A place of resilience: What Witherspoon Presbyterian Church means to the community

When thinking about places — real, tangible locations — around Indianapolis that are important both historically and culturally to the Black community, what do you think of?

If you said Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, you are not alone.

Established in 1907, Witherspoon is one of the oldest Black Presbyterian churches in the nation — and one of the last remaining in the Midwest. Having merged with Immanuel Presbyterian Church in 2022 and celebrating its 181st anniversary on Oct. 13, the church has not only survived but thrived for more than a century due to its spirit of resilience, said Senior Pastor Winterbourne Harrison-Jones.

“The Black church has always been a place of gathering, a place of teaching, a place of engagement, and Witherspoon is right in line with those forms,” Harrison-Jones said. “Arts and education have always been our niches, arts programs, choir, concerts, political engagement, after school programs, education enrichment, you name it, Witherspoon has always offered those kinds of resources to the community.”

Witherspoon spent most of its formative years on Indiana Avenue but was displaced by construction of the interstate that was built through Indiana Avenue and relocated several times over the years, calling the corner of 9th and Camp Streets, Paris Avenue, Michigan Road and now 3535 Kessler Boulevard home.

Each location has been architecturally different, Harrison-Jones said.

Some were gothic, others postmodern and the current location is post-colonial. However, one thing remains the same about Witherspoon regardless of where the pews are located, and that is the spirit and vision which has enabled the church to be a home.

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“Her people and Black people are resilient people,” Harrison-Jones said. “That is why we’re able to move from location to location and never lose the same fire.”

Patricia Payne, educator and church member, has been attending Witherspoon since she was 7 years old. Growing up, the church was a safe space, welcoming families and children to learn about God in different ways, both inside and outside the church walls.

“Just about everything we do is community based. So, everyone in the surrounding community is invited,” Payne said. “We just had a huge homecoming celebration, and everybody should be there celebrating that Witherspoon is now in a new location and has brought new vibrance to that neighborhood. I think that’s the pattern that we’ve set wherever we’ve gone.”

There is also a family tradition that runs through Witherspoon, Payne said. Generations of children have grown up in the church. Those who once played baby Jesus in the Easter play are now in college. Payne was married at Witherspoon, and so was her own daughter. 

Part of the church’s long-standing resilience comes from reinforcing their African and African American history, Payne said.

“We learned our Black history because that’s who we were, and they felt it was important that we knew who we were, where we come from and how we got here,” Payne said. “There were the verses and everything, but you always had something tied into it about your history and culture. So, I thought that was very special.”

Katie and Matt Whitley joined Witherspoon officially in 2020 but had been attending services since 2018. As an interracial couple raising two young children, Katie Whitley said they wanted a church rooted in the Black church experience but inclusive to all types of membership.

“I think that Witherspoon does a great job of showing the intersectionality of being a historically Black church, but also supporting other communities that are eventually underserved or overlooked or haven’t felt like they’ve had a place in the church,” Whitley said. “That’s powerful to me to see where the church has been, where the church is going and the connection between the generations.”

Witherspoon is also “a place of excellence,” Whitley said, with members of the church connecting and serving the community in numerous ways, whether that be words, community service or programming.

One of the ways they are able to give back to their community is through mentorship in the Legacy Trunk Program, which provides local students with scholarships. The Whitleys, who are both attorneys, attended the Legacy Trunk Send off this fall, where they were able to help students network.

“There are several students who are interested in the legal profession, and it was wonderful to be connected to the next generation of young people and help them on their journey to and through college” Whitley said.

Harrison-Jones said there is not a sector in this city that has not been touched by a member of Witherspoon, and the church’s mission cannot be held in ink and paper alone.

“God invites us to think critically, to act intentionally, but also to show up in the world consistently for the betterment of men,” he said.

Witherspoon Presbyterian Church is at 3535 Kessler Blvd. For more information, visit wpcindy.org.

This story has been updated.

Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.