History & Mission of West Haven Presbyterian Church

West Haven Presbyterian Church
History & Mission of the Church

History of West Haven Presbyterian Church

West Haven Presbyterian Church was officially chartered May 13, 1951. Prior to that it was an outpost Sunday School of the First Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. A.L.Rinehart opened their home on S. Tillery Street for the first meeting of the Sunday School on February 15, 1948. It soon outgrew the space in their living room and was moved to a renovated chicken coop in their backyard. The Sunday School continued to grow and thoughts of a church began to take shape. Approximately 5 acres of land were acquired at the corner of West Haven Boulevard and Hammond Street in the newly developing neighborhood of West Haven.

The first building erected was an education building of 8 classrooms, a kitchen and a fellowship hall/sanctuary. It was completed in February 1951. By 1955 a new sanctuary building with offices was completed . The first worship service in the new sanctuary was held April 3, 1955. The Flora Applewhite Pemberton Memorial Activity Building was completed in 1993 with a half-court gym, kitchen, conference room and choir rehearsal room.

There have been 5 installed pastors. In 2001, the congregation celebrated the milestone of 50 years of service and ministry to an ever expanding neighborhood.

Vision Statement of West Haven Presbyterian Church

                                            We are being renewed in the spirit by
                                                 worshipping,
                                                     growing,
                                                          serving, and
                                                             loving
                                                               all God's people.