Westminster United celebrates hundred years of harmony
WINNIPEG, MB—A century after its founding, Westminster United Church is one of the most well-known on the Winnipeg classical music scene. It's also home to some important community outreaches.
The Westminster congregation had its beginnings in 1892 when some members of St. Andrew's Presbyterian moved to Victoria Hall on Notre Dame Avenue in the heart of Winnipeg. The group grew, and eventually purchased a property in the Wolseley area where the current building—designed by famed Winnipeg architect, J.H.G. Russell—was completed in 1912. They called the new church "Westminster Presbyterian."
The transformation of Westminster Presbyterian into Westminster United is a chapter in the story of the United Church. The church union movement in 1908 involved three Christian denominations, the Presbyterians, Methodists and Congregationalists. After much debate, the United Church of Canada was officially formed in 1925, 13 years after Westminster Presbyterian had begun worshipping at the current site.
Unsure of the eventual outcome of the church union movement, the cornerstone laid at Westminster by Earl Grey, the Governor General of Canada, was simply inscribed as "Westminster Church," without any denominational description. Today, the congregation is known as Westminster United Church, with a membership of 450.
Led for the past 22 years by senior pastor Robert Campbell—who first felt the call to ministry as a 16-year-old in Roblin, Manitoba—Westminster emphasizes a strong pulpit and choral program. Geza Szemok, associate pastor, and James Christie, former dean of theology at the University of Winnipeg, assist Campbell in leading the congregation.
An elegant Gothic-style church, Westminster's exquisite acoustics offer a rich environment for musical performances. Besides being renowned for its concert organ series for the past 22 years, Westminster provides a venue for Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, the Winnipeg Singers and university choral groups.
To commemorate the church's 100th anniversary, an organ work has been commissioned in honour of Don Menzies, who celebrates 45 years as church organist. Menzies will premiere the composition written by Rachel Laurin, a famed organist and composer, on Anniversary Sunday in October 2012.
Westminster United is also home to two busy ministries. The Westminster Housing Society, which began as an outreach ministry and is now a separate entity working with three levels of government, provides affordable housing for low-income people in the West Broadway neighbourhood. Another ministry, International HOPE Inc., was founded in 2001 and collects and delivers unwanted but unused medical supplies to Third World countries.
As its centennial approaches, Westminster United continues to live Jesus' teaching by showing love to their neighbours in the Wolseley neighbourhood and around the world.
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