Denver's “Grande Dame†of stone churches is restored
The Trinity United Methodist Church held its first services on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1888. By then, more than 3,200 tons of rhyolite and sandstone had been used to form the building, including the conical steeple.
The rhyolite fieldstone, which came from a quarry near Castle Rock, CO, withstood the elements admirably, despite its soft consistency. The sandstone - referenced only as “Kyune†in the original building drawings by Architect Robert S. Roeschlaub - was used for the trim, banding, window sills and general architectural detailing, because it was easy to carve and had the right color characteristics, according to Chris Haugen, the project manager from Castle Rock-based White Construction Group, the general contractor for the restoration.