St. Philip in the Field Church Celebrates 150th Anniversary
If you are traveling on Hwy 105 and you look west just south of Wolfensberger Road, you will find a rare beauty, St. Philip of the Field Church. This lovely, well kept, white frame church has stood for 150 years. It is surrounded by Bear Canon Cemetery, where generations of West Plum Creek families have been buried. The beginning of this historic little church tells a fascinating story that is still a matter of record and is an important part of the folkelore of Douglas County.
Originally there was a little log building just north of the present church that served as a school, church, and community meeting place. In the years of 1869 to 1871, the pioneer families felt a need of some kind of church and began to plan to build. Mr. Newton S. Grout was hired to build the church. He modeled it after a church that he had attended as a boy when he lived in Maine. It was built over the period of two months in 1872 – four years before Colorado became a state. Mr. H. H. Curtis, his boys, and others hauled the rough lumber from Round’s Mill in the mountains, coming down Devil’s Gap on Garber Creek, a most hazardous trip to construct the building. Wooden planks supported by heavy grocery boxes served as pews. The church was built without the help of any group or denomination. Once the outer portion of the church was finished, Methodist Circuit Riders came and held services along with clergymen of other denominations. However, all history does have its twists and turns. A man named Lambert came into the community, posing as a minister, and urged the members to raise money to complete the church. He was so well liked; he was allowed to hold on to the monies that were collected from various fundraisers. When they had raised over $600 to finish the church, Lambert and the money disappeared! This was so discouraging to the members that there were no further improvements to the church for many years.
The 150th Anniversary Celebration took place on September 24th at St. Philip in the Field. More history was revealed, along with some special presentations by long standing members. There was a tour of the church and a Bear Canon Cemetery walk to visit gravesites of several founding pioneers of Douglas County.
The information for this story comes from – The First 100 Years, written by Margaret E. Benn.
Photo Credit: Heather Phipps Photography