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 and historic church located in Georgetown, Colorado. It was built in 1870 and has a special design style called Carpenter Gothic. This means it looks like a fancy wooden building. Today, the church sits on a hill overlooking Interstate 70.
Grace Episcopal Church is still an active church today. It is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado. Because of its history and unique style, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 14, 1973. This means it is recognized as a very important historical building.
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 was founded. Many of the people who joined were 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 on the church 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 to start again. The church building was finally finished and officially dedicated in 1872.
Inside the Church
The inside of Grace Episcopal Church shows how wealthy Georgetown was in the 1870s. The original church pews, which are the long benches where people sit, are still used today. They are made from beautiful walnut wood.
The church also has a pipe organ. It was built by C. Anderson in Denver and bought by the church in 1877. This organ is still working today, making it the oldest working organ in the entire state of Colorado! In 1882, a special three-panel painting was added above the altar. This painting is called a reredos, and it was created by Mrs. Anderson P. Stephens. It is still there today.
Church Life Through the Years
Even after a big economic downturn in 1894, when silver mining became less profitable, the church continued to have a small group of members. Sometimes, the priests for Grace Episcopal Church also served other Episcopal churches nearby. These included churches in Central City and Idaho Springs. Services are still held at Grace Episcopal Church every Sunday.
Protecting This Historic Church
People are very interested in keeping Grace Episcopal Church in good condition. Funds are available from the state to help preserve historic buildings. These funds come from money collected from gambling in Central City and Black Hawk.
Recent Preservation Efforts
In 2002, the church received money from the State Historical Fund. This money was used to help preserve the outside of the church building. Later, in 2006, the church received a special award. It was called the Stephen H. Hart Award from the Colorado Historical Society. This award was given 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)
