St. Paul’s History

From the beginning, in 1959, St. Paul’s has been on the cutting edge of social justice concerns, including racial equality in the 1960s, the Vietnam War, Latino rights in Fort Collins, women’s roles in the church, gay clergy, and welcoming of the LGBT community. Our position on the cutting edge has often not been easy, nor without conflict or controversy. But we have a sustaining history of reconciliation, resilience, and welcome.

We began as St. Paul’s House in 1959 and served as a mission to CSU students and faculty. The community met in a remodeled residence. The Rev. Malcolm Boyd, author of Are You Running with me Jesus? was our first priest and CSU chaplain. He began the Golden Grape Coffee House, which gained national attention. Rev. Boyd left in 1961 to become a Freedom Rider.

Under the Rev. Cyril Coverly, 1961-1963, St. Paul’s moved to its current location and began building a church. From 1964-1968 the Rev. Hal Lycett, an opponent of the Vietnam War and advocate of civil rights, was the third priest. Parishioners who attended St Paul’s then have spoken about Rev. Lycett’s work in getting Latino areas annexed into Fort Collins so that they could get water, gas, and light services.

The Rev. Bill Bacon, 1969-2002, came to St. Paul’s as the Vicar and CSU Chaplain in 1969 and in 1976 became the first Rector of the independent parish of St. Paul’s. At that time, the Rev. James Johnson served as the CSU Episcopal Chaplain and St. Paul’s formed its Daughters of the King chapter.

During Fr. Bacon’s continuing tenure in the 1990’s, St. Paul’s experienced conflict over women’s roles in the church, the 1979 prayer book, and gay and lesbian rights. The biggest conflict within the church occurred over the issue of gay clergy. When Fr. Bacon came out as a gay man, St. Paul’s split at the 1992 Annual Meeting. Known wryly as “the schism” by some parishioners, this event reverberated through St. Paul’s and split families and friends who stood on opposite sides of the issues.

Later, in 1998, a University of Wyoming student and an Episcopalian, Matthew Shepard was severely beaten and killed because he was gay. Matthew was brought to Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins and Fr. Bacon performed the last rites. That event had a profound impact on St. Paul’s. The Rev. Henry Doyle, a CSU student in the late ‘70’s, sponsored by St. Paul’s for ordination, and still in contact with the parish, has said that Matthew Shepard’s murder led St. Paul’s to be more open and honest about embracing gays and lesbians and to become active, vocal, public advocates of inclusivity.

After Fr. Bacon’s retirement in 2002, four priests served from 2002- 2008: The Rev. Vicky Kempf, The Rev. Bob Davidson, The Rev. Rob Lundquist (Priest in Charge) and The Rev. Nina Churchman.

In 2009, St. Paul’s called The Rev. Bonnie Sarah Spencer, to be Rector. During her tenure, St. Paul’s continued its journey on the cutting edge. We were among the first Episcopal parishes in the Diocese of Colorado to hold blessing ceremonies for same gender couples. The entire parish celebrated the union of three parishioner same gender couples in 2012. Once it became legal, Rev. Bonnie and her partner were married. Under Rev. Bonnie’s tenure, the parish also began its service to homeless families through the Faith, Family, Hospitality program (FFH). We began to share our space with the Mary of Magdala Ecumenical Catholic Community.

Bonnie+ retired in November 2015. The Rev. Lyn Burns became our Interim Rector in January 2016. St. Paul's continued its volunteer work with FFH and its commitment to the Colorado Haiti Project. It’s members continued their work of ministry within and beyond the parish. We restarted service to the Food Bank of Larimer County, initiated a Social Justice ministry, enriched our hospitality, began a Centering Prayer group, and took several steps to strengthen our spiritual formation and mission. All of this occurred as the parish was discerning whether to sell its building on 1208 W. Elizabeth which was becoming a congested retail area serving the university.

After much deliberation about who we are and how we believe God to be calling us to God’s mission, we dismantled our beloved church, pulled up roots, and came to share space with Trinity Lutheran Church. We viewed this as a temporary measure, but, in a two year process during which we felt energized and joyous in our collaboration with the people of Trinity and the Mary of Magdala Ecumenical Community, St. Paul’s came to the decision that we would stay where we are, our partner congregations being willing. They are, and together we are moving toward a new ecumenical vision, in which we collaborate in education and service to the larger community while maintaining our distinct worship services and our identities.

In August of 2019 St. Paul’s called its current Rector, the Rev. Felicia SmithGraybeal. Pastor Felicia is dedicated to the dream we have of collaborating toward a center where many faiths can meet and join in serving God.

We are a community where people can “come as they are”, externally and internally. We reach out in open-hearted welcome, allowing ourselves to be changed by the newcomers who join us.