History of Springs Episcopal church gains national attention

Want more?:

See a slideshow of the more famous stained glass windows at Grace and St. Stephens Episcopal Church.

Sitting in the choir section of Grace and St. Stephens Episcopal Church, Marianna McJimsey can?t help but get excited when she talks about the history of the place.

The former Colorado College professor and head of the church?s archival project can spout off facts for hours if given the prompt. She?s not the only one who finds the church significant.

The church was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places, becoming one of a small handful of churches in El Paso County on the list.

On Sunday afternoon, the sound of McJimsey?s voice in the empty church bounced off of the high arches in the sanctuary ? a rare example of gothic revival architecture in Colorado Springs. The light streams in through dozens of intricate stained glass windows, each with a story and commissioned by former parishioners as far back as 1899. And behind her is the large historic organ donated to the church by Alice Bemis Taylor, who also helped create the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center.

With all of this history around her, McJimsey wasn?t too surprised when the church was notified that its application to the national list was accepted.

The church had an official ceremony celebrating its designation on June 3.

?We did presume we?d be a good candidate, but were delighted when we found out for sure,? McJimsey said.

The official application process took more than a year, said Charise Boomsma, who owns the business The Preservation Studio and helped the church fill out the paperwork. Parishioners had been doing their own work compiling the church?s history for years. The churhc even has its own book on the stained glass called ?The Windows of Grace and St. Stephen?s Episcopal Chuch?, which was published earlier this year. See a slideshow of significant windows at the church.

To get the national recognition, Boomsma said the church had to prove that the building has both architectural and social significance. The architecture part was easy, Boomsma said.

?For me, the architecture is fantastic,? she said. ?It?s one of the greatest examples of gothic revival we have around here.?

The oldest part of the church was constructed in 1895 and designed by Thomas MacLaren, who helped design dozens of other local buildings including the Colorado Springs City Hall. In 1925, the main sanctuary was built after the city?s two Episcopal churches ? Grace Church and St. Stephen?s Church ? combined.

Soon after, Bemis Taylor gave the church the pipe organ and an endowment to provide the city with free concerts. This is when the church?s true social significance played out, McJimsey said.

Parishioners took the job seriously. Along with the concerts, which continue to this day, the church was also a venue for up-and-coming musical groups that need a place to rehearse and perform, hosting groups including The Colorado Springs Symphony, the Colorado Opera Festival, and the Colorado Vocal Arts Ensemble, McJimsey said.

?This church has always been about more than just us who go here.?

joseph kony joseph kony higgs boson ipad 3 release date apple store down apple live blog ohio primary