Grace Church

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 22, 2025

1. Grace Church Marker

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From the National Register Nomination prepared by Floyd Patterson, 10/15/1976:
The Grace Episcopal Church is a rectangular board and batten structure with a one-story modern addition in the rear. The basic architectural style is gothic as evidenced principally by the steep gable roof, the lancet windows and doors and the five double wooden buttresses on each side of the building. The exterior is highlighted

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 22, 2025

2. Grace Church Marker

The marker is mounted at knee level on the left side of the Grace Church front/north sanctuary entrance.

by a unique treatment. Wooden trim has been applied over the board and batten siding, resulting in an apparently simulated half-timber construction. It is not known whether this was the builder's intention. There are three lancet windows with plain glass placed on each side of the building. Two stained glass lancet windows frame a large stained glass tracery window with trefoil. Immediately below it, and just above the front door, is a smaller tracery window with gothic sash. The main entrance, a projected enclosed portico, features elaborately decorated doors topped by a small gable roof which reinforces the angular feeling created by the main roof of the structure. There is a small cross just above the entrance and another on top of a small square bell tower.
The building is virtually unchanged except for the addition of Grace Church Hall at the rear of the main structure in 1973.
Grace Episcopal Church was organized in 1882 as one of the Arkansas River missions and for the next two years was visited by Bishop Spalding for quarterly services. The first priest the Reverend Benjamin Hartley was appointed in 1883 and served the church

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 22, 2025

3. Grace Church (north/front elevation)

until 1887. The next year, a contract was let to build the present church structure. The successful contractors were the Lannan Brothers, a contracting firm in Buena Vista; the cost was $2,160. Nothing is known about the architect or the origins of the gothic style. The church was consecrated on September 13, 1889, with the newly appointed Reverend John W. Ohl conducting the service and delivering the sermon.

Excerpt:  Originally built as an Episcopal church in 1889 by the Lannan Brothers, its Carpenter Gothic details include board and batten siding, lancet windows and door openings and buttresses. On January 20, 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. On February 7, 2007, the church received the Colorado Historic Society's 21st Annual Stephen H. Hart Awards for its restoration of the interior and exterior of the building.

Excerpt:  Site Number 5CF.141. This wood frame church is a good example of the Gothic

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 22, 2025

4. Grace Church (northeast elevation)

Revival style. On its façade, the board and batten walls are accented with wood trim, resulting in the appearance of half-timbering. The steeply pitched, front gabled roof is topped with an open bell tower. Lancet window and door openings and wood buttresses extending from the side walls further reflect the verticality associated with the style.