The calendar might say 2009, but the Model Ts, horse-drawn carriage, top hats and sweeping ankle-length skirts on display in front of Trinity United Methodist Church spoke of much earlier days.Parishioners at the city's oldest church, which predates Colorado statehood by 17 years, gathered Sunday for a celebration of Trinity's 150th anniversary featuring period costumes and a special sermon.
When the congregates first gathered Aug. 2, 1859, it wasn't at a church. The service was held at the Pollack House Hotel.
The downtown landmark with its vaulted sanctuary and towering 4,000-pipe organ now serves about 3,500 people a week, including the homeless and others in need of assistance.
"We're here for good," said senior pastor Michael Dent. "We're here to be good. We're here to do good, and we're here to stay."
The church recently started a three-year, $1.8 million fundraising campaign to help recently released inmates, to build a school in Guatemala and start a health care initiative in Liberia.
