Our History

The Church of the Good Samaritan was established in Gunnison, CO in 1882, making it one of the earliest churches founded on the western slope of Colorado.  The Bishop of Colorado at the time, Bishop Spaulding visited Gunnison in 1880 and he held the first Episcopal service in Gunnison. A small group of Episcopalians who lived in the Gunnison River Valley petitioned him to establish a church and to send clergy to establish a parish. 

Bishop Spaulding appointed a deacon, The Rev. Robert Jones to establish this congregation in Gunnison and in Crested Butte.  Holy Trinity was the original name given to the parish in Gunnison.  When Rev. Jones was called to Colorado City, he was replaced in 1881 by the Rev. A. B. Drummond.  Father Drummond began holding services in the county Court House and in August of 1881 the Church Committee was formed to build a church building.  The name of the congregation was changed to The Church of the Atonement.  In 1882 Rev. Thomas Duck arrived in Gunnison to be the new Vicar.  He moved the congregation from the court house to a vacant store and, like his predecessors, felt that the name of the congregation should be changed again to the Church of the Good Samaritan, as it has remained until this day. 

The population of Gunnison had grown to around 5,000 in 1882 so the small Episcopal church decided it was time to build a church building Lots were purchased for a church and it was determined to a church of stone.  This building was built and measured 25 ft. by 60ft. Even though the building was not finished the congregation was determined to hold services in the new stone church before the year was done.  On Christmas Eve 1882, services were held last time in the store front and on Christmas Day morning the first service was held in the new church building.  In spite of the fact that the roof was not complete and that the walls were not plastered and painted, the Church of the Good Samaritan was in its new home. 

The Church of the Good Samaritan continued to serve the Gunnison Community continuously since that first Christmas morning uninterrupted until the present time. Over the years through many generations of parishioners and many clergy, Good Samaritan Church has tried to live up to  namesake and to minister not only to the Episcopal congregation within the Gunnison River Valley, planting churches in Crested Butte and Lake City, but also seeking ways to help build and support the Gunnison community at large.  

The various ministries have included: Tuesday school which was established to assist children with their homework, the Opportunity Shop, a resale store to help low income people with clothing and household items, a Blanket ministry that makes and gives receiving blankets to all newborns born at the Gunnison Valley Hospital (150 blankets this year alone), we support the Gunnison Valley Hospice with pastoral support and a number of volunteers, we are the largest supporter of the local Food Bank, we were the original site for the Food pantry until it out grew our space and became a separate agency, we are members of the Restorative Justice Group that attempts to find alternatives to jail time for youth offenders in the county, the Gunnison High School Lunch Program that helps to  serve lunches at the Gunnison High school as they do not have a cafeteria, we have provided community dinners for many years to the Gunnison community at large, and we recently have began a monthly Community Concert Series. Good Samaritan are members of the Gunnison Clergy Alliance (?) that provides pastoral support to the Gunnison Valley Hospital and the Nursing home.  We have always over the years of been committed to helping those in need with food, fuel, lodging and clothing for those who presented themselves at our door whether they are transients or simply those who live in the community and find themselves in need. 

Presently the Church of the Good Samaritan is in a period of growth not only in members but in desire to increase our impact in the community.