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Westminster
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History
On August 25, 1855, just two years after Clarinda was platted as the county seat, a meeting was held for the purpose of organizing a Presbyterian Church. The Presbyterian Church of Clarinda received five members and for three years met in the Cottonwood School or the Courthouse without a regular preacher.
In 1859 church members called a regular pastor and plans were introduced to build a house of worship. A lot on the North Promenade was donated by J.H. Powers and by the fall of the year a white frame one-story structure was completed on the same site as we worship today. The first bell to ring out over the prairies of Page County was brought in 1862 by Anthony Loranz from Illinois and it called worshipers to services for over 100 years.
A two story brick church was built in 1881 to house the growing congregation and was razed in 1909 for the next building, a grand dark brick church with a domed ceiling. The building and its beautiful art glass windows became a source of community pride.
In the early morning hours of Maundy Thursday 1975, a fire destroyed Westminster. After study and congregation voting, it was decided to rebuild on the same site.
The cornerstone from the 1910 church was used when groundbreaking and building was done in 1976. The present church was dedicated in October of 1977 -- the fourth structure to serve the congregation on the same corner, again using the theme of Christ knocking at the door, calling his followers to serve.