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Wellspring Church

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Wellspring Church
formerly Englewood Methodist Church
A crane hoists a concrete panel into place at Englewood Methodist Church in 1964.
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Wellspring Church
39°38′46″N 104°59′19″W / 39.64611°N 104.98861°W / 39.64611; -104.98861
Address3885 South Broadway, Englewood, Colorado
CountryUnited States
DenominationAnglican Church in North America
Websitewellspringenglewood.com
History
FoundedApril 15, 2001 (2001-04-15)
FounderBilly Waters
Architecture
ArchitectThomas E. Moore
StyleModern
Groundbreaking1964
Completed1965
Construction cost
$260,000 ($2.7 million in 2025)
Specifications
Capacity440
Length154 ft (47 m)
Width50 ft (15 m)
Height40 ft (12 m)
MaterialsPrestressed concrete
Administration
DioceseRocky Mountains
Clergy
RectorBilly Waters

Wellspring Church is an Anglican church in Englewood, Colorado, United States. It was formed in 2001 as part of the Anglican Mission in America and later became part of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). Wellspring has planted several other churches in the Rocky Mountain region. In 2020, it purchased the former building of the Englewood Methodist Church, a 1965 modernist building designed by Thomas E. Moore and constructed of several large prestressed concrete half-arched panels separated by stained-glass windows. Wellspring expanded the building in a 2025–26 construction project. In 2024, Wellspring was the 10th-largest church in the ACNA.

Building history

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Wellspring's building at 3885 South Broadway was built as the Englewood Methodist Church. It was designed by Denver architect Thomas E. Moore and engineered by the firm of Ketchum, Konkel, Ryan and Fleming. The cornerstone was laid in June 1964, and the building was completed the following year.[1][2] The $260,000 ($2.7 million in 2025) building was unusual for its time because its main structural elements were 22 precast, prestressed concrete panels; it took four days to lift them all into place using cranes. The stained-glass windows and light fixtures in the 440-seat nave were handmade by church members, saving $65,000 compared to commercial production.[3] Wellspring expanded the building in 2025 and 2026.[4]

Congregational history

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Wellspring Church's former building at 4300 South Lincoln in Englewood became the facility of Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church.

Wellspring Church was established by Billy and Janna Waters in 2000 and held its first official service on Easter Sunday 2001. The church held its first gatherings at Christ Episcopal Church in Denver, and then began meeting in Mayflower Congregational Church in Englewood.[5] Wellspring was part of the Anglican Mission in America.[6][7] It later acquired the former Cherrilyn Baptist Church at 4300 South Lincoln in Englewood.[8]

Wellspring began ministry apprentices and interns in 2015 and formalized this training through the 3 Streams Institute in 2022.[9] Wellspring has also planted several other churches in the Rocky Mountain region, including in Denver, Littleton, Buena Vista and Lakewood (all in Colorado) and Santa Fe, New Mexico.[10] Waters was made a suffragan bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Rocky Mountains in 2026.[11]

In 2020, Wellspring Church purchased the Englewood Methodist facility, by then known as Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church, and as part of the transaction the two congregations swapped buildings.[12] By 2024, Wellspring had an average Sunday attendance of 780 and was ranked as the 10th-largest church in the Anglican Church in North America.[13]

Architecture

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Wellspring's nave consists of a tent-shaped structure composed of 22 half-arches of prestressed concrete.[3] The 14-foot (4.3 m)-wide panels were poured offsite and moved into position using cranes.[14] The nave is 154 feet (47 m) long, 50 feet (15 m) wide and 40 feet (12 m) high with a interior ceiling height of 35 feet (11 m).[1][3] The nave features 24 stained glass windows designed by Moore and handmade by the church's members at a cost of $10,000 ($103,809 in 2025).[3]

The use of the prestressed concrete panels created an accordion-like visual effect.[14] The nave has been described as "visually dramatic and theatrical".[15]

The nave is next to a pre-existing education wing.[16] In 2025, Wellspring Church broke ground on an expansion project to build a new entrance facility, fellowship space, coffee bar and restrooms. The project is scheduled for completion in November 2026.[4][17]

References

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  1. 1 2 "Ceremony Set For Cornerstone". Rocky Mountain News. June 6, 1964. p. 30. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  2. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Key Savings and Loan Association Building" (PDF). National Park Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Unusual New Church Rapidly Taking Shape". Rocky Mountain News. February 8, 1964. p. 33. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "MHK Architecture Expands in Denver with New Project". Mile High CRE. September 4, 2025. Archived from the original on October 9, 2026. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Wellspring's Story". Wellspring Church. Archived from the original on October 10, 2026. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  6. ↑ "About". 3 Streams Institute. February 7, 2017. Archived from the original on June 13, 2025. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Rocky Mtn Network". Resurrection Anglican Fellowship. Archived from the original on October 11, 2026. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  8. ↑ Cohn, Doug (May 2017). "Did You Know? Reusing Historic Buildings" (PDF). Newsletter. Englewood Historic Preservation Society. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 10, 2026. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  9. ↑ "History". 3 Streams Institute. May 9, 2024. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Church Planting". Wellspring Church. Archived from the original on October 10, 2026. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Suffragan Bishop Consecration". Anglican Diocese of the Rocky Mountains. February 3, 2026. Archived from the original on October 9, 2026. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  12. ↑ Waters, Billy (July 13, 2020). "Spirit of Hope Update". Wellspring Church. Archived from the original on October 10, 2026. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  13. ↑ Johnston, Peter (July 21, 2025). "Rise of the Anglican Megachurch: Observations from the ACNA's Largest Churches". Anglican Compass. Archived from the original on October 9, 2026. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  14. 1 2 Smith, Marion (April 6, 1965). "Pre-stressed Concrete Growing Industry". Westminster Journal. p. 3. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  15. ↑ Tomasso, Diane Wray (2008). Historic Context of Littleton, Colorado 1949-1967 (PDF). Littleton, Colorado: Office of Community Development. pp. 159–60. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Model of New Sanctuary Building". Rocky Mountain News. September 7, 1963. p. 36. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Wellspring Church". MHK Architecture. November 13, 2025. Archived from the original on October 10, 2026. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
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