Deep within the heart of Denver stands Christ Episcopal Church. Its story begins not with grand pronouncements but with a simple service. On March 16 1952 the very first service was held. It wasn’t in the magnificent building we see today. Instead it was in the humble Kent School. The Very Reverend Paul Roberts Dean of Saint John’s Cathedral officiated. The Reverend Gerrit S Barnes a deacon assisted him. This marked the birth of Saint John’s Mission a mission of Saint John’s Episcopal Cathedral.
This small congregation soon outgrew its temporary home. Construction began on the church’s current location at 2460 East Bates Avenue in July 1953. Imagine the excitement as the foundation was laid brick by brick. The first service in the new building took place on January 17 1954. The dedication followed on February 7 1954. The Right Reverend Harold L Bowen Bishop of Colorado presided over the ceremony.
The mission grew. It became a mission of the Diocese of Colorado on November 20 1955. Bishop Joseph S Minnis renamed it Christ Chapel. A year later in May 1956 it was officially constituted as a parish. Its name Christ Church became its official identity. Reverend Gerrit S Barnes the congregation’s dedicated servant since its inception was instituted as its first Rector. He served until his retirement in 1974.
Christ Church continued to expand. A groundbreaking ceremony for a new building and addition took place on December 11 1960. Remodeling of the original building started in July 1961. The first service in the expanded sanctuary and nave occurred on October 15 1961. The dedication of this new structure happened on October 29 1961 with Bishop Minnis once again officiating.
Further expansion followed. In 1977 an administrative wing with a chapel and conference room connected the north and south wings. This new wing was dedicated in April 1978. The chapel was consecrated and named after St Julian of Norwich. By 1990 a much larger worship space was completed along with music and meeting rooms classrooms and a youth room. The church continued to evolve adapting to the needs of its community. Father McGugan became the sixth Rector in 2013 continuing the legacy of service. Today Christ Episcopal Church stands as a testament to faith resilience and enduring community spirit in the heart of Denver. It is a place of worship a sanctuary a living legacy built on decades of prayer dedication and unwavering faith.