{"id":91,"date":"2026-04-24T07:21:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T07:21:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/a-step-back.com\/cumckeenesburg\/?page_id=91"},"modified":"2026-04-27T02:28:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T02:28:51","slug":"our-history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/a-step-back.com\/cumckeenesburg\/our-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Our History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By selecting the buttons below, you are invited to learn about our mission in Christ and the journey we share as a church.<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A<\/mark>bout Us<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
O<\/mark>ur Mission<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
CUMC Staff<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A Century of Faith and Community in Keenesburg<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beginnings: 1908\u20131917<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The story of Community United Methodist Church in Keenesburg is deeply woven into the history of the town itself. Keenesburg, located in southeastern Weld County along the Burlington Railroad between Omaha and Denver, was originally cattle country, home to just a handful of families. As the community slowly grew, so did a shared desire for worship, fellowship, and spiritual guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An early Sunday School organized in 1908 dissolved quickly, but in 1909 a lasting foundation was laid when Mr. and Mrs. James H. Beggs gathered neighbors and friends to form a Union Sunday School. Meeting in a one-room schoolhouse north of the railroad tracks, the group included about twenty adults and children. This humble beginning became the seed from which the church would grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For several years, the Sunday School was supported intermittently by the United Presbyterian Church and visiting ministers. Between 1915 and 1916, Rev. R. D. Lowden of Hudson held occasional services. Regular Methodist preaching began in 1916 under Rev. Leslie B. Logan, also serving Hudson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the fall of 1917, under Rev. Logan\u2019s leadership, those present at worship voted unanimously to organize as a Methodist Episcopal Church. Among the charter members were James H. Beggs; Alice Thomas; Emma and Ethel Beggs; the Hausser, Wolffrum, Scott, Howard, and Buck families; and several others whose faith and perseverance anchored the new congregation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growth and Change: 1918\u20131924<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rev. Logan served as pastor until 1919, followed briefly by John L. Spargo and J. A. Dean. During this time, Keenesburg experienced dramatic growth as irrigation transformed the region from open range into productive farmland. It was reported that the town\u2019s population quadrupled between 1919 and 1920.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1920, Rev. John R. Wood became Keenesburg\u2019s first full-time pastor after the church separated from the Hudson charge. During his pastorate, a parsonage was built with the assistance of the Methodist Episcopal Board of Home Missions and Church Extension. For more than a decade, however, worship and Sunday School continued to be held in local school buildings, and attendance remained strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building a House of God: 1925\u20131929<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By the mid-1920s, the community recognized the need for a permanent church home. Under Rev. J. M. Hines, plans began for a Protestant Community Church that would serve all of Keenesburg. As the Keene Valley Sun<\/em> noted in 1925, families had built homes, farms, and businesses\u2014but still lacked a House of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A building fund was launched with enthusiasm, and in December 1926 excavation began for the church basement. Progress was slow and often interrupted when pledged funds failed to materialize. Even so, volunteers persisted, donating labor, skills, and materials. The cornerstone, a gift from Draper Smith of Longmont, was laid under Masonic direction on December 3, 1928.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Completed in the spring of 1929 at a cost of approximately $23,000, the new Methodist Episcopal Community Church was truly a community effort. Protestant and Catholic, churchgoers and non-churchgoers alike contributed. Art glass windows were donated by families and individuals, and the pulpit furnishings were a gift from Mr. Moon of Denver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The church was dedicated on June 30, 1929, in a joyful service led by Bishop Charles L. Mead. A full day of worship and celebration concluded with an evangelistic service, marking a milestone in the life of the congregation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trials, Perseverance, and Victory: 1930\u20131941<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the dedication, hardship struck. In the fall of 1929, sugar beets froze in the ground, followed by the Great Depression and years of drought. Many members were unable to meet their pledges, and the church struggled under the burden of debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite these challenges, worship, ministry, and community outreach continued. Under successive pastors\u2014including J. T. Bainbridge and J. B. Payton\u2014the church persevered. Revival services in 1932 brought spiritual renewal and significant membership growth, with that year marking the highest enrollment in both church membership and Sunday School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1933 the church refinanced its debt, issuing new bonds and receiving assistance from the Board of Home Missions. Under Rev. Alexander C. Bryans, Jr., appointed in 1937, renewed efforts were made to retire the debt. Through negotiation, generosity, and sacrifice, nearly $11,000 in bonded indebtedness was reduced and finally cleared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On January 15, 1941, a Victory Dinner was held in the church basement to celebrate the lifting of the building debt. Bishop Wilbur E. Hammaker addressed the 140 people in attendance, marking the close of a long and difficult chapter and the beginning of renewed hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continuing the Mission: 1941 and Beyond<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Freed from debt, the church entered a new era of stability and service. A new roof was installed, remaining obligations were paid, and attention turned to strengthening ministries at home and beyond. During World War II, the congregation faithfully supported denominational and humanitarian causes, including the Methodist Church\u2019s Crusade for Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Membership ebbed and flowed with the fortunes of the community, but the church remained a steadfast presence. Through decades of pastoral leadership, devoted lay service, building improvements, and outreach, Community United Methodist Church continued to live out its calling as a true center of faith and fellowship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Living Legacy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From a one-room schoolhouse in 1909 to a thriving congregation with deep community roots, the history of our church is a testament to perseverance, generosity, and faith in God\u2019s provision. The greatest credit belongs not only to pastors and leaders, but to the countless men, women, and children whose quiet service, sacrifice, and love sustained the church through every season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With gratitude for the past and hope for the future, we give thanks for more than a century of worship, witness, and service in Keenesburg\u2014and we commit ourselves anew to serving Christ and our community in the years to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By selecting the buttons below, you are invited to learn about our mission in Christ and the journey we share as a church. A Century of Faith and Community in Keenesburg Beginnings: 1908\u20131917 The story of Community United Methodist Church in Keenesburg is deeply woven into the history of the town itself. Keenesburg, located in … [Read more…]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["entry","page","publish","author-mattp","post-91"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/a-step-back.com\/cumckeenesburg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/91","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/a-step-back.com\/cumckeenesburg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/a-step-back.com\/cumckeenesburg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a-step-back.com\/cumckeenesburg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a-step-back.com\/cumckeenesburg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/a-step-back.com\/cumckeenesburg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/91\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":564,"href":"https:\/\/a-step-back.com\/cumckeenesburg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/91\/revisions\/564"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/a-step-back.com\/cumckeenesburg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}