HISTORY OF CHRIST THE KING
Franciscan priests from St Elizabeth Parish in Denver were the first Catholic presence in Evergreen. The priests traveled up Bear Creek Canyon to offer Mass in Evergreen’s Episcopal chapel. Later, Monsignor John Moran of St. Joseph in Golden tended to the Evergreen faithful, establishing the Christ the King mission in 1924.
Soon after, George Cottrell donated land south of the Evergreen Cemetery. A rustic moss rock and log chapel was completed in 1935 with help from other families. John Monroe designed the church, and Bishop Urban Vehr dedicated it in April 1936. Christ the King continued as a mission church of St. Joseph’s until 1951. In that year the Archdiocese of Denver appointed Father Joseph Bosch, the first resident pastor. The “new” parish at this time numbered 70 families.
1953
To accommodate a resident pastor, the George Greer family donated and built the present rectory, the oldest building on the property. Soon after, other parishioners helped build the St. Jude roadside shrine and the outdoor altar dedicated to the Sorrowful Mother. Father Donald McMahon replaced Father Bosch in 1953. Father McMahon’s led the construction of a rustic parish hall at a cost of $75,000. Frank “Wally” Kullmanwas designed the new parish hall, and Archbishop Vehr dedicated it in 1956. The parish had grown to about 150 families.
1964
In 1964, Father Leo Blach replaced Father McMahon. In 1966, Father Blach purchased 17 acres of adjacent land to accommodate the needs of the growing parish. The first parish council, formed in 1968, decided to build a new church and education center. Construction started in 1970. On May 24, 1971, Archbishop James V. Casey blessed the new $317,000 church. The old stone church was razed. The wall where the crucifix now hangs in the sanctuary is built using stones from the original chapel.
1976
Monsignor Robert Hoffman replaced Father Blach served in 1976. The parish now numbered more than 500 households. The pastor received increased responsibility of the mission church of St. Elizabeth in Buffalo Creek. Our Lady of the Pines became a mission to Christ the King in 1979, to serve Conifer. To reach his far-flung flock, Monsignor Hoffman experimented with monthly service in “little parishes” scattered around the foothills. Father Michael Gass replaced Monsignor Hoffman in 1986.
1987 to Present
Father John Murphy replaced Father Gass in 1987. Under Father Murphy’s leadership, the parish population reflected the tremendous growth and development happening in Evergreen. In 1993, Our Lady of the Pines-St Elizabeth “broke off” as its own parish. Father Murphy left Christ the King in 1999 and the parish welcomed Father Christopher Renner. Under Father Renner’s leadership, CTK completed an expansion project in 2010. The beloved parish hall was removed, adding 17,000 square feet of new space. The new $4.5 million Parish Center was dedicated by Archbishop Charles Chaput on October 10, 2010.
This brief history recalls only the bare facts about Christ the King, listing only who did what and when. It cannot do justice to the hard work and love that God has inspired in our community which continues to the present day. The real history of Christ the King Church continues not so much in this story retelling, but in the daily lives we all live. As Christ the King celebrates passing the hundred-year mark, the parish now numbers almost 800 families and looks forward to boldly going forth in the name of Christ, our Savior and King, making history for the next millennium.