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Welcome to the Parker Area Historical Society! |
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The first evidence of a budding Catholic congregation in Parker is from a newspaper article in December
of 1905 which stated, “There will be Catholic services at the school house at 8:45 on December 24th.”
Services were held in May and November of 1906. Attendance at services was growing and in March of 1908,
there were reports of nearly 50 in attendance. Then, interest must have waned as it was not until October
of 1910 when Father Alba of Colorado Springs came to say Mass, the first in two years.
In December of 1910 our local news reporter wrote, “Father Alba says Catholic Mass here on Saturday
December 24 at ten O´clock am, and would like as large an attendance as possible, as if satisfactory, may
change the service to one a month and have it on Sunday. All try and come.”
In 1913 the first priest assigned to the Parker Parish, Father (Later the Rt Reverend Msgr) John Judnic
arrived, and was undoubtedly the motivating influence behind the Parish´s drive to build a church in
Parker. Money raising efforts were begun in 1914 and on February 5th 1915, a lot on the North side of
Mainstreet, across the street from today´s Mainstreet Center was purchased from George Parker
for $1.
Fundraising efforts were successful and on September 17th of 1915, news reports indicated a new church
was being constructed, and the foundations would be in this week. A February 1916 article stated that the
church was slowly moving to a finish. The last Sunday in 1916 was one to remember as Father Larkin said High Mass in the new little church.
In 1955 Catholic Church activities were moved to Castle Rock. The church was boarded up and sat
vacant until May of 1982, when it was donated to St. Matthews Episcopal Church by Melba Investors,
and moved to its present location on Pilgrim Place. It now serves as the church´s chapel.
This building has been land-marked by the Town of Parker.
Information used in this update came from various articles in the Record Journal and the Guide Book
to Historic Sites in the Parker Area by F. B. McLaughlin.
Updated by Larry T. Smith in January 2009.
Location: From Mainstreet and Parker Road, drive East on Mainstreet .2 miles. Turn right on Pike´s Peak Drive for .08 miles to an alley leading to town parking area. Turn right. The church is on the right and is now the chapel of St. Matthews Episcopal Church.
Site created by Alex Hernandez, Alvie Sellmer, & James Vallejos 2009