By Marilyn Miller
Minden Presbyterian Church, located on the corner of Broadway and Lewisville Road, is turning 100. Plans are being made to celebrate this remarkable milestone on Sunday, October 1, 2023 with refreshments and tours of the sanctuary immediately following worship services around town (from 12 noon until 2 p.m.).
According to past church historian, the late Mrs. Susie Lester, in the early 1920s the congregation began setting aside legacies toward the building of a new sanctuary.
“A substantial amount of money from legacies left by Miss Annie Drake and Mr. Felix Drake, a devoted member of the church and Sunday School Superintendent for 25 years, was set aside by the congregation in anticipation of building a new sanctuary,” Mrs. Lester wrote. “On April 2, 1922, the congregation appointed a Ways & Means Committee to look into the matter of erecting a new building.”
“With the legacies and liberal contributions on the part of the members, the Committee reported on March 25, 1923 that $24,000 was in sight for the new building, and the same Committee continued as a Building Committee.”
Committee members were J.H. Nelson, C.M. Hutton, R. H. Miller, A. E. Drake (grandson of Hervey Drake, and Claire Drake Moore’s father).
“The building, still in use today, was erected and occupied on Easter Sunday, April 20, 1924.” The cost of the building and furnishings was approximately $35,000. When completed, the building was free of debt.
Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Hutton, together with Mr. S. C. Webb, donated the “Hook & Hastings” pipe organ, which was first used on June 8, 1924.
Today, the church is part of the Minden Historical District.
“Everyone is invited to a reception in Hutton Hall and to tour our 100-year-old church, the oldest in Minden, on Sunday, Oct. 1 from 12 noon until 2 p.m. Former members, pastors and employees will be invited to attend as special guests,” said pastor, Rev. Keith Mariott.
