Meeting to discuss fate of St. Thomas buildings
ALAMOSA — The Canon to the Ordinary of the Episcopal Church in Colorado, Alex Dyer, will host a public meeting from 6-7:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church parish hall, 607 Fourth Street, Alamosa, to obtain community input on what should be done with the church buildings.
The church was deconsecrated on Dec. 13 and no longer serves the community.
The Rev. Dyer said: “We would like to gather as many community leaders and residents as possible to learn more about Alamosa and help discern how the Episcopal Church in Colorado can be the best stewards of these properties. I have asked the regional missioner, the Rev. Leigh Waggoner, to attend and also Paul Alexander, who is the Missioner for Development & Financial Stewardship in the Office of the Bishop.
“More importantly, Paul has a residence in the Valley and is familiar with Alamosa.”
There are three buildings at the site: the church and parish hall, which are connected, and an adjacent, stand-alone building to the east of the church, which has been used by La Puente for almost three decades.
Episcopal churches belong to the diocese but are financially maintained by local congregations. While St. Thomas was financially viable, congregants felt they lacked spiritual direction since the small budget could not afford a priest on a regular basis. Most members of the congregation were over age 70 and were just “tired.” With the service on Dec. 13, the church buildings were turned over to the Office of the Bishop.
The current church building is not the first St. Thomas but is in almost the same location at Fourth and State. The present church was consecrated and dedicated on Oct. 5, 1930, almost 90 years ago.
St. Thomas’ history began on Dec. 21, 1881, when the Rev. Melvin Honeyman arrived in Alamosa at the request of Bishop John F. Spalding to take charge of a newly established congregation. Bishop Spalding had been to Alamosa on several occasions for services since 1874 when he sent Honeyman.
Anyone interested is invited to attend and bring ideas.