St. Alban’s Episcopal Church was formed in 1909 when a group of people in Windsor banded together and held occasional services in various members’ homes. In Feb. 1910, the Rev. Dr. B.W. Bonell, (also known as Dean Bonell,) formed a Guild. Upon formation of the Guild, Dr. Bonell agreed to come to hold regular services each Sunday afternoon. Church services were held in various and sundry places in town for the next few years.
Four years later, in 1912, the little group bought a building site at Sixth and Walnut and the nave of the present church was built the building was soon paid for and the chancel and Guild Hall were built. In 1937 the kitchen was added.
The Guild Hall served for many years as the meeting place in Windsor for social events, dances, civic organizations, and youth gatherings, especially those where a dinner was served.
The church is a copy of an English country church, made of gray stone with Gothic style windows and doors.
The church did not have a regular priest, but was served by faculty members and students from St. John’s College in Greeley. After Dr. Bonell’s retirement he moved to Windsor to supervise the work at St. Alban’s.
Fred Wells, a lay minister, came to Windsor in1940 and served the church along with help from surrounding clergy. He was followed by Rev. George B. Oakes who served as a full time rector until 1970.
In the 1950’s a basement apartment was constructed behind the church at 315 Sixth Street. The house above was completed in 1968 and served as the parsonage for clergy.
In 1973 Fr. Robert Warner began his ministry here. In 1977 some members of the congregation formed the Community of New Life. Copenhagen Hall, (originally the teacherage) two doors east of the church, and the house next to the church were purchased by the members of the community where they carried out their ministries of inner healing and help to those in need.
St. Alban’s Guardian Angel Thrift shop was opened across from the old town hall and later moved to a building Sixth Street behind what is now the General Store.
The Community of New Life was disbanded in 1987 and Copenhagen Hall again became an apartment building. The house next door was sold to St. Alban’s and became the parsonage for Fr. David Wood who later purchased it. Fr. Wood served St. Alban’s from April of 1990 until his retirement in 2003.
During the summer of 2003 the house at 315 Sixth Street under went extensive remodeling to make room for the growing congregation’s need for nursery, class rooms and meeting rooms.
Karla Lind was organist and music director at St. Alban’s from 1977-2004. Linda Wagner now serves in that position. Fr. Rex Chambers serves as our Rector.
Information from “Highlights in the History of Windsor” by Roy Ray and “A Walk through Windsor” by Mary Alice Lindblad contributed to this article.
