A Sanctuary on Lake Avenue
Westminster Presbyterian Church sits at 1757 N. Lake Avenue, just north of the 210 freeway on the boundary between Pasadena and Altadena. The congregation has met at this corner for nearly a century, and the 150-foot tower of its 1928 French Gothic sanctuary rises above Lake Avenue as a familiar local landmark. Inside, stone arches, vaulted ceilings, and rose windows cast colored shadows across the pews, and the sound of a 2,600-pipe Reuter organ fills the room on Sunday mornings at 10 AM. Westminster's motto - "Where all are called and God's love is shared" - speaks to the congregation's identity as a PC(USA) church with a progressive, inclusive welcome and a deep commitment to neighborhood partnership across the San Gabriel Valley.
Sundays at Westminster
Worship begins at 10:00 AM Pacific every Sunday in the sanctuary and is livestreamed on YouTube for those joining from home. The service follows a traditional Reformed pattern with three movements: Gathering as God's People, Encountering God's Word, and Responding to God's Word. Hymns, choral music, scripture readings, prayers, and a sermon are anchored in the shared lectionary cycle followed by Christians around the globe. Coffee hour and fellowship follow the service each week in the church's gathering spaces, giving newcomers a relaxed place to meet members of the congregation.
Visitors are welcomed at every service. The church supports intergenerational ministries through its Membership, Education, and Youth committee, with baptisms, confirmations, retreats, and adult education alongside programs for children, youth, and young adults. The sanctuary and fellowship hall are ADA accessible, and the Reuter organ's tone is complemented by the choir and bell choir under the direction of Dr. Imre Szilas.
Stone, Stained Glass, and a Reuter Organ
The sanctuary was designed by Marston, Van Pelt and Maybury in 1927, with celebrated medievalist Ralph Adams Cram serving as consulting architect. The cornerstone was laid on October 23, 1927, and the project ultimately cost $552,001.10; the mortgage was fully paid by 1949. Architectural influences were drawn from the Cathedral of Metz, Église Saint-Ouen in Rouen, Gothic motifs from Bressuire, France, and rose window designs reminiscent of Beauvais and Amiens. Ornamentation throughout includes crown motifs honoring Pasadena's identity as the "Crown City."
The stained glass is the sanctuary's signature art. Crafted by the renowned artisans of Judson Studios, the collection stands among Southern California's most significant examples of French Gothic-inspired ecclesiastical work. The Great Chancel Window portrays the Ascension of Christ in the thirteenth-century grisaille style, with three narrative panels depicting the Baptism of Christ, the Lord's Supper, and the Sermon on the Mount. The side lancets carry the Alpha and Omega and the historic "Hand of God" motif that has appeared in Christian art since the fifth century.
Three rose windows bring the sanctuary to life with color and theology. The North Rose, in blues and whites accented with ruby tones, symbolizes divine faith and narrates the Parable of the Good Samaritan. The South Rose, washed in greens, evokes eternal hope through the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The East Rose, radiating deep red glass, embodies Christian love through the Six Works of Mercy from Matthew 25: feeding the hungry, quenching the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, healing the sick, and visiting the imprisoned. Twenty paired grisaille windows in the nave and transepts portray key biblical figures from Abraham and Sarah to Dorcas, and the narthex windows honor David Joseph Macpherson - who co-built the Mt. Lowe Railway - and Emma Maxfield Macpherson.
The Reuter pipe organ, with more than 2,600 pipes and four manuals across 54 stops, anchors the church's worship. Once a month on the "Pedal to the Metal" series, the organ comes alive with unexpected repertoire spanning Broadway, video game tracks, and contemporary favorites that celebrate how versatile a pipe organ can be.
From Bungalow to Beacon: A Century on the Corner
Westminster began in 1906 as a small mission outpost on the corner of Lake Avenue and Claremont Street - a handful of faithful families who dreamed of a neighborhood church that would reflect God's love in word and deed. Two years later, in 1908, fifty-one members formally organized Westminster Presbyterian Church. The original bungalow chapel, built in 1906 for $2,000, was moved by mule teams in 1909 to the corner of Lake Avenue and Woodbury Road, where it earned first place in Ladies' Home Journal for "Outstanding Bungalow Church Design."
By the mid-1920s the young congregation had outgrown the bungalow and envisioned a lasting home. The current sanctuary was completed in 1928 and has served the church ever since, seating 1,100 on the main floor with original galleries designed for 350 each.
The postwar years brought tremendous vitality. The 1950s marked a time of growth, connection, and community life as the congregation flourished with ministries for all ages - choirs and Sunday schools thrived, and groups like the Women of Westminster (founded 1913), the Mariners Fellowship, Vanguard Seniors, and Boy Scout Troop 4 nurtured fellowship and service. By the 1960s, membership exceeded 2,500 and represented more than thirty Christian traditions.
The 1960s also brought social transformation. When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke in Pasadena, some protested while others rejoiced, and Westminster's leadership chose courage over comfort, standing for justice and inclusion. The church publicly supported the Presbyterian General Assembly's actions on civil rights. In 1967, Edward Soza became the church's first elder from an ethnic minority. In 1970, William Sims was ordained as Westminster's first Black ruling elder, and the congregation publicly supported school integration efforts in Pasadena.
The 1990s ushered in a new season of diversity, creativity, and outreach. Westminster expanded partnerships with local schools, community groups, and the arts, opening its campus as a shared space for nonprofits, recovery groups, and after-school programs. Through the early 2000s, the congregation became known for steady leadership and faithful presence, anchored by values of worship, community care, and hospitality. In the 2020s, after the disruption of the pandemic and the Eaton Fires of 2025, Westminster is recommitting to a vision of spiritual vitality, neighborhood partnership, and regional transformation.
A Shared Campus for Pasadena and Altadena
Westminster's mission is rooted in collaboration. The WPC campus is home to three worshipping communities and a constellation of community organizations that share the buildings and grounds. Westminster Presbyterian Church worships in the sanctuary under the leadership of Rev. Katherine Lee Baker. Altadena Community Church, a peace-and-acceptance congregation, worships in Lawrence Chapel under Rev. Paul Tellström. Lift International Church, a vibrant congregation dedicated to fostering a supportive environment for individuals on their life journeys regardless of background, meets in Morrison Hall under Pastor Anthony McFarland.
Beyond the worshipping communities, the campus hosts nonprofit and arts partners that share in the church's stewardship of the property. Crestview Prep School serves families from the San Gabriel Valley through the San Fernando Valley, representing 35 local zip codes. Rayuela School offers a Spanish immersion program for children ages two and up, nurturing bilingualism through playful learning with native Spanish-speaking teachers. Boy Scout Troop 4, one of the oldest continuously active troops in the western United States, was founded in 1913 and still meets in its Scout Room.
The Towne Singers, a chorus open to all, performs in Morrison Hall. The Pasadena Crown City Chorus, formed in 1941 and one of the oldest chapters in the western United States, rehearses in the Music Room. Music Together offers mixed-age music classes for children from birth through age five and the grownups who love them, meeting in the Library. Villa Esperanza runs an Adult Day Program in Morrison Hall for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Altadena Rotary Club gathers in Lawrence Chapel, and LL Catering operates from the Main Kitchen for events across the Greater Los Angeles area.
HEART Altadena - Helping Every Altadenan Rebuild Together - is a design-centered rebuilding initiative formed in direct response to the Eaton Fire of January 2025, providing no-cost architectural, interior, and landscape design services to fire-impacted households.
Music at the Heart of Worship
Music is woven into Westminster's identity. For more than four decades, Dr. Imre Szilas has served as Organist and Director of Music, directing the choir and bell choir, performing on the Reuter organ, and writing original compositions for worship and concert settings. A classically trained musician and composer with a Ph.D. in Sacred Music from Faith Theological Seminary, a Master of Music in Organ Performance from California State University - Northridge, and a Bachelor of Music from the Béla Bartók Conservatory of Music, Dr. Szilas has nurtured countless students and musicians in parallel long-standing positions at Eagle Rock Seventh-day Adventist Church and Pasadena City College.
Beyond weekly worship, the sanctuary hosts a rich calendar of concerts and events. The annual Halloween Organ Concert, Christmas Brass Concert, and LA AGO Holiday Concert are free or low-cost and open to the public. The Easter Hallelujah Chorus Concert and Melodia Mariposa Holiday Concert draw classical musicians and audiences from across Southern California. The Artisan Fare - a seasonal marketplace highlighting local makers, small businesses, and artists - brings the neighborhood together in the spirit of small-business celebration.
Faith in Action
Westminster lives out its faith through seasonal service traditions that bring the congregation into the wider community. Each fall, members gather ingredients, assemble Thanksgiving Meal Baskets, and share meals with neighbors across Pasadena and Altadena. In partnership with local organizations, the Christmas Toy Drive collects, sorts, and distributes gifts for children and families. In the spring, Easter Baskets filled with treats and small gifts brighten the holiday for children and youth.
The congregation also participates in denominational offerings that connect Westminster to the wider PC(USA). One Great Hour of Sharing supports Presbyterians working for a better world. The Christmas Joy Offering provides assistance for church workers in need and supports education at institutions serving communities of color. Peace and Global Witness addresses the plight of African-American men. Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit, and Advent marks the waiting and watching of the season before Christmas.
ACTS Food Pantry - Altadena Congregations Together Serving - operates from the Garden Level Kitchen on the Westminster campus. The pantry serves everyone from low-income families and single parents to senior citizens, unemployed individuals, disabled veterans, and the working poor. Anonymous Groups meet in the Library, including Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Debtors Anonymous, and Marijuana Anonymous - creating confidential environments of healing, encouragement, and hope. The Mission and Outreach committee works alongside the Westminster Pasadena Foundation, which strengthens and sustains the church's ministries through grants and legacy giving, and Westminster Counseling Center.
Westminster walks alongside neighboring faith communities through interfaith and ecumenical services. Each year the church participates in an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service with faith communities across Pasadena and Altadena, and partners with local congregations for Ecumenical Advent, Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Easter services. The congregation also participates in the Pasadena Area Crop Hunger Walk each fall, an interfaith walk raising funds for hunger relief locally and around the world.
Presbyterian Roots, Progressive Welcome
Westminster belongs to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Presbytery of San Gabriel, a regional community of Presbyterian churches serving the San Gabriel Valley and surrounding areas. Through the Presbytery, Westminster partners with neighboring congregations in shared ministry, receives support and resources for congregational life, and collaborates on disaster response, leadership development, and community outreach.
Membership in the PC(USA) is both sacramental, through baptism, and communal, through deepened relationship with God and one another and through commitment, participation, and accountability within a community of faith. The denomination's identity widens through three concentric circles: Presbyterian is a way of being Reformed, which is one way of being Protestant, which is itself a way of being Christian. The PC(USA)'s Book of Confessions gathers twelve statements of faith across the history of the church.
Westminster finds particular resonance in three modern confessions. The Theological Declaration of Barmen calls the church to resist any power that claims ultimate authority over Christ. The Belhar Confession proclaims that unity, reconciliation, and justice are at the heart of the Gospel. The Sarasota Statement calls the church to embody God's love through courage, compassion, and justice in this time.
The values that shape Westminster's ministry are Faith Formation rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ; Radical Welcome embracing diversity and belonging; Mission and Service prioritizing outreach and social justice; Community Engagement building partnerships within Pasadena, Altadena, and the broader San Gabriel Valley; Adaptability and Growth recognizing the need for renewal while honoring historical legacy; and Sustainability stewarding resources for future generations.
Weddings, Memorials, and the Arts
Westminster welcomes couples of all backgrounds and orientations in keeping with the inclusive marriage polity of the PC(USA). Weddings take place in the Sanctuary, which seats up to 1,100, with two dressing rooms for wedding parties and a WPC event coordinator to assist with logistics, rehearsal, and ceremony. Couples may choose traditional or personalized vows, and may include elements such as a unity candle, exchange of rings, hymn, special music, or communion. Premarital counseling is available through the Westminster Center.
Fees vary based on membership status and selected spaces. Optional add-ons include Fellowship Hall and Kitchen rental for receptions, additional setup or photography time, livestream or recording services, additional musicians, custodial support, and flower petal cleanup. Only approved clergy may officiate and only approved musicians may perform; outside vendors must submit signed vendor agreements and comply with WPC facility use policies. No open flames, confetti, or non-biodegradable items are permitted. Alcohol is not permitted on church grounds except for approved receptions in the Fellowship Hall with a valid alcohol license and insurance documentation.
Funerals and memorials are open to all, regardless of membership. The pastoral staff offers funeral services, memorial services, celebrations of life, and private graveside services, and helps families choose readings, hymns, and music that reflect the life of their loved one. Reception spaces may be reserved following the service for an additional fee.
The church also welcomes commercial and artistic use of its historic sanctuary. With soaring acoustics, professional onsite coordination, ample on-site parking, and a 150-foot tower, the campus has long hosted concerts, film productions, lectures, and community celebrations. Filming inquiries may require insurance coverage and city permits in accordance with Pasadena and State of California regulations.
Joining the Journey
Becoming a member of Westminster is an invitation to grow in faith and help shape the ongoing story of a congregation that believes grace is active, hope is resilient, and every voice matters. Visitors and newcomers are welcome to worship, attend coffee hour, and explore membership through the Membership, Education, and Youth committee.
There are many ways to be part of the community: volunteering with the ACTS Food Pantry, mentoring youth in Troop 4, singing with the Towne Singers, making music with young families in Music Together, joining an Anonymous Group, or giving faithfully to sustain the shared mission. Generosity is welcomed and can be offered online to the General Fund or Seasonal Offerings, or by mail to the church office at 1757 N. Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91104.