Grace Episcopal Church (Georgetown, Colorado) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Grace Episcopal Church
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Grace Episcopal Church, built 1870, now overlooks I-70 in Georgetown
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | Taos St., between 4th and 5th Sts., Georgetown, Colorado |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1869 |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000465 |
| Added to NRHP | August 14, 1973 |
Grace Episcopal Church is a beautiful historic church in Georgetown, Colorado. It was built in 1870 and has a special style called Carpenter Gothic. This means it looks like a fancy, old wooden house. Today, the church sits on a hill overlooking Interstate 70. Grace Episcopal is still an active church, part of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado. Because of its history, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 14, 1973.
Contents
History of Grace Episcopal Church
The first group of Episcopal church members in Georgetown started meeting around 1867. This was about eight years after Georgetown itself was founded. Many members had moved to Georgetown from places like England, Cornwall, Wales, and the eastern parts of the United States.
Building the Church
A local person named D. H. Joy designed the church building. Construction began in 1869. However, a very strong wind blew down the half-finished building in November of that year. This caused a delay, and construction had to wait until 1870. The church was finally finished and officially opened in 1872.
Inside the Church
The inside of Grace Episcopal Church shows how wealthy Georgetown was in the 1870s. The original church benches, called pews, are still used today. They are made from dark walnut wood. The large pipe organ was built in Denver by C. Anderson and bought in 1877. This organ is still working and is the oldest one in Colorado!
In 1882, a special three-panel painting was added behind the altar. This painting is called a reredos. It was created by Mrs. Anderson P. Stephens from Lawson, Colorado. The reredos is still a beautiful part of the church today.
Church Life Through the Years
Even after the "silver crash" in 1894, when the price of silver dropped, the church continued to have a small group of members. Sometimes, priests from other Episcopal churches in Central City and Idaho Springs would also lead services here. Church services are still held every Sunday at Grace Episcopal Church.
Preserving the Church's History
People have worked hard to keep Grace Episcopal Church in good condition. Money from gambling in Central City and Black Hawk has helped pay for these efforts. This money is used to preserve historic buildings in Colorado.
Restoration Efforts
In 2002, the church received money from the State Historical Fund. This money was used to help preserve the outside of the building.
In 2006, the church received a special award. It was called the Stephen H. Hart Award from the Colorado Historical Society. They earned this award for their excellent work in restoring the Snetzer Building, which is right next to the church.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Clear Creek County, Colorado
- Grace Episcopal Church (disambiguation)
