South Broadway Christian Church is an historic church and has been given "Landmark" designation by the Denver Landmark Society.  This is largely because of its unique architectural design.

Of greater importance, however, is the story of its beginning.  South Broadway Christian Church owes its existence to a rather unique set of circumstances.  In 1888 John Sutton and his wife, Henrietta, lived near South Broadway and Bayaud Avenue.  They were members of Central Christian Church, located about two miles north at 20^th and Broadway.  Henrietta loved flowers and was in her garden that summer when she tripped over a wire and fell, injuring herself so severely that she soon died, at the age of 54.  The Reverend Bayard Craig, pastor of Central Christian Church, was called.  His words and prayers were a great comfort to the Suttons in the last hours of Henrietta's life.

One year late, in the fall of 1889, Reverend Craig had resigned as pastor of Central Christian Church, had sold his house and was in the process of moving to a church in California.  John Sutton approached him with an interesting proposal.  In order that the life and tragic death of his wife, Henrietta, would have more meaning, he offered $12,000 (a large sum of money at that time) if Reverend Craig would help him start a new church in the South Broadway Area.  Reverend Craig said later that he prayed about the offer and accepted it, abandoning his California plans, saying that he felt it was a call from God.

On January 16, 1890, thirty-eight Christian people assembled at 50 West 2^nd Avenue, drew up and signed a resolution and covenant and formed a new church.  They called it South Broadway Christian Church.

The growth of the new church was phenomenal and John Sutton erected a large tent (they called it a "Tabernacle") near his home on South Broadway.  For the next 2 years church services were held in the tent and attendance grew to between 500 and 600 people.  Heating in the winter months was provided by potbellied stoves.  When it rained the people brought umbrellas as the roof was not waterproof.  During this time plans were made to build a permanent structure at the corner of Ellsworth and Lincoln streets and construction was started.  On June 28^th 1891, the cornerstone was laid with Colorado Governor John L. Routt officiating at the ceremony.  One of the articles placed beneath the stone was the bible of Mrs. Henrietta Sutton.

The first use of the new church was a baptismal service on Sunday May 1, 1892.  Four people were baptized by immersion.  Five weeks later, on June 5, 1892, the church was officially dedicated.  Eight hundred Sunday School children from all the Christian Churches in Denver marched from the old tent to the new edifice.  Reverend Craig offered the invocation and the congregation joined in singing "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name."

The $12,000 given by John Sutton had long been used up and he responded by giving all of his assets, nearly $30,000 and almost half of the total cost, to the new church.  He made one request, that he be given the use of two rooms in the tower of the church where he could live out the remainder of his days.  John Sutton died February 18, 1901, at the age of 81, and was buried in Riverside Cemetery.  He was affectionately known as "Uncle John" and was referred to as the Father of South Broadway Christian Church.

The Church Building

The style is Romanesque and is constructed of the lighter tints of Castle Rock lava stone.  It has the appearance of a medieval castle with a square tower and a round turret on the southeast corner.  The basic structure, though not plainly visible from the outside, is that of a traditional cruciform (in the form of a cross) readily apparent from within the sanctuary.

Large stained glass windows adorn three of the sides and each carries its own poignant story.  The one on the south side of the sanctuary bears the inscription "In memory of my beloved wife. 1834-Henrietta Sutton-1888.  Her bible beneath the cornerstone of the building is the underlying cause of the erection."

The large window on the north side was donated by Mr. Charles Hartzell in memory of his wife, Mrs. Minnie Routt Hartzell, daughter of Colorado Governor John Routt.

The window on the east side, featuring the cherubs, was placed there by the Reverend and Mrs. Bayard Craig in memory of their infant son, William Pickerell Craig, who died in 1890.

The beautiful pipe organ at the front of the sanctuary was not installed until October 1907, at a cost of but $3,000.  Three years later, however, the indebtedness on the organ still exceeded $1,800.  At that time, member D. J. Mc Canne challenged the congregation to pay off the debt, saying he would match every dollar raised for that purpose.  The debt was subsequently retired in that same year.  A tablet on the organ bears the inscription "In memory of Mrs. Annie E. McCanne."

In 2002, the congregation began a partnership with the Colorado Historical Society to restore the historic building, ensuring that South Broadway would be a viable church for another century.  Phases I and II involved an architectural assessment, waterproofing the foundation, restoration of the exterior, and landscaping.  In Phase III, the chancel area and historic Kimball pipe organ was addressed.