Step back in time. Picture Denver in 1880. The Seventh Day Adventist Church was just beginning its journey. A small congregation gathered. Rev E R Jones arrived from California. He led the group. They held their first services. The location was Lawrence and Twenty-third streets.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church quickly outgrew its humble beginnings. The church expanded. They needed a bigger space. A large vacant lot at Twenty-third and Welton became the site of tent meetings. Jones’s passionate sermons attracted many. The growing congregation required a more permanent solution.
In 1891 a significant milestone occurred. The Seventh Day Adventist Church purchased a building. This building was located at Kalamath and West Eleventh. It was formerly the Third Congregational Church. The Adventists significantly enlarged the building. It became the largest church in the Colorado Conference. Its membership boasted 350 people. This was a huge accomplishment.
By 1918 Denver boasted six Seventh Day Adventist Churches. Their combined membership exceeded 600. This demonstrates phenomenal growth. Each church had its own unique character. The First Church was located at Kalamath Street and Eleventh Avenue. The Second Church stood at East Thirteenth Avenue and York Street. It was dedicated in March 1918. The Third Church served a colored congregation at 2917 Glenarm. The Fourth was a Scandinavian church. It was located at East Thirty-sixth Avenue and High Street. The South Denver Church resided at 2303 South Cherokee. Finally the North Denver Church was at West Thirtieth Avenue and Perry Street.
These six churches weren’t isolated. They were part of a larger network. The Colorado Conference included fifty-three churches. The Western Slope churches belonged to the Utah Conference. Together Colorado had sixty-five Seventh Day Adventist Churches. The Colorado Conference organized in 1883. It held yearly sessions. Rev W A Gosmer was president in 1918. The Conference’s total membership reached 2517. Statewide membership exceeded 3000.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church’s influence extended beyond Denver. They established a sanitarium in Boulder around twenty years prior to 1918. This facility treated various illnesses except tuberculosis. The Colorado Sanitarium was its official name. It was a testament to their commitment to health and healing. Denver also hosted a health food store. This store supplied the denomination with nutritious products. This shows their focus on holistic well-being.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church also established educational institutions. Campion Academy near Loveland opened about a decade before 1918. It served approximately 150 students. An industrial school existed in Jarosa in the San Luis Valley. It opened six years prior. The school had over a hundred pupils. They worked on the school’s thousand-acre farm. This fostered self-sufficiency and practical skills.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church’s impact on Denver and Colorado is undeniable. From its humble beginnings in 1880. Its growth was rapid. It established a strong presence. It served diverse communities. It provided crucial healthcare and education. The legacy of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Denver is one of faith community and service. It continues to impact the city.