What if I told you that a humble dairy barn sparked a spiritual journey? This is the story of University Hills Lutheran Church. It began in the early 1950s. Denver was booming. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod sought land for a new church. They found a 4.5-acre plot at Eastman and Dahlia. The only structure was an old dairy barn built in 1884.
Imagine that old barn. It became the first home of University Hills Lutheran Church. The barn was renovated. The upstairs became a sanctuary. Downstairs held a fellowship area and classrooms. On September 7, 1952, 450 people gathered. They dedicated the building and installed the first pastor. University Hills Lutheran Church was thriving. Baptisms and marriages filled the calendar. Confirmation classes grew. The first Vacation Bible School had 222 children.
In 1954, the church started a Lutheran grade school. It began with a kindergarten class of 26 students. The school and church grew for decades. Many pastors and teachers served faithfully at University Hills Lutheran Church.
Fast forward to 1987. The congregation celebrated its 35th anniversary. They dedicated a multipurpose building. It served as both a sanctuary and a gymnasium. In 1992, they expanded again. This time they added a new childcare facility.
However, in 2007, after 54 years, the school closed. Enrollment had declined. But University Hills Lutheran Church still supported Lutheran education. They educated their children weekly. They offered Vacation Bible School each year. They supported surrounding Lutheran schools. In 2017, they celebrated 65 years in ministry. This coincided with the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation.
Recently, the west side of the property was sold. It went to the Rise School of Denver, a tenant since 2005. University Hills Lutheran Church is designing a new building. It will replace the original sanctuary.
Currently, the congregation worships at Christ Lutheran Church. They await the completion of their new building. They continue to serve the University Hills neighborhood. Pastor David Vanderhyde leads the congregation. He is a graduate of Concordia University. He once taught at Denver Lutheran High. He was also principal at University Hills Lutheran School. In 2013, he was ordained and installed as pastor.
University Hills Lutheran Church holds to Scripture. It embraces the Lutheran confessions. It seeks to glorify God. It aims to grow in faith. It proclaims God’s Word to the community. This church welcomes all. It encourages everyone through a life-changing Christian journey. Remember the barn. Remember the growth. Remember the commitment of University Hills Lutheran Church.