While the building was originally built without a mural, a group of women in the ward, in 1952, asked permission to commission a painting to decorate the meetinghouse. Permission was granted for them to commission a mural by LeConte Stewart (who has painted murals in Laie, Mesa, and Cardston) to be placed in the chapel. Stewart painted it at his studio in Utah and brought it to Denver in 1956.
The mural depicts Christ teaching the 12 apostles outside the walls of Jerusalem.
Apparently some suggestion was made that the mural should be painted over in the 1980s. A local ward member went to Salt Lake and talked with Church History Museum and Physical Facilities Department officials, and it was decided that the mural would stay. The ward had offered to pay to preserve the aging mural, but the Church paid for an official restorer to come and restore the mural. It still stands in the chapel.
Those of us who attended church in this building call it the 740 Hudson building. I went there until the Denver 4th ward was divided and a new building was built on Alameda Avenue in Aurora for the 18th ward.
ReplyDeleteI have a brief video of the groundbreaking where my father played the clarinet with a small group. I have many memories of that building! My father was bishop there when I was young. Just last week I was looking for a photo of the painting that you have shown here. My brother was in the stake presidency and was there when they opened a time capsule!
That's pretty cool! I believe the building has a courtyard?
Deleteyes it does. There was an addition on the east side that added more classrooms and a new baptismal font and large room. This made the courtyard very enclosed with only one outside entrance. All my siblings held their receptions in the cultural hall and I went to many stake dances in that building. There was a bit of renovation a number of years ago and the cultural hall windows look very nice. 740 Hudson was such a huge part of my life for all my growing up years.
DeleteA few weeks ago you posted on the building being leased to the a private school. Looks like some of the wards are moving to a highrise. https://www.ksl.com/article/50384288/new-downtown-skyscraper-is-now-home-for-6-latter-day-saint-wards. The school and old building are briefly mentioned in the article above.
ReplyDeleteI saw that. They moved over the painting of David O. McKay to the new building. I kind of wish they had moved the stained glass over, too. I'm worried about the future of that window.
DeleteWith the building being leased instead of sold, I hope there is more preservation. The school has a history and faith based curriculum, so I hope they keep much of the historical aspects of the architecture.
ReplyDeleteI served as a missionary in Colorado Denver Mission from 1977-1979, there was only one mission in Colorado at that time. I was assigned to serve in the area of this building for just a few weeks while transfers were being worked out. I had forgotten all about this building and mural. I came to your site looking for another historical church building in Denver. It was a very old brown brick building. When I was there (77-79) it served as the meeting house for a single adult ward. It was on a street that runs North and South and maybe north and east of downtown Denver. I know this is a long shot. Any idea what building I’m referring to? Is it still standing and in use? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in the Denver 3rd Ward (1960-1979 when I left for BYU) - my dad was bishop for years (Pink Ellis). I remember looking at this mural every Sunday - for hours and hours and hours! :) I always felt like I was home in that building. John, would the building you are thinking of maybe be what we called the Drury Building? It was an old brown building in my memory and I remember we had to drive a way to get there and went there for ward and YMYW basketball games on Saturday. It was either on Drury Street or named after a Drury. The Church owned it and it could have been where the single adults met(?)
DeleteWe met in this building in 2001 when we lived in Denver, members of the Crestmoor Ward. That building was a special place for us. The mural in the chapel fostered contemplative thought during sacrament mtg. The back wall of the chapel was all windows that looked on the main lobby and was covered by sheer curtains. The overflow/gym stretched off to the side of the pulpit. The center courtyard hosted many wedding receptions. And how unique to teach early morning seminary in a room with a fireplace. What great memories we made there!
ReplyDeleteDoes the Church still own and use this grand old church? Or did we dispose of it?
ReplyDeleteIt's still in use.
DeleteThe church still own this building.
DeleteIt is very beautiful and unique in many respects. I grew up in the third ward. Years ago the church was growing in the area. The third ward and wards using this building was the happening place to be a part of. I have many good memories in this building. The scout room that has a fireplace in it. The Relief Society room with a large bay window that looks into a courtyard with an outdoor fireplace. A basement where you entered from outside the building where the furnace was was where the kids made a spook alley. It was very scary down there. The stage had a door to the outside where we loaded and unloaded props for stake held road shows. These were very competitive. with judging. The third ward was number one. We had three wards meeting in the building at the time.
The chapel had a beautiful mural on the podium wall of Christ and the apostles. It brought great spirit to our meetings.
The wall going into the chapel had glass pains going from top to bottom with curtains. It was beautiful too. The right side of the chapel had a half wall with a folding curtain. This was the overflow that was the gym so you could see the speakers from the side.
There was an up stairs with class rooms and where the 70’s quorum met. It was a special place.
I remember as a young deacon having to mow the large grounds around the building and pick up trash. We learned to respect the grounds and take care of it. Brother Prusse taught us this
My dad was also a bishop of the singles ward later.
The thing I remember most is the undeniable spirit and spiritual experiences and growth there that strengthened my testimony as a young man and becoming an Eagle Scout, and giving talks from the pulpit. I felt the spirit so strong many times as a deacon, teacher and priest with the sacrament. The spirit burned in me so many times that I knew the gospel was true and Jesus is the Christ.
I hope no one takes this building and what it stands for for granted. There is strong spirit there like no other LDS church building. I love this building like many other people who have worshipped there.