One of the first church buildings in the frontier farmlands northwest of Denver was a small two-story clapboard chapel at the corner of today`s 120th Avenue and Huron Street. Established in 1891 and originally called the Morey Chapel, it was later renamed Wesley Chapel. A small cemetery still exists there.
Although the congregation couldn`t have had much money, it began installing beautiful stained glass windows in the tiny chapel. Created by Watkins Stained Glass Studio in Englewood, the windows were made of imported glass and lead. The church honored particular members by incorporating their names into the designs.
In 1922, the chapel closed its doors and it sat unused for a dozen years. In 1934, the building was scheduled for demolition. The materials did not go to waste, however; they were donated to the Warren Chapel in nearby Broomfield.
The intrepid minister of Warren Chapel, the Rev. Leon Foster, exercised his muscle and sweat to dismantle the old building. He re-used much of the material to refurbish Broomfield`s small Methodist-Episcopal church, which was established in 1888. He rescued the delicate stained glass windows and installed them in Warren Chapel.
In 1963, the growing church needed more room. What is now called Broomfield United Methodist Church constructed a new building at its present location at 10th Avenue and Daphne Street. It sold Warren Chapel to the Broomfield Community Baptist Church, which soon needed a larger building, so it was sold to Jonas Taxidermy. Old-timers in this area might remember a giant giraffe visible from U.S. 36, southeast of Wadsworth Boulevard and U.S. 36. The giraffe stood on top of the Jonas Taxidermy, the former Warren Chapel.
The stained glass windows were removed from the building and stored away for safe-keeping.
In 1984, Broomfield United Methodist Church added a new sanctuary. At that time, the windows were brought out of storage. Church members volunteered time and money to clean and restore these works of art. They hired Watkins Stained Glass Studio to do the restoration work. In honor of the Rev. Leon Foster`s mother-in-law, they added a name to one original window: Viola Crooks, one of Broomfield`s most beloved pioneers.
The congregation has since donated funds to create six new stained glass windows. Following the tradition started by those early pioneers in the Wesley Chapel, new windows are dedicated in honor of specific people or groups. These include Dorothy Ransom, who has been the church organist for more than 35 years, the Rev. Leon and Mrs. Alice Foster, Bob Haskins, Carrie M. Smith and Alma S. Smith. Also honored with a new window are the United Methodist Women, who have kept the church going through thick and thin.
Many thanks to Nila Brummund, granddaughter of Viola Crooks, for telling me the story and showing me the lovely windows. Thanks also to Donna Grass, whose exhaustive research and excellent write-up nearly did my work for me.
A small cemetery still exists at 120th Avenue and Huron Street, the site of the original Morey Chapel.
Carol Turner is the author of “Economics for the Impatient,” published by Clearwater Publishing of Broomfield. Contact her at email@example.com