[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 112 (Friday, August 3, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN HONOR OF THE LAKE CITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH'S 125TH ANNIVERSARY

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                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2001

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize the Lake 
City Presbyterian Church. The Lake City Presbyterian Church celebrated 
its 125th anniversary last month, making it the oldest church in 
Colorado that still utilizes its original building.
  Lake City's Community Presbyterian Church, originally called Lake 
City's First Presbyterian Church, was started in 1876 with an 
organizational meeting in Del Norte, Colorado. Reverend Alexander 
Darley had scoured the area months before looking for Presbyterians and 
related religious groups to justify his idea to make Lake City the home 
to the first Presbyterian Church on the Western Slope of the 
Continental Divide. According to the church's historical record, Rev. 
Darley went to every house and tent within six miles of Lake City to 
acquire names for his petition. After the meeting in June of 1876, a 
piece of land was secured for the 24'x40' frame where the church was to 
be built. Construction began in August, and by the end of October the 
church was completed. The estimated cost of the church was $2,100.
  Rev. Darling was officially ordained as the minister in 1877, and 
served Lake City for three years before taking leave. Throughout the 
years, many ministers have taken the pulpit, including a tape recorder 
for the winter months of the 1940's and 1950's that filled in the gaps 
between the summer student ministers that traveled to Lake City. The 
membership has also fluctuated reaching a high in 1889 of 132 members 
to its current membership of 84. Many stories accompany the well-kept 
historical records of the church, and on June 24, 2001 many community 
members gathered to reminisce about the beautiful old church.
  One hundred and twenty-five years is a milestone, and that is why Mr. 
Speaker, I ask Congress to recognize the oldest church in the state of 
Colorado. It is an honor to have that distinction, and I salute the 
members of the Lake City Community Presbyterian Church for continuing 
its lasting tradition.

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