Historical Timeline

All of the historical events of our church are important; we will just highlight a few:

• With the theme “Go West Young Man”, the area around Fort Lupton was being settled by families coming from the East. The Denver Circuit was formed in July 1863. A Reverend L. B. Stateler of the Methodist Episcopal Church South preached at the home of Mr. Stover on the west side of Platte River, west of Fort Lupton.
• The famous itinerant preacher Father Dyer preached sermons in homes from 1872 -1874, along with other traveling preachers. In those days there was no town just the Fort, no streets, no railroad.
• All that began to change when the railroad came and in the summer of 1870 a community began to form.
• In 1878 the railroad donated properly for a church, at 806 Denver Ave. The first church was built in 1879 at this site.
• In 1915 Reverend R.R. Adams saw the need of a larger building as the growing membership needed more room.
• The present church at 305 Park Ave. was completed in 1916. The church bell and the piano were the only items bought over from the old church.
• Bishop McConnell dedicated the building on August 13, 1916. G. G. Saywell was pastor.
• In 1935 the celebration of 75 years in Fort Lupton, Reverend Stowell Sandmeyer was pastor during 1949-1954 he was a fine craftsman and built the existing pulpit, lectern, alter and baptismal fount.
• In 1954, Reverend I.L. Morgan was pastor and it was decided to build an annex to make room for the expanding congregation with Sunday school classrooms in the annex.
• Reverend Earl Miller, pastor from 1978-1982,  with money from memorial funds, financed the installation of a handicap lift to access the sanctuary and basement from the street.
• The 120th anniversary was celebrated in 1983 with Rev. Paul Holland.
• In 1988 we celebrated our 125th anniversary. Bishop Roy Sano and his wife joined the celebration. Reverend Richard Calhoun was here for that celebration and inspired us to buy a church building in town to make a Day Care Center – “Many Blessings” – with cost effective care for families, especially before and after school day care. This is still in existence.
• Property at 236 Park was bought in 1996, paying the entire amount at closing thus naming it the “Miracle House” it has been used for many uses: Wheels on Meals, Blessings in a Bag (Back Pack Program), Open Arms Pregnancy Center, Hope at Miracle House, and Sunday School Classes.