Sixth Avenue United Church

In 1887, a simple Sunday school blossomed into what we now know as Sixth Avenue United Church. Two women, Mrs. Robert Lamont and Mrs. James Walker, ignited this flame in the Harman Schoolhouse. Their small group, first known as the Union Congregational Church of Harman, quickly outgrew its humble beginnings. Sixth Avenue United Church’s journey wasn’t always smooth. They moved from a grocery store’s upper floor to a tent, then a small building on Detroit Street, and finally a two-room house. A fire tragically destroyed their first permanent space above the Boot Grocery Store. Everything was lost except, miraculously, the communion service. Undeterred, they persevered, eventually building a church at 4th Avenue and Cook Street in 1892. Sixth Avenue United Church was a hub of activity, even then. Children contributed their meager savings, five cents at a time, to fundraise for a church bell. They cleverly invested in ventures like radish farming and ice cream making. These small efforts eventually led to the purchase of their cherished bell. The city’s decision to lower Cook Street forced another move. The congregation, led by future Colorado Governor William E. Sweet, chose a new location on Sixth Avenue. By 1922, Sixth Avenue was paved, offering a prime location for their growing community. The new Sixth Avenue Community Church was designed by local architect William N. Bowman. Local families poured their resources and time into the construction, their names memorialized in the stained-glass windows. These windows honor families like the Boots, Booths, Bradleys, Earwakers, Gierharts, and Youngs. One window specifically honors Levi and Millie Booth. Their home, the Four Mile House, was a well-known rest stop for stagecoach travelers on Cherry Creek. The largest window, facing east, is dedicated to Rev. W.L. Gilman, the very first pastor. While the new church was being built, the congregation worshipped in a temporary wooden structure on the Sixth Avenue site. Finally, in 1924, the first service was held in the new gymnasium. The official dedication ceremony for Sixth Avenue Community Church took place in 1925. The cherished “children’s bell” from the 4th Avenue church was moved to the new tower, where it still rings today. Sixth Avenue United Church has always been more than just a place of worship. It has served as a community center, hosting a branch library, basketball games, youth plays, Scout meetings, and even the Capitol Opera Company. This tradition continues today with yoga classes, math camps, support groups, a pottery guild, senior exercise programs, a ballet school, and a Montessori preschool.