COMPILED BY
BARBARA LEE, 1991

REVISED BY
CHURCH SESSION, 1997, 2005

Sheldon Jackson's first visit to Trinidad, Colorado, was in the fall of 1870. With a heart for God and a call for the Great West, he returned in 1873 as a Presbyterian Minister and Superintendent of the Presbyterian Missions for Rocky Mountain Territories to organize a Church.

Upon preaching in Hatch's Hall on Commercial Street, he received a request from members who had previous church connections from Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania and Kentucky to organize the First Presbyterian Church with twelve charter members.

The first service of the First Presbyterian Church was held on Sunday, September 7, 1873, with The Reverend Sheldon Jackson officiating with the following twelve charter members who formally and officially organized the Church:

Mr. W. S. Phillips
Mrs. Jennie Phillips
Miss Jennie Phillips
Mr. A. G. Stark
Mrs. Emma Stark
Mrs. O. B. Winters
Mrs. Mary Bascom
Mrs. A. C. Ditmars
Mrs. H. Z. Bloom
Mrs. A. E. Beshoar
Mrs. Lizzie Todd
Miss Lizzie Thatcher

Reverend Jackson then rode on to brave swollen streams and the perils of stagecoach robbers to lose his way on the plains, in the mountains, and in a blinding snow storm to fight prairie fires, mountain fires, face hostile Sioux and Apache Indians... and to start Churches.

The Church he left behind in Trinidad grew slowly. In 1876, a frame Chapel was built on Commercial Street. The present building at 224 North Commercial Street was built in 1902 and designed by The Reverend T. S. Hawley, then Pastor of the Church, who was also an architect. The Church was described as a neo-gothic structure, furnished in excellent style and capable of seating 250 persons.

The Church grew from twelve to sixty-six in April, 1883; to 162 members by the year 1900; and by the year 1919 almost 1,000 people had been enrolled as members. Glenn Aultman and Harriet Espey Merson are direct descendants of charter members.

The first Ruling Elders of the Church were A. G. Stark and W. S. Phillips.

The cornerstone laying ceremony for the Church occurred at 3:00 p.m., April 3, 1902, with Reverend Theodore S. Hawley placing records in the cornerstone (within the metal box is a Bible, copies of the Chronicle News and the Advertiser, a coin, and a list of the Church members.) The Pastor's daughter, Margaret, attended the setting of the stone. Reverend J. L. Weaver gave the address and two hymns were sung, "I Love Thy Church, 0 Lord" and "How Sure a Foundation." The dedication of the completed building was sometime in July 1902. Total cost of the present building including walks, furniture, glass and furnace was $12,644.

When the Hawley Family came to Trinidad in 1902, a large two-story house at 316 Animas was used as a manse. In 1922 a manse was purchased at 314 South Chestnut (formerly the Northcut home) at a cost of $5,000. It was sold in 1945 for $3,500 which G. O. Newnam said was not worth any more. He did not charge a commission for selling it. This house is no longer standing. A two-story house at 721 Pine Street was purchased in June 1946, for $6,000 from the Cook family. A fire destroyed the second floor in 1959, but it was remodeled and still serves as the manse.

The Ladies Aid (sometimes referred to as Ladies Union) was organized in 1876 and contributed greatly toward the financial welfare of the first Church built in 1876. They contributed $1000 toward our present edifice. They also contributed $1650 toward the pipe organ. The organ, a foot pedal-air pump operated instrument, was installed in the east half of the choir loft, sometime between 1902 and 1906 during the tenure of Reverend Theodore S. Hawley. In 1928 the organ was electrified and relocated to its present position with the console on the Sanctuary floor and the pipes in a specially prepared room above the Church office. An electric blower air supply and three new stops (Deagon Chimes, Bourdon, and Oboe) were added at that time.

The stained glass window on the east wall was also the gift of the Ladies Aid. The window is titled Hoffman's Christ--"Christ in the Garden." Silver spoons were sold to help defray the cost of this gorgeous window.

In 1906, the ladies Aid was divided into a second group called the Missionary Society; later the Women's Council and three Circles.

It was during the pastorate of Reverend Richard Baker, and largely due to his wife, Shirley, that the present title United Presbyterian Women (UPW) was assumed. Another group, which met regularly in homes, was called Tri-C's (Comrades, Christians, Co-Workers) taken from 1 Corinthians 3: 9.

The Second Presbyterian Church (Spanish) was organized in November 1882 by a Presbytery committee consisting of The Reverends Alexander M. Darley and Josiah McLean and Elder Hutchinson. The charter members numbered about twenty (eight families), and two elders and two deacons were elected and installed. This Church had many ups and downs and long stretches without ministers. The congregation met in various halls (including the basement of First Presbyterian Church) with the final location of 400 E. Main Street.

The Italian Presbyterian Church was begun as a mission work of the Presbytery of Pueblo in 1916 by Antonio Sulmonetti of Denver. On May 1, 1918, the Church was organized by the Presbytery with twenty-four charter members. At this meeting Mr. Sulmonetti was ordained a minister of the Presbyterian Church. Arrangements were immediately begun for the building of a new church. The Church was erected and furnished at a cost of over $8000. The cornerstone was laid in September 1918, with Dr. J. L. Weaver delivering an address. The Church was dedicated February 9, 1919 by The Reverend J. F. Shepard of the First Presbyterian Church. The address was 723 Stonewall Avenue, location of the present Nazarene Church. The last congregational meeting recorded was January 20, 1926.

In 1961, the Spanish church merged with the First Presbyterian Church to become The United Presbyterian Church. In 1973 our 100th birthday was celebrated and we look forward to our next milestone of 125 years in 1998.

On April 13, 1944 Reverend Paul Whiteside asked permission from the Session to preach two Sunday evenings per month at the Community Church in Aguilar. At a later date this church came under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church. In a close relationship, the Community Presbyterian Church of Aguilar has been served by Sam Madrid and his wife, Ruth, since May 1983. We are also grateful to Sam for filling the Trinidad pulpit for half of 1990.

Community projects sponsored by the Church between 1984 and 1991 include Mothers' Morning Out, Window Works, Family Guidance Services, and Recycling Collection Station. The Church has traditionally supported community service groups by providing a meeting place, or through other forms of sponsorship, and continues to do so.

Current community outreaches include our food pantry, the ecumenical Lenten Lunches & Lessons, Community Vacation Bible School, Community Halloween Party, and the Christmas Pageant. Through the Trinidad Ministerial Association we participate in ministry to the State Nursing Home and Thanksgiving food baskets to the needy. We continue to have an active Women's Group, and now also a monthly Men's Fellowship.

OUR MISSION is to be a Christ-centered Presbyterian Church with these primary goals:

• To bring men, women and children to a saving relationship in Jesus Christ
• To nurture each other in the Word of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit to promote
   continued spiritual growth
• To serve those in need in our community and the world beyond.

Pastors who have served this Congregation: