Who We Are
We are a community made up of families and singles, young and old, and we value our common life together. As an orthodox, evangelical, liturgical, sacramental, charismatic Episcopal church, our goal is to play our part in the transformation of people’s lives, our community and the world. We welcome you to join us as we explore what it means to “Be With, Become Like and Live Like Jesus.” Whether you're looking for a new church home or exploring the Christian faith, know that you're welcome here.
Our Purpose
To restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
our vision
We desire to be a church forming deeply committed whole-life disciples of Jesus for the world, by learning to Be With, Become Like and, Live Like Jesus.
To accomplish this, we follow one simple thing, the Baptismal Covenants.
1. Providing Dynamic and life giving worship and Christian community.
Will you continue in the Apostles Teaching and Fellowship, the breaking of the bread and in the the prayers? We will with God’s help!
2. Pursuing Holiness through Reconciliation.
Will you resist evil and whenever you fall into sin repent and return to the Lord? We will with God’s help!
3. Bold Proclamation.
Will you proclaim by word and example the good News in Christ? We will with God’s help!
4. Faithful ministry in the Church and service to the World.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons? We will with God’s help!
5. Striving for Justice and Peace in our Church, Community and the World.
Will you strive for Justice and Peace and respect the dignity of every human being? We will with God’s help!
Creeds
We will always have questions, but in the two foundational statements of faith – the Apostles’ Creed used at baptism, and the Nicene Creed used at communion – we join Christians throughout the ages, around the world and across denominations in affirming our faith in the one God who created us, redeemed us, and sanctifies us using these two creeds.
To read the creeds, go here.
History
Organized as Saint John’s Mission of Saint John’s Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Denver – our first service was held in Kent School, South University Blvd. and East Hampden Avenue, Sunday, March 16, 1952, the Very Reverend Paul Roberts, Dean, Saint John’s Cathedral, officiating, assisted by the Reverend Gerrit S. Barnes, Deacon.
Construction on site at 2460 East Bates Avenue began July, 1953. Our first service in the new building was on January 17, 1954. Dedication of the structure was on February 7, 1954, by the Right Reverend Harold L. Bowen, D.D., Bishop of Colorado.
Saint John’s Mission became a mission of the Diocese of Colorado on November 20, 1955, and was named Christ Chapel by the Right Reverend Joseph S. Minnis, D.D., Bishop of Colorado. The Congregation was constituted a parish and named Christ Church at the 70th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Colorado, Denver, on May 15, 1956.
The Reverend Gerrit S. Barnes, who was ordained to the Priesthood on May 4, 1952, and had served the congregation since its beginning, was called to be the first Rector and was instituted as Rector by the Right Reverend Joseph S. Minnis, D.D., Bishop of Colorado, on October 4, 1956. Father Barnes retired on January 31, 1974, and the Reverend H. David Wilson became the second Rector of Christ Church on February 1, 1974.
The groundbreaking for the new building and addition to the original structure was December 11, 1960. Remodeling of the original building began on July 24, 1961. The first service in the new Sanctuary and Nave took place October 15, 1961. The dedication of the new building was October 29, 1961, by the Right Reverend Joseph S. Minnis, D.D., Bishop of Colorado.
In September of 1977, construction began on an administrative wing with Chapel and Conference Room connecting the north and south wings. It was completed in April, 1978, and the new wing was dedicated and the Chapel consecrated and named after St. Julian of Norwich, by the Right Reverend William C. Frey, D.D., Bishop of Colorado, April 23, 1978.
In 1990, we dedicated our much larger worship space, music/meeting room, commons area, classrooms, and youth room. In 2013, Father McGugan was called to be the 6th Rector of Christ Church.