About Us

Nestled in Estes Park, St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church is surrounded by the beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park.  We are one of the twenty-six parishes that comprise the Front Range Region of Colorado and we are a parish of the Diocese of Colorado.  Prior to 1914, the earliest Episcopal services in Estes Park were held at Elkhorn Lodge and services continued irregularly until World War II.  In 1945, services resumed in the Music Room of the Stanley Hotel as well as at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Hackett in Rocky Mountain National Park.  On December 29th, 1955, the name Saint Bartholomew's Chapel was granted with 24 members and a $1200 budget.  The first Holy Communion was celebrated on January 1st, 1956, by Father McGee.  Furthermore, the first Vicar, Robert Warner, was appointed in August of 1956.   During this time, services were held in the Estes Park Grade School's music room.  An acre of land was donated by the owners of Ramshorn Cottages, Mr. and Mrs. Milton Hayes, in September 1956, as a site for a church, but the land was sold to the Park Service to create the Beaver Meadows entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.  In May 1957, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Stacey gave the land where St. Bartholomew's stands today.  The Right Reverend Daniel Corrigan conducted the first service on May 15th, 1958 (Easter Day), with the assistance of Father Warner.   The first wedding was celebrated on July 21st, 1958, and Bishop Minnis dedicated the new building on Saint Bartholomew's Day, 1958.