The historic St. James Church of Central City has removed itself as a member of the United Methodist Church. Despite the church sign, the church is no longer affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Pastor Jack van Son said the church separated from the United Methodist Church a few months ago.

Van Son has lived in Mid-Gilpin County for six years and was an assistant pastor at Christ of the King on Highway 46 in Gilpin County. Before that, he and his wife lived in Golden for several years. During the summer of 2022, St. James needed a pastor, so he filled in, along with other pastors, to speak on Sunday mornings. On September 18, 2022, he was offered the full-time position to pastor the flock. There are about 35 people attending the church at this time of the year. but many are sunbirds who travel to warmer places during the winter.

For Easter, St. James will have a sunrise service at 7 a.m. at the memorial by the Coeur d’Alene Mine. There will then be a breakfast at the church at 9 a.m., and the regular worship service at 10 a.m.

The congregation for the church originally started it in 1859, making it the oldest Protestant church in Colorado. Aunt Clara Brown helped organize the early church. Clara Brown was likely the first African-American woman to come to Colorado. Born a slave in Virginia, Brown was freed in Kentucky and headed west during the Colorado Gold Rush of 1859. She acquired mining properties in Gilpin County and used her wealth to become a philanthropist who helped former slaves rebuild their lives in Colorado.

The ground floor of the current building of the church was constructed in 1864, which included the parsonage. The sanctuary was completed in 1872. The carpet was purchased from Italy in the 1870s. The organ was installed in 1899. Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” attended the church and left a handwritten version at the church.

Church members decided they didn’t have enough reading material in Central City, so they started a library in 1868.

In the 1970s, the sanctuary had fallen into disrepair and was dangerous to walk on, so it was renovated. Fortunately, they were lucky to find the same carpet manufacturer in Italy and were able to replace the historic carpet.

Regular services are at 10 a.m. at the church, 123 Eureka Street, P.O. Box 42, Central City. Phone is 303-582-5882. They are open from Tuesday through Friday at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and are the only church open during the day in Gilpin County. They also have a bible reading on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. that includes a supper meal.