History

The seeds of St. Timothy’s were planted almost sixty years ago, when a group of Episcopalians began meeting in a home in Littleton. Originally a mission of St. George’s in Englewood, the tiny congregation was fortunate to inherit the house and remodel it for worship services. Leadership for this project came from the church’s first priest, Rev. Fred King, father of our longtime member Jerry King.

Early one frosty Sunday morning, a teenaged acolyte came as usual at dawn to light a fire in the church’s woodstove. When people arrived for worship the building was engulfed in flames, and they needed to find a new home. Eventually the congregation was able to build on Hickory Street, just off Littleton Boulevard “behind the mortuary”.

For more than forty years the life of St. Timothy’s was focused in that location. The festivals of the church year were observed with solemnity and grace. Marriages, baptisms, and burials were celebrated. Rectors came and went, but the generosity and devotion of the members never wavered. Ministries grew both within the church and in the wider community, including the special connection with nearby Cherrelyn Nursing Home which continues today.

In the 1990′s the heart of the south suburban community was shifting to the new Highlands Ranch neighborhoods. St. Timothy’s lack of visibility began to seem like a liability, and the limitations of the facility became evident. Rector Don Warner and other leaders imagined new possibilities, and when the Word of Life Church at Dry Creek and Clarkson went on the market, St. Tim’s took a leap of faith and purchased it. Extensive renovations were required to create the beautiful worship space we enjoy every Sunday, and a wonderful new organ was installed.

The move to our present location was difficult in many ways. Many faithful members thought it was a mistake to leave Littleton. Construction costs escalated, forcing the church to take out a large mortgage. Although the first years were very difficult, our membership has steadily been transformed. Once again young families make up a major part of the church, and visitors stop by every Sunday. Thanks to the vision and efforts of past leaders, the opportunities in our future have never been better.

It’s important for us to remember that the St. Timothy’s we know didn’t just appear out of nowhere. Every time we attend worship we are the recipients of a precious gift: the legacy of those who came before us. Their faithfulness in worship and ministry, in fellowship and pastoral care, in giving their money and their time, has created the foundation of the church we love. They responded generously to God’s gift of Jesus Christ, as we must continue to do today.