About Us

Brighton First Presbyterian Church began on March 1, 1884, when Presbyterian evangelist R.W. Rankin conducted the first religious meeting in Brighton. Those who gathered that day made plans to continue meeting regularly for worship and Sunday School in local homes, including the home of Thomas H. Hodge. On August 24, 1884, the Presbyterian Church was formally organized as Brighton’s first official church.

In those early days, Sunday services were sometimes held in Higgins Saloon, where wooden planks placed over beer kegs served as seating. Later that same year, on November 25, church elder D.F. Carmichael sold land to the congregation for $1 at what is now 147 South First Avenue. Construction soon began on the church’s first building. Carmichael, along with elder D.W. Strong was also one of the co-founders of the City of Brighton.

The first services in the new church were held on the first Sunday of June 1887. A steeple was added in 1890, and its bell tolled in the 20th century over the growing town. Today, the original church building is owned by the City of Brighton and will soon become the home of the City Museum. It is listed on both the State and Local Registers of Historic Properties.

By 1915, the congregation had outgrown its first building and began planning for a new church on Fourth Avenue near the Adams County Courthouse. While the new building was under construction, the congregation met in the courthouse, which still stands today as Brighton’s Historic City Hall.

The new church opened on August 31, 1919, and the congregation continued to grow. Although a fire gutted the building in 1936, the church quickly rebuilt and continued expanding its ministries. Over the following decades, Brighton First Presbyterian added programs for adults and children, men’s and women’s meetings, music groups, mission and outreach ministries, and multiple Sunday services. Once again, the congregation eventually outgrew its facilities.

By the time the church celebrated its 100th anniversary in the 1980s, it was time to build again. Planning and fundraising began, and the cornerstone of the present building was laid on February 22, 1987. The modern structure includes a spacious sanctuary, classrooms, meeting rooms, offices, a library, music room, nursery, professional kitchen, and full-size gymnasium.

Over the years, Brighton First Presbyterian became not only a place of worship, but also a gathering place for the wider community. The church continued to grow and became a center for community activities hosting graduations, baccalaureates, music and theatre groups, nonprofit organizations, and other events that brought people together.

The church members also played an important role in the founding of several organizations that continue to serve the Brighton community today, including Meals on Wheels, Almost Home, Inglenook Senior Living Community, and the Pennock Counseling Center.

Today, Brighton First Presbyterian Church is smaller in number, but remains mighty in faith, service, and love. The church continues to be a community gathering place for music and the arts, a home for a variety of nonprofit organizations, and a collection point for food and supplies for those in need. For more than 140 years, the congregation has been marked by open arms, joyful worship, and a deep commitment to welcoming and serving all people.

We believe in the one triune God, who created the world in sovereign love, made all people equally in God’s image, and acts with justice, mercy, and everlasting faithfulness to redeem creation.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the giver and renewer of life, who draws us into faith, sets us free to love God and neighbor, binds us together as the body of Christ, and gives us the power to work for justice, freedom, and peace.

We believe the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper are gifts of Christ, and the outward sign of the inward reality of God with us. All who believe in Jesus are welcome to the Table.

We believe in Jesus Christ, fully human and fully God. He was crucified, giving His life for the sins of the world, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal.

We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ, through which the Holy Spirit guides our faith, worship, and life together.

The church is the body of Christ, and Jesus is the head of the body.

Brighton First Presbyterian Church is a community of faith where all are welcomed, affirmed and loved.

…in every warm embrace, every act of compassion, and every moment of genuine presence, we encounter Christ.
…together, we create a radiant place of belonging, mercy, and hope—where kindness flows freely and the least among us are honored as the greatest.
…In serving others, we serve Christ. In welcoming others, we welcome Christ. This is our joyful calling.

Is Christ-Centered. We value a church that places at its center the Christ who embodied each of these values. We believe that everything about us should model the life and love of Jesus Christ.

Is Characterized by Courageous Love. We value a church that is willing to courageously love all of God’s children, no matter what. We believe we must err on the side of love, inclusion, welcome and hospitality.

Serves the World With Selfless Mission. We value a church that is willing to pour itself out to join God in healing the world. We believe we must care more about the well-being of others than we do our own agendas.

Thrives in and Through Diversity. We value a church that welcomes diverse opinions, experiences, and perspectives. Such diversity can cause theological tension. We believe that where such theological tensions arise, so long as they don’t conflict with our Christ-Centeredness, we must be willing to bear that tension in love, listening to, learning from, and being changed by the diversity we value.

Transitional Pastor

Pastor Steve was called by the Holy Spirit and this church to serve as Transitional Pastor on January 1, 2026. He earned a Master of Divinity and was ordained a minister in 1991. He is also a veteran and trained as a chaplain in the Air Force Reserves. His journey of faith has many twists, turns, downslopes and upslopes, but never dull! He and his wife Kim have been married 33 years and have two adult sons. Kim is the pastor of the Elizabeth Presbyterian Church. His son Chuck is a designer, writer and LEGO master. Matthew and his wife, Savannah, are Olympic hopefuls in archery. Steve loves mysteries, walking, rock & roll, history, family, baseball, and sumo – not necessarily in that order!

Office Administrator

I joined the church as the Office Administrator in September 2025. My professional background includes customer support, human resources, and office administration, with a focus on providing organized, efficient, and welcoming support. As a Colorado native and the proud parent of two children, I enjoy serving our church community and helping create a positive experience for members and visitors alike.

Director of Community Engagement

Leah and her husband Tim joined Brighton First Presbyterian in the summer of 2025 and she became the Director of Community Engagement in February 2026. In this role, she directs communications, builds partnerships, and identifies ways the church can better support the community. She is a nonprofit professional with experience in leadership, management, and fundraising. In addition to her church role, Leah is a nonprofit coach focused on helping organizations scale their fundraising to match their mission and vision. A frequent public speaker, Leah earned a Bachelors and an MBA in marketing and communications in 2007. She and her husband, Tim, served in pastoral ministry for 25 years, and they have lived in Brighton since 2005. They have 4 children, 14 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren spread across the country.

Music Director

Tom joined our church as Music Director in July 2016. Born in Erie, Pennsylvania and confirmed Lutheran, it was there that Tom fell in love with the sounds of the pipe organ. He graduated from Duquesne University where he studied organ and piano. He took a teaching position in Cortez, Colorado, but soon switched careers to computer aided design within Denver's Department of Aviation.  For thirty-eight years, he worked full time while simultaneously holding positions playing and directing music in various churches. He met his wife Laura at one of those churches, they married and had two children. They have five grandchildren who fortunately live nearby.