Community Congregational Church

Community Congregational Church. United Church of Christ. , This is the oldest, continuously occupied Congregational Church in Colorado. Founded as a mission in 1877, early services were held in Manitou's original schoolhouse. On April 4, 1880, the cornerstone was laid. This Gothic Revival structure was the first Manitou Springs project for premier builders Archie and Angus Gillis. General contractor George Snyder supplied the stone from his Williams Cañon quarry just west of town. The first service was held August 21, 1880., The interior was completed in 1886. By 1887, the building was electrified, and the belfry was added a year later. The bell inscription reads, "I ring for God, home and native land." By 1891, Colorado Springs' architects Pease and Barber drew up expansion plans. William Frizzell was contractor. The rear addition created the current cross-shape; the majority of the stained glass windows are original. The parsonage next door, now church offices, was built in the late 1890's. , In 1921, seating galleries were added. In 1923, a rare thirteen-rank pipe organ originally from Colorado Springs' First Presbyterian Church was installed. The organ, which is still 1n use. was built by Charles Anderson, ca. 1870's, the first pipe organ builder in the Rocky Mountain area., In 2001, the old Fellowship Hall was demolished to make way for the current addition. In the same year, exterior and interior restoration of the original building was also undertaken. The project was completed with the support of the congregation, the Manitou Springs community, and the Colorado Historical Society's State Historical Fund., The Community Congregational Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979., [Captions:] , This circa 1894 view shows the Congregational Church with the original, petite parsonage to the right and the Sunnyside Hotel on the left. Courtesy of Community Congregational Church , The proud Congregational Choir poses in front of the Church's Anderson tracker organ. Courtesy of Manitou Springs Historical Society