September 23 Today in OPC History

On September 23, 1932 seven former members of Benedict Memorial Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) of New Haven, CT met with Pastor L. Craig Long to form Calvin Presbyterian Church. In 1936, Pastor Long and the congregation became one of the founding congregations of the Presbyterian Church of America (now OPC). In short order the congregation grew to over one hundred members. Dr. J. Gresham Machen was one of the speakers at the first Bible conference held in the spring of 1933.

Edmund P. Clowney served as pastor 1942 to 1946. During his pastorate the congregation moved from New Haven to neighboring Hamden and changed its name to First Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In 1955 the name Westminster Orthodox Presbyterian Church came into use. The Rev. Richard Gerber served from 1979 to 1999, and the Rev. James W. Campbell served as part-time Teacher from 1987 to 2022. The Rev. Jonathan Holst is the eleventh and current pastor.

Over the years many have made Westminster their church home. For some it was while doing graduate studies at Yale University. Among these were: John Frame, Tremper Longman, Daniel Doriani, and OPC missionaries to Taiwan Steve and Faye Hake.

The covenant faithfulness of God at Westminster OPC is seen in numerous sons and daughters of the church. Harry Hubbard was one of the first four ruling elders. His son, James, is a current ruling elder. His grandson Roger Mack is a deacon and a Christian school teacher. Edward and Jeannie Hooghkirk were among the founding families. Their granddaughter Ruth Squires Bacon is the wife of ruling elder William Bacon, who has been serving over forty-four years.

Ruling Elder Henry Bacon in 1986 spoke for many when he wrote, The congregation and pastors of Westminster Church have experienced many trials and joys. From a small beginning in 1932 it has continually presented Jesus Christ as the only hope of salvation . . . Through all this time the congregation can testify to the fact that God had been faithful to his promise to be with his people, to bless them, and to open a door for the entrance of his Word to the saving of souls.

Picture: Left to right clockwise, Steve and Faye Hake, Luther Craig Long, John Frame, and Edmund Clowney.