Archives West Finding Aid

In the early 1880s, Mrs. Camp, a wealthy woman living in the eastern United States, donated the sum of $12,000 for mission and educational work in Utah. From this money Camp Mission, a two-room adobe building, was built on 4th West Street between 1st and 2nd South Streets in Salt Lake City in 1884. The first Christian Endeavor Society in Utah was also organized that year. In 1886, through the efforts of the first pastor, Rev. Mr. Newell, a brick church was built in front of the mission. In 1889, a petition was presented to the Utah Presbytery seeking the organization of a Presbyterian church to be named Westminster with its formal organization occurring on September 19 of that year. In 1903, the church site on 4th West was sold, and the church chose 5th South and 1st West as the new location. This structure was dedicated in September 1910, and the church continued its work there until 1946.

Third Presbyterian Church had its beginnings as a Sabbath School, organized with the aid of Salt Lake City's First Presbyterian Church in January 1892 in the Lincoln Park area of the city. The church was officially organized on 19 June 1892, with The Rev. Josiah McClain as the first pastor. In a short time, this building was found to be too small, and a plan was made to organize the church in a new building nearby. Negotiations with Westminster College began in 1903 for the use of the newly built Gunton Chapel at the southeast corner of 1700 South and 1100 East as a place of worship for Third Church. This joint arrangement continued until 1946.

In 1945, Westminster Church found itself in an increasingly commercial area with its members moving from the area to the east side. At about the same time, Westminster College decided to sell the Gunton Chapel property. Salt Lake Presbytery brought the two churches together, and after several months of deliberations, it was decided to unite the two churches as a new church with a new name and location. On 28 June 1946, an agreement was signed, and Wasatch Presbyterian Church came into being. A few months later, the Rev. Donald G. Christiansen was called as the first pastor.

On 31 August 1948 ground was broken for the new church building at 1700 South and 1700 East. The sanctuary was dedicated on 2 October 1949. Within a few months, it was deemed necessary to add classrooms to house the rapidly growing church school. In 1951, the first floor of the education wing was erected with the second and third floors following in 1953 and 1955. Additional property to the west was purchased in 1955, and in 1956, the grocery store to the south of the church was purchased and used by the church youth and Boy Scouts for several years. The sanctuary itself was enlarged in 1958. The last addition to the building was the erection of Christiansen Hall to the west of the sanctuary in 1966.

On 30 June 1974, disaster struck the church in the form of a fire in the sanctuary and adjoining areas of the building, destroying roof, organ and furnishings, and severely damaging pews and stained glass windows. Work began immediately to restore the damaged areas and to incorporate improvements and major changes. The first services were held in the new sanctuary on Easter Sunday, 30 March 1975, with the remainder of the restoration completed by October.

In 1957, a day nursery school was opened in conjunction with Westminster College. This led to the formation of the Wasatch Nursery School which has become well thought of in the community for its excellent program. It is now called the Wasatch Preschool and is in the process of seeking accreditation.

In recent years, one of the main missions of the church was the development of the Soup Kitchen. This began in 1982 as a weekly Lenten supper held in the church basement with the needy brought by bus to the church. Over the years, the need for providing meals year-round was apparent, so the project was moved to the Salvation Army facilities downtown. At present many churches and organizations join with Wasatch in providing meals five days a week. Wasatch also provides a full dinner annually on Easter Sunday to 600-800 people. Other missions include a ministry at the Utah State Prison att the Point of the Mountain, and contributions to numerous local, national, and worldwide missions. The Stephen Ministry program was begun in 1997, and is being well received. Boy and Girl Scout troops of all levels meet on a regular basis in the church building.

The church currently is staffed by the senior pastor who is also head of staff, an associate pastor, Directors of Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry and Music/Organist as well as secretarial and custodial personnel.