Saint Paul's United Methodist Church

Founded in 1859, the church had a long history of progressive ministry. From feeding hungry community members, to taking in 35 unhoused teens as the first incarnation of Urban Peak, Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church served the Capitol Hill community for 156 years until it closed in 2016.

Julian Rush served as youth minister at First United Methodist Church in Boulder until he came out as gay in 1981. Despite the personal support of the Methodist Bishop, Rush was fired from his position in Boulder. The Bishop gave Rush an unpaid position at Saint Paul’s in Denver. Working with The Center in the early 80s as the AIDS crisis became critical, Rush helped organize and became the director of the Colorado AIDS Project. Early on, its offices were housed at Saint Paul’s. The church frequently served as a refuge for LGBTQ+ people during this time. After dwindling attendance, Saint Paul’s closed.

The church was reorganized in 2019 as Belong Church, an inclusive, and welcoming faith community.

Additional Resources

Learn more about Julian Rush, minister, musician and founding director of Colorado AIDS Project.