Since the mid-1860s, black churches in Colorado have established a legacy of religious thought and practice, evolving prolific and complex histories.
Early Foundations
In 1865, a small group of freed slaves gathered to start one of the first black churches west of the Mississippi River.
Most came from the South shortly after the end of the Civil War, traveling by wagon to Denver.
- The founders included a washerwoman
- a housekeeper
- and a barbershop owner.
Zion Baptist Church, the oldest black church in Colorado, was established in 1865.
In 1866, Zion Baptist Church at 21st and Arapahoe Streets also held classes for school children.
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By 1911, the church had prospered enough to buy a beautiful church built of stone, with stained glass windows, from the Calvary Baptist Church in Five Points.
Eventually, the church attracted such national black leaders as Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois.
Shorter Community AME Church
Organized in July 1868 by Bishop Thomas M.D. Ward, Shorter Community AME Church was the first African-American Church established in Colorado.
St. John AME Church was organized by Bishop Thomas M. D. Ward.
The church began with eighteen members, including six trustees: Gibble Burrel, Samuel Cook, Alvin Cummings, Gilbert Phelps, Lewis Price and Irving Williams.
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Ada L. Mary Randolph was born in 1826 to free parents in New York, while Mary Smith was born into slavery in January 1833 in Independence, Missouri.
Smith traveled with her three children to Denver in 1863.
Randolph relocated to Colorado and settled in Denver in 1864.
The first church building, a log cabin, was erected on land donated by Major Fillmore, a Union officer in the Civil War.
The cabin served as the first church structure from 1864-1878.
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In 1878, a larger, brick structure was built on the corner of 19th and Stout Streets for $2,000.00.
In 1880, to honor the presiding Bishop, James A. Shorter, St. John AME Church was re-named Shorter Chapel.
For almost a full year and at three different locations, Shorter Chapel experienced considerable opposition from neighbors against having a Black Church in their community.
In the fall of 1887, three lots on the corner of 23rd and Cleveland Place were purchased for $9,000.00.
One of the homes purchased with the lot was converted into the church parsonage.
The church was built for $24,000.00 and after the financial gains during the community battles, only $7,000.00 remained on the church mortgage.
The church site at 23rd and Cleveland Place served as the place of worship from August 5, 1889 until April 9, 1925.
It is alleged that the Ku Klux Klan set fire to and completely destroyed the building in April.
Shorter Family Shared worship facilities with Peoples Presbyterian Church until Easter morning April 4, 1926.
On this morning, the first service was held in the new building erected over the same location of the previous building; 23rd and Cleveland Place.
Relocation and Rebuilding
The effort to move from 23rd and Cleveland Place was initiated in the 1970’s under the leadership of Rev. Carter.
The first services in the Shorter Education Center, our temporary sanctuary, were held July 11, 1981.
The ground-breaking ceremony for our permanent sanctuary was held in the fall of 1988.
The permanent sanctuary was completed in June 1990 with the dedication services being held during the month.
Shorter currently owns and operates the Bishop Richard Allen Corporation and the Richard Allen Gardens-Senior Housing Facilities.
Every pastor of Shorter has served to help affect early liquidation of debts on church property has been actively involved in church and community concerns and has led in the spiritual growth of the membership.
When the congregation erected a church on the site at 23rd and Washington, the Ku Klux Klan set fire to the structure, completely destroying the building on April 9, 1925.
Not deterred, the congregation rebuilt and opened their new building on Easter morning, April 4, 1926, the fifth building in the Church’s history.
The beautiful edifice still stands and remains a historical landmark in Denver to this day.
When faced with the challenge of the physical constraints of their location, Bishop H. Hartford Brookins assigned the Rev. Jesse Langston Boyd, Jr. to guide the congregation in the task of relocating and rebuilding.
In February 1980, Shorter joined with Macedonia Baptist Church to rename 32nd Avenue “Martin Luther King Blvd.” This effort was successful.
Then, with the canvassing efforts of Shorterite Ira E. Slack, the city was convinced to change the name of Jackson Street to Richard Allen Court.
It was here, at Freedom Crossroads-Martin Luther King Boulevard and Richard Allen Court-that the Church would continue her legacy of building when Shorter purchased land to build their sixth structure.
Initially, the fellowship hall was completed through the hard work of Pastor Boyd and co-chairs Omar D. Blair, Winifred S. Johnson, and State Senator Regis F. Groff.
The building was dedicated by Bishop Brookins in July 1981 and was used for worship while the main sanctuary was being constructed.
The fellowship hall was re-named the Omar D. Blair Fellowship Hall to acknowledge the instrumental work of the late Tuskegee Airman in overcoming several hurdles in the relocation and building process.
Brother Blair and Sister Johnson continued as co-chairs of the building effort until the main sanctuary was finished and dedicated by Bishop Vinton R. Anderson in June 1990.
Pastor Boyd served as pastor for 26 years, the longest tenure of any of the 41 pastors.
The current pastor, the Rev. Dr. Timothy E. Tyler, has the second longest tenure of 11 years.
Pastor Tyler has guided the congregation in paying off the mortgage, the second time in the Church’s history.
Pastor Tyler also worked to get the park adjacent to the building re-named the Rev. J. Langston Boyd, Jr. Community Park.
Notable Figures
Throughout its storied history, Shorter has been church home to many notable and famous Denverites.
Some include:
- the 100th elected and consecrated bishop, James H. Mayo (pastor 1971-1972)
- the Rev. Cecil W. Howard (pastor 1964-1971) General Secretary of the AME Church (1992-2000)
- the Rev. Dr. Teresa Fry Brown, first female Historiographer of the AME Church (2012)
- President Obama appointee, the Honorable Peter C.
Peoples' Presbyterian Church
The African-American congregation under the name of The Peoples' Presbyterian Church was established in June of 1906, in the vacant store room of a building at 25th and Larimer Street by the Committee on Home Missions of the Presbytery of Denver, Colorado.
The 66 member congregation elected 3 Ruling Elders and Rev. D. D. Cole, as their first pastor.
Rev. Cole remained pastor from June 1906 to January 1909 and many believers were added to the church.
