[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         MOGOTE CHURCH TRIBUTE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SCOTT R. TIPTON

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 1, 2011

  Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize the Mogote Church, Margie Garcia and the committee 
responsible for the church's restoration. They were presented the 
Stephen H. Hart Award from the Colorado Historical Society this year 
for their efforts to repair the historic landmark.
  The Mogote Church was erected in 1895 by a group of Presbyterian 
missionaries and local Hispanic residents. Despite the risk of 
excommunication by the Catholic Church, they still founded a new 
congregation in Colorado's San Luis Valley. It fell into disrepair, 
however, and ceased to provide services by 1965. After years of 
increasing dilapidation, the campaign to restore the church began in 
1999. With over a decade of work put into the project, it was 
completed, and once again became a functioning church. Hundreds of 
descendants of the original parishioners traveled to the church to 
attend the reopening and celebrate a historical Colorado landmark.
  It is my hope that the efforts taken by this church's community 
inspire others to take the same initiative in their own. The Mogote 
church will represent the actions of a proud community for years to 
come and as such, Mr. Speaker, I feel it is fitting that this body 
recognizes those who took charge in restoring a Colorado landmark.

                          ____________________