History of Little Chapel, 100 years of "Come as You Are"

In 1905, Dr. Bonnell, an Episcopalian Priest, began traveling up Ute Pass to hold weekly services in Divide, bringing an end to eight long years of the railroad workers' longing for a place to worship. However, there wasn't exactly a "place" to worship. But, with three saloons in this little town, one of the saloons soon took up double duty as a Sunday meeting place for the congregation. Covering the bar with a blanket and rolling out the kegs for seats, the entire town would come to join in the "signin' 'n' preachin' at the saloon. Afterwards, Dr. Bonnell would play piano for dancing.

A church building fund was started from pennies donated by saloon keepers and gamblers and in 1906, general store owner, George W. Sadler, deeded land for the project. Sadler also donated most of the logs for the small church that was finally built in 1907.

The motto "Come as You Are" was adopted in 1919 to help welcome the workers from the lettuce and potato fields, who, upon hearing the church bell ringing, would lay down their tools and walk to the church. 

As the Great Depression washed over the nation, and the world, not even the little church on the hill could escape the struggles, falling into abandonment from the mid 1930's through 1962, when Jack and Bev Elwell answered a calling on their hearts to restore the building. During the restoration period, 1963-1967, the people of Divide rallied to restore the building, donating tremendous amounts of work, materials, and decoration. It was in this process that the church received the name "Little Chapel of the Hills" at the suggestion of then Divide postmaster, Lorene Parmley.

With this rich history and 100 years of "Come As You Are", we feel truly blessed to carry the inheritance of so many people's hard work and dedication. And we hope you will join us in this story as we see what God has planned next.