Mother of God Catholic Church

Did the spirit of ecumenism ever grace the charming Mother of God Catholic Church? This quaint sanctuary, nestled between Speer and Logan in Denver, has a fascinating history that transcends denominational lines. Before becoming a Catholic church, this building served a diverse array of Protestant congregations around the turn of the 20th century. In the 1920s, it became home to the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This Mormon splinter group, led by Joseph Smith’s widow, occupied the building until the 1940s. After World War II, Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood experienced a surge in Catholic residents. Archbishop Vehr recognized the need for a new parish and purchased the little church for $27,000. This marked the beginning of Mother of God Catholic Church, serving the faithful between Broadway and Downing, and 1st and 8th Avenues. The building’s past life presented a unique surprise. Archbishop Vehr discovered a basement pool, a relic of the Latter Day Saints’ practice of total immersion baptism. He humorously declared Mother of God “the only Catholic Church in Colorado with a swimming pool.” The pool was promptly filled in during a $16,000 renovation, which also added two sacristies. One of the church’s most striking features is the magnificent stained-glass window on Speer Boulevard. This window, a gift from Margie Setvin, depicts the Joyous Mysteries surrounding the Mother of God. The church thrived under the leadership of pastors John Regan, Paul Reed, and John V. Anderson. Generous parishioners managed to retire the church debt by the mid-1950s. They also acquired the entire triangular plot of land bounded by Speer, Logan, and East 5th Avenue. Parishioner Helen Bonfils, then residing at 707 Washington Street, donated air conditioning, a rectory, and a west-side addition to the church. This addition houses a life-sized statue of the Mother of God, watching over the traffic on Speer Boulevard. Another remarkable parishioner, Marcella Tangney, has directed the choir since the church’s dedication Mass in August 1949. Her husband, Leonard Tangney, a journalist with the Denver Catholic Register and the Rocky Mountain News, compiled the church’s silver jubilee history. Even Colorado Governor Stephen L.R. McNichols and his family were members of the Mother of God community. From its Protestant beginnings to its Mormon interlude, and finally, its establishment as a beloved Catholic parish, Mother of God Church’s journey reflects the dynamic spiritual landscape of Denver.