Historic St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Breaks Tradition

2/23/2006 - CENTRAL CITY, Colo. - Historic St Paul’s Episcopal Church announced this week that it will break with tradition and begin Saturday evening services the first of each month. The decision came as an outgrowth of St. Paul’s continuing efforts to be available to the community, a community whose demographics have changed drastically over the past ten years.

  Gilpin County formerly was considered a bedroom community for residents who were employed 8-5 Monday through Friday in the Denver and Golden areas. Gaming has changed this picture, as many casino workers move to Gilpin County to be closer to their jobs. Normal working hours in gaming include shifts and Sunday mornings.

  A second change cited was the need of the two-parent working family. Stressed with the pressures and demands of each job as well as the day-to-day business of maintaining a household and caring for children, exhausted parents often look forward to that one morning a week when the pressure is off, and designate that time as family time.

  St. Paul’s Church is one of the earliest Episcopal Churches in Colorado as well as one of the earliest churches in Gilpin County. It was originally organized in a log cabin in Mountain City. As Central City grew into the center of the area, a wooden church building was built. Unfortunately, this was destroyed by fire when the sacristy lamp candle overturned and St. Paul’s had the dubious honor of causing the first significant fire in Central City.

  The new church was built of stone several years later at its present location and dedicated with a huge turnout. The church has been steeped in the rich history of the area for over 150 years. St. Paul’s organized the first school in the area and was home to many of the area’s founding fathers.

  Rector of St. Paul’s, Rev. Sarah Freeman, stated, “Tradition is important, it gives us constancy and a sense of rootedness, but if it becomes rigid, how as a church can we meet our own purpose, to be available to the community?”

  Saturday evening services will be held the first Saturday of each month beginning at 6:00 p.m. Sunday school during that time is available for children over the age of 3.

  St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is located at 226 East First High Street in Central City next to the Gilpin County Museum.