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As Denver's population began to swell during the latter quarter of the 19th century, churches were quickly erected. In addition to serving parishioners' spiritual needs, the churches were places where people went to congregate and fortify their sense of belonging to a community. An important installment to the proliferation of churches in the Highlands section of Denver was the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church.

Asbury, one of many Denver places of worship designed by the notable architect Franklin Kidder, was built in 1890. Asbury is located on a hillside at the intersection of 30th and Vallejo Streets. The church is constructed of brick masonry as well as red and gray sandstone, thought to be derived from a quarry in Manitou Springs.

Kidder was commissioned to construct a church that would be home to many of the Welsh and Cornish immigrants who moved to Denver to find work. With the devaluation of silver, many of the mining jobs they previously held had been eliminated. Kidder constructed this brilliant building with a bell tower still visible today from the 16th Street Mall.

In addition to the imposing square open bell tower, the church attracts onlookers with beautiful wooden doors, stained glass windows, and a sanctuary ceiling in the form of a cross. When it is in use the pipe organ in the church is Colorado's oldest. (The organ is still in good condition but was disabled recently for some restoration work the church needed.)

Asbury is a common name among Methodist churches and seminaries. The name derives from Francis Asbury, a British-born Methodist preacher who, in 1784, was consecrated as General Superintendent by John Wesley. Asbury held this position for 30 years, traveling throughout the Eastern United States delivering sermons and spearheading the growth of the Methodist denomination in this country.

Today Asbury church is home to the Calvary Greenwood congregation. On the ground floor of the restored building (a floor below the sanctuary) is a new art gallery Ñ Ron Judish Fine Arts. There is restoration work yet to be undertaken at the Asbury church. The bell tower needs to be refurbished and Historic Denver, Inc. hopes to secure some grant funding in the near future to assist with restoring the tower and to study the unique Manitou sandstone.