The current Edgewater United Methodist Church at 2497 Fenton Street in Edgewater.
The Edgewater community is in a state of transition as new homes are being built and new businesses are opening. Through these transitions, it is important to listen to the past stories of the places and people that were part of the early years in Edgewater. One of the places in town that holds many of these stories is the church building at the southwest corner of 25th Avenue and Fenton Street. This year, 2021, marks the 100 year anniversary of the completion of the construction of the Edgewater Community Church as it was known in 1921.
The story of the Methodists in Edgewater began before it was even incorporated as a city. One of the early members of the church, Sarah Gibson, read the following history at a church reception in 1917:
Twenty seven years ago (1890), there were not more than twenty-five or thirty families in Edgewater, but there was quite a number of children, so Mrs. Phoebe Ricker, who lived at 2532 Benton Street, Mr. Gist’s present home, organized a Sunday School in her house. In a short time, the Sunday School outgrew the home, so through the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Ricker, the Methodist Conference took up the work. On a vacant lot on Chase Street, they put up a tent with board sides and floor. In this tent was organized the Edgewater Mission. O.L. Fisher, Superintendent of the Denver Mission, preached the first few sermons.
In those early years, the Epworth League of the Edgewater Mission was concerned about the saloons in town. In 1892, members of the Epworth League decided to work toward closing saloons in Edgewater on Sundays. In 1896, they circulated a petition, which included 100 names, that was given to the county commissioners in Golden. Their concerns were heard as two saloon licenses were not renewed and a new license was not given to a man who hoped to open a saloon in Edgewater.
In 1897, the Edgewater Mission replaced the tent church with a wooden building located at 27th Avenue and Depew Street. As the population in Edgewater grew to over 100 families by the early 1900s, the Edgewater Mission built a new church building at 26th Avenue and Depew Street in 1902. In the late 1910s, Reverend Roy H. McVicker led an effort to create a community church under the name Edgewater Community Church which brought together five different denominations under one roof (Presbyterians, Baptists, Christian Church, Methodists and Lutherans).
It was under this new name that the Edgewater Community Church was built on the southwest corner of 25th Avenue and Fenton Street and completed in November 1921. An article in the Sentinel (April 26, 1935) describes the move into the new building at 25th and Fenton.
Sunday, November 27, 1921, the Sunday School assembled at the old church building for a brief farewell service and then marched in class formation to the new building. There were one hundred and seventy in the line of march. Dr. William Spence preached the opening sermon at 11:00 a.m. and Dr. O. W. Auman brought the evening message. Almost every seat in the spacious auditorium was occupied by both the morning and evening service, and 13 new members were added to the church roll.
With the continued population growth of Edgewater after World War II, Edgewater Community Church started planning for new construction on the site at 2497 Fenton Street. Phase I was the construction of the education wing on the south side of the original church which was completed in 1957. Phase II was replacing the original church building with a new sanctuary, small chapel, offices, parlor and kitchen. This construction was completed in May 1965.
In 1968, the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church merged which meant a name change for the church at 25th and Fenton from Edgewater Community Church to Edgewater United Methodist Church.
Then on January 27, 1980, Edgewater United Methodist Church members celebrated paying off the mortgage on the church building with a mortgage burning.
Throughout these years, Edgewater United Methodist Church was involved in numerous community efforts as well as service efforts overseas.
Most recently, morning services at Edgewater United Methodist Church stopped because of low attendance. Highlands United Methodist Church currently oversees the use of the facility and is in the process of determining when to restart a worshipping community at Edgewater United Methodist Church. This fall they spent a considerable amount of money to paint and update areas throughout the interior and exterior of the church building.
The facility continues to be the home of A Child’s Place daycare and preschool. Groups like Universal Kempo Karate School, Northwest Denver Toy Library and Colorado Chord Company Barbershop Chorus use the space as well. Throughout the pandemic, Edgewater Collective has had their offices at Edgewater United Methodist Church and utilizes the space for community partnerships like COVID-19 vaccinations on Monday afternoons and family events.
We would love to hear stories from those who attended Edgewater United Methodist Church over the years. Feel free to comment below or email joel@edgewatercollective.org.
The cornerstone from the original Edgewater Community Church at 25th and Fenton.
Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.
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