West Side Presbyterian Church

West Side Presbyterian Church was a cornerstone of Englewood’s civic, spiritual, and cultural life for more than a century. Founded in 1896 as the West Side Union Chapel, the congregation first worshiped in a modest building known as Dwight Chapel at the corner of Palisade Avenue and William Street, on the site of today’s Bethany Presbyterian Church. As the congregation grew, the chapel was later moved to Liberty Pole Circle, reflecting the steady expansion of Englewood’s West Side at the turn of the twentieth century. By the 1920s, an influx of new families into the neighborhood created the need for larger facilities. In 1926, the congregation constructed its enduring church home at 192 West Demarest Avenue, where West Side Presbyterian would remain for nearly a century. From this location, the church became deeply woven into the daily life of the community. Beyond its role as a place of worship, West Side Presbyterian served as a vibrant community hub. It hosted a monthly concert series, operated a daycare center, ran a well-known thrift shop, and offered worship services that drew people from across Englewood. Its members were actively engaged in the religious, educational, political, and social fabric of the city, contributing far beyond the church’s walls. As demographic shifts reshaped Englewood in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries and younger generations moved away, church attendance gradually declined. Ultimately, the Presbytery of the Palisades made the difficult decision to close West Side Presbyterian Church in July after 117 years of service. Though its doors have closed, the legacy of West Side Presbyterian endures—in the lives it touched, the community it nurtured, and the vital role it played in Englewood’s history. A commemorative service and reception now honor that legacy, celebrating a church that helped shape the West Side for generations. "Final Service in works for Church." The Record, October 24, 2013. Partly written by OpenAI. (2026, January, 19). ChatGPT (GPT-5.2.) [Large Language Model] https://chat.openai.com/chat. Partly written by OpenAI. (2026, February, 1). ChatGPT (GPT-5.2.) [Large Language Model] https://chat.openai.com/chat.

Beyond My Ken

June 4, 201