St. Patrick's Episcopal Church

In July of 1909, the Bishop of Colorado believed that Pagosa Springs held promise for an Episcopal Church located on the Western Slopes of the San Juan Mountains. In July 1910, the Rev. Beede arrived on horseback to start a church. As time went on, the church in Pagosa became a mission of St. Mark's in Durango, and once a month a priest would come to hold services in homes, public buildings, and in the Methodist church. In October 1968, ground was broken for St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, which was located in the downtown area. During the 1990s, the congregation grew steadily, becoming increasingly self-sufficient, and in October 1998, St. Patrick's became a parish. In 2003, a new church and parish hall were consecrated on a seven acre plot of land that now includes an outdoor labyrinth. This beautiful church is a hub of activity for a variety of groups in the church and community. 

St. Patrick's Church serves numerous outreach ministries within our community in Archuleta County. Among them:

• The Pagosa Outreach Committee, made up of representatives of local congregations and social service groups, meets weekly to discuss emergency needs of residents and how best to meet them.
• One Thurday each month, St. Patrick's provides a hot lunch for Loaves and Fishes, a community non-profit that serves free hot lunches to Archuleta County residents. They serve between 275-400 meals. Volunteers prepare the meal, serve it to our guests and socialize with those in attendance.
• Our clothing giveaway in October is an exciting opportunity to give back to the community. Last year we gave away four tons of clothing and items.
• Each Thursday, we open up our church food pantry. Our volunteers don't just hand out food, but also visit with each family and treat them with respect and dignity. Last year, we handed out over 900 food boxes.
• Members of the parish make trips to Navajo Land to assist with repairs to buildings, provide solar lighting, and attend to cleanup projects.