Saint Peter’s of the Valley was founded in 1989 through the shared vision of the Diocese of Colorado, Christ Episcopal Church in Aspen, and an intrepid group of Roaring Fork Valley Christians.
In the Beginning (1989–1991)
In 1989 the Rev. Robert Babb, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, asked Karen and Scott Smith to lead a new mission “downvalley” with Becky and Bill Ayres as the Christ Church vestry representatives. The first services were held in summer 1989 in the Growing Years Day Care Center with ten families attending. Father Babb, supply priests, lay ministers, and the Rev. Morry Hollenbaugh, a retired priest from the Diocese of Southern Ohio, officiated at services for the next two years.
Formative Years (1991–2000)
Father Morry became St. Peter’s permanent volunteer supply priest and led the congregation through the formative years from 1991 to 2000. In 1991, in need of larger space due to the growth of the congregation, St. Peter’s moved to the Basalt Methodist Church where it held Sunday evening services under Father Morry’s continued leadership. In the late 1990s, Christ Church conducted the “Find Us Faithful Capital Campaign with the goals of raising funds for a home for St. Peter’s, providing financial aid to St. Peter’s for three years to support the calling of a vicar, and capital improvements to Christ Church. In 1998 Christ Church purchased the Growing Years Day Care Center for St. Peter’s, and the building was remodeled with an added sanctuary. St. Peter’s shared the building with the Growing Years Day Care Center until 2006 when the church helped the center find alternative space in Basalt.
First Vicar (2000–2005)
The Rev. Mary Kate Schroeder, a priest from Boulder who had served as an assistant in South Bend, Indiana, was called as St. Peter’s first vicar. She celebrated her first Eucharist at St. Peter’s on September 3, 2000, and remained until April 2005 when she was called to serve as priest-in-charge at St. Aidan’s in Boulder. Under her leadership, St. Peter’s continued to grow with the hope and intention of becoming a self-sustaining parish. Vibrant activities included three services on Sunday; adoption of the Godly Play curriculum for Sunday School; mission trips for young people to Wyoming, Mexico, and Southwest Colorado; and the purchase of a vicarage in Elk Run, made possible by the generosity of a St. Peter’s family.
Transition (2005–2008)
The Rev. Kelsey Hogue, former Northwest Region Missioner in the Diocese of Colorado, was called to serve as our vicar in June 2005. He remained until June 2006 when he departed to serve a parish in Nebraska. The Rev. Roy Baker, a British priest from Wyoming, became interim vicar in August 2006. He brought with him hope and renewed enthusiasm. His untimely death from cancer in June 2007 left a hole in our hearts. St. Peter’s was ably served by several supply priests for the remainder of 2007. In January 2008 the Rev. Denis Ford, a retired priest from Ouray, became our part-time interim vicar. Activity during the transition years included the purchase of a new, larger vicarage in Blue Lake since the calling of a new full-time vicar was anticipated.
New Beginning (2009–2013) The Rev. Margaret Austin accepted the call to become our full-time vicar in January 2009. She infused the congregation with joy and excitement with her charm, wit, and boundless energy, forging a special bond with the many families having young children in the congregation. She served faithfully until 2013.
From Mission to Parish (2013–2019)
The Rev. Will Fisher became vicar of St. Peter’s in 2013 and brought vitality and energy to the congregation for six years. During his tenure the Diocese of Virginia granted St. Peter’s full parish status in 2018. Father Will moved on in 2019 when he accepted a call to serve as rector of Christ Church in Redding, Connecticut.
Today (2020–present)
The Rev. Wendy Huber was called to serve as our priest-in-charge in January 2020, and she was installed as our rector by Bishop Kimberly Lucas in August 2021. She was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Texas in 2012 and has served small family-sized churches since 2010. Most recently, she served a three-church partnership in the Roaring Fork Valley. Her call to full-time ministry was preceded by a career in the private sector as a consultant, trainer, mediator, facilitator, and professor. Wendy is excited to play a part in the enthusiastic and welcoming Christian community that is St. Peter’s of the Valley Episcopal Church.
