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Denver, CO 80202
303-534-5288
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Zion Baptist Church
Address: 933 East 24th Avenue
Denver, CO 80205
Phone: 303-861-4637

Zion church was built in 1892 by the architecture firm of Jackson and Rivinus. At this time the congregation was Calvary Baptist. In 1913 Calvary Baptist decided to move and Zion Baptist congregation relocated from 21st and Arapahoe to this site at 24th and Ogden. With this move they found a home for the long term, as well as giving birth to other congregations: Central Baptist and Union Baptist. Zion, a congregation founded by former slaves in 1865, is the oldest African American congregation west of the Mississippi. An interesting historical note is that Colorado historian Wilbur Fisk Stone and the Rocky Mountain Baptist Association recorded that Zion was founded in 1863. Zion housed one of the territorys first schools for African American children. Zion member and Civil war veteran, Rufus K. Felton, was the first African American teacher in the Colorado Territory. Zion housed the 1st school of black children with the 1st black teacher, Rufus Felton. Other prominent members have included Thomas J. Riley who was Colorado's first colored citizen, Rev. John Ford as pastor and his wife Justina Warren Ford, Rev. Wendell Theodore Liggins serving the church for over 50 years, and current members Mayor Wellington and Wilma Webb. Zion also serves the neighborhood with two houses owned on the block that operate as drop-in and outreach centers with support and job training programs. The local Denver Landmark received over $400,000 dollars from the Colorado State Historical Fund to repair and restore the church.