"Old" Salem at 26th and Lawrence, 1884-1921
With a worship service on July 13, 1884 in Reno Hall, Evangelische Salem's Gemeinde began. We were the first German Evangelical church in Colorado. The building to the left was built in Northern Denver on the southwest corner of 26th and Lawrence Streets in 1885. Our worship services were regularly delivered in German until at least 1942, and German could be heard around our church for some time after that. The area where "Old" Salem's building was located began to industrialize after World War I, so the congregation built a new building and moved there in 1921.
Pioneer Chapel at 9th and Sherman, 1921-1957
With the move to the new building not far from the State Capitol came a new name. Salem became "Pioneer" in honor of Colorado's German Pioneers. Known by church members as the "Bungalow" Chapel," this little building served our tiny congregation through its 50th anniversary and the Second World War. The post-war baby boom caused the congregation to quickly outgrow its Bungalow Chapel, and downtown Denver closed in around it as well. So our church chose to move again, this time to Southeast Denver.
"New" Salem at E. Florida Ave. and Grape, 1957-Present
1957 was a year of major transformation for our church. On May 12th, this congregation reclaimed the name "Salem" and worshiped for the first time in it's current building at 5300 E. Florida Avenue. On June 25th of that same year, Salem's denomination--the Evangelical and Reformed Church--joined with the Congregational Christian Churches to form the United Church of Christ. Salem UCC has proudly been serving Virginia Village and people all around the Denver Metro area ever since. Our history continues to be written, and we hope you will be a vital part of it!