Our History

Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church has experienced a rich history filled with the manifestation of God’s power and glory time and again for His people. The Westminster we know today began as a home Bible study and prayer meeting with just seven people. As their number steadily grew, the tiny group decided to hold a backyard worship service at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Leggett, Jr., on May 18, 1969. The 33 people present that day were the beginning of a church that would become known for its commitment to the preaching of God’s word as the only source of infallible truth, and of Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation.

 The “Suffolk Mission Church,” with the assistance of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, called Mark Youndt as temporary pastor, and the tiny church arranged to lease the Pythian Hall for Sunday morning and Wednesday evening worship services. On June 25, the church, at the suggestion of Mrs. Frances Chorey, was named Westminster, and trustees were elected. Mr. and Mrs. Warren (Julia) Wolf and their daughter Jean (Robb) became the first members to be received into the church on July 13 of that year. Thirty-five others soon followed. Westminster was formally recognized as a church by the Delmarva Presbytery in 1970. The congregation subsequently elected officers, who then issued a permanent call to Pastor Youndt.

Land was acquired on Constance Road in November of 1972. Building contractor Jack Wills and his administrative assistant Raney West created blueprints and building specifications. A ground-breaking ceremony was held in March of 1974, and the new Constance Road building was completed that December.

Westminster developed a reputation in Suffolk and the surrounding area as a sincere and caring body of believers who upheld the entire Bible as the true word of God. The young church welcomed an increasing number of believers into its fold.

Pastor Youndt retired in 1993, after 24 years of faithful service. A new pastor, Ruffin Alphin, was called in 1994. Average attendance at that time was 150. In the 1990’s, Suffolk began to experience a rapid period of growth, and Westminster welcomed an increasing number of people into membership.

As of result of this growth, the elders were forced to add one modular unit every year from 1995 to 2000. By March 1996, worship attendance averaged 225. For the first time, Westminster began offering two Sunday worship services. As growth abounded, so did parking problems. The parking lot was expanded in 1997 to ease congestion on Sunday mornings. In early 1998, Westminster began three Sunday morning worship services. In response to a growing youth ministry, in 1999 we added Brett Carl on staff as Youth Pastor.

By April 2000, attendance was averaging nearly 450 in three services. Because of over crowding, it was decided to begin holding worship services off-site at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy (NSA). The first church service was held at NSA in August 2000.

By God’s grace Westminster Church, still continued to grow.  As result, beginning on April 8, 2001 two worship services were held each Sunday morning at NSA. In addition, David Dickson joined the staff as the Director of Christian Education and Small Groups in 2001.

Realizing that meeting at NSA was only a temporary solution, the church launched a three phase building campaign. Phase One of the campaign, entitled “Forward by Faith,” involved building 30,000 square feet of sanctuary, Christian Education and office space. The new facility is located on a beautiful, 36-acre tract of land on Route 10.  The first service at the new location was held on September 29, 2002. The new church building has stimulated still further growth with the number of worshipers on Sunday morning averaging 650 in 2003. Phase Two of the campaign will be to build additional Christian Education space and Phase Three will be to build a larger sanctuary.