St. John's Episcopal Church

St. John's Episcopal Church

St. John's Episcopal Church Mark Chambers
1880. 329 5th Ave. (southwest corner of 4th St.)

Ouray's oldest ecclesiastical edifice contains an antique wooden altar screen and wain-scoting made of timber recycled from the Revenue mine. “Cousin Jacks,” Cornish miners noted for their expert masonry work, are said to have built this stone church. The old asphalt roof has been replaced by corrugated metal better able to shed snow. It is a simple, dark, low building—the base of what was to have been a much larger church before the silver crash of 1893 sank Ouray's high hopes. The lovely stained glass windows (1988, Virginia Laycock) portray “God's gift to Ouray.” The attached parish hall (1976) does not distract from this simple sanctuary inspired by English country churches.

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