As early as 1823, there was evidence of a Presbyterian mission in the now Cheviot-Westwood area.  They struggled and nearly dissolved around 1840, however, they persevered, and the "Old Presbyterian Church of Cheviot" built a church on the corner of what are now Mozart and Cheviot Avenues.  In 1844, they purchased land to build a church on the northeast corner of what is now Mozart and Higbee Avenues.  Tradition says there were 13 families in the congregation.  That building still exists today.  It was used by the Westwood Salem Presbyterian Church until 2009, later bought by City on a Hill, and is now owned by Cincinnati Public Schools to use preschool education. 

 

Stability of the small Presbyterian congregation continued to be a problem and in 1865, a German Protestant congregation was allowed to use the building.  In 1870, that group debated about whether to formally align with the wider Presbyterian organization, partly because of the potential for some financial assistance.  There were, however, two factions.  The conservative group favored formal affiliation.  The liberal group, however, was not interested in being subjected to all that comes with being part of a larger organization.  Plus, they supported the ability to have beer parties in the church that the conservative group was not in favor of.  The liberals eventually split off and built a church in Bridgetown. 

 

The conservative group applied to the Cincinnati Presbytery in April 1871.  They became the Westwood German Presbyterian Church with 46 charter members.  They were financially dependent on the Presbytery until around 1890.   In that same time frame, another group in Westwood was interested in forming a Presbyterian congregation.  According to an entry in John M. Miller's diary, a meeting with the German congregation was to take place on September 12, 1881 to decide whether to join with them or to petition the Cincinnati Presbytery to start their own congregation. Apparently, the decision was to proceed with a new congregation.  According to Miller's October 4, 1881 diary entry, a group of 16 "met in Council and agreed to ask the Com. of Presbytery to organize them into a church one week from the next Sabbath."  The group included Miller and his wife.

 

On Sunday, October 16, 1881, the Committee of Presbytery came to Westwood to officially organize the "Presbyterian Church of Westwood."  They met with about 26 people who had letters of dismissal from other churches or who were felt to be suitable congregants. The new church negotiated with the German congregation to use their building, agreeing to do maintenance and upkeep as part of the bargain.  In official minutes, the name of the congregation at the time was the First Presbyterian Church of Westwood.

 

The 1920's saw a large population growth in Westwood.  Many of the Arts and Crafts style bungalows and Tudor homes, now scattered throughout Westwood, were built during that time.  The local organizations and institutions like schools and churches also saw growth, including the Westwood Presbyterian congregation.