Children” of the congregation who had attended theological seminary. The Reverend Robert Johnson was the Preaching Minister. Other participants were the Rev. Wendy Kellog-Van Orden, the Rev. John King, Rev. Douglas King, and Mr. Walter Mott. Participating in absentia by preparing prayers and responses were the Rev. Gail Faithfull, Rev. Donna Buell, Rev. Richard Otty, Rev. Stephen Phelps, Mr. Richard Dolvin and Miss Dorothy-Ellen Gross.

Starting January 1, 1990, we had our first female associate pastor, Rev. Betty Sutherland. Her specialty was Evangelism.

Music, always important, became more meaningful with the arrival of Alfred and Susan. Something new were the new Hand Bells that were introduced and allowed members of all ages to participate in worship. All music and worship were enhanced by the ministry of the Fedaks.

In 1997 Midge Baldwin presented a Celtic Cross in memory of her husband. This cross was crafted by our own Peter Leue.

In the late 1990’s we began planning to replace the old Allen Digital Computer Organ and replace it with our original E. M. Skinner Pipe Organ, Opus 780, which had miraculously been retained at the home of Dr. Thomas and Anne Older.

Westminster is a congregation that has vibrant and meaningful programs of worship, fellowship and service.

Our mission continues to extend from local community concerns to world-wide missions.

Westminster is a church of many generations located in the heart of the city doing our share to alleviate poverty and homelessness.