Miss Ella McDonald of Wooster, Ohio, would surely be awestruck at the harvest her seeds of faith have produced.
In the fall of 1881, the Presbyterian missionary left the East for frontier Utah, eventually settling in Kaysville. Her work culminated in the organization of a mission school and church that taught hundreds of children until 1909 and gave the Presbyterians a solid foundation in Davis County.Now, not far from the two-room adobe church, a new building has been constructed with the help of a thriving congregation.
Leaders will dedicate Westminster Presbyterian Church on Sunday, marking an eight-year effort to build and strengthen a congregation and a resurgence of growth after 74 years of low-profile presence in Davis County.
The $450,000 building sits on 4.25 acres and is highlighted by a simple yet warm sanctuary with large windows that open to a majestic view of the mountains.
The church is lit by well-placed ground lights and "shines like a jewel on the hillside" at night, said the Rev. Russell Durler. The building also has a kitchen and service area, nursery, library, conference room and a basement work studio, where members will design and produce stained glass for the sanctuary windows.
Durler was called to be Westminster's organizing pastor in 1985 after a study by the Shared Ministry in Utah showed a need for a new Presbyterian congregation in Davis County. He organized the congregation in October 1986 and began meetings in retail space in Layton.
About 145 members now attend Sunday services. Church school meets Sunday mornings before worship service and has classes for 4-year-olds through adults. Bible studies, men's fellowship on Saturday, choir activities and Presbyterian Women - which meets monthly in the evenings - are also available.
Durler also plans to reactivate the church's Boy Scout troop in March.
Sunday's dedication service begins at 4 p.m. and will include The Handbell Choir from First Presbyterian Church in Ogden. The sermon of dedication will be delivered by the Rev. David Crockett, pastor of Cottonwood Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City.
Westminster is located at 796 S. Mountain Road, off Highway 89.