The Littleton Presbyterian Church was Jacques’ dream!   Jules Jacques Benois  Benedict (1879 – 1948) was one of the most prominent architects in Colorado history.  Commonly known as Jacques Benedict, he was born in Chicago in 1879, and he studied architecture at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts.  He came to Denver in 1909, and became renowned for his many prominent works including homes, churches, academic and public buildings spanning a range of architectural styles.  He had a particular gift for melding his designs with natural landscapes.  He was hired as the architect of the Denver archdiocese of the Catholic Church, becoming a respected authority on sacred architecture.  

When our elders decided to move from downtown Littleton up to “the hill”, Jacques was the man for the job.   A number of his works are widely known today.    In addition to our church, in Littleton, he designed the Littleton Town Hall (Town Hall Arts Center), Carnegie Library (Melting Pot) and the Carmelite Convent!  In the Denver area among scores of buildings designed by Benedict, you might recognize the Richthofen Castle, St. John Vianney Theological Seminary (formally St. Thomas), Washington Park Boat House, Chief Hosa Lodge, Shelters at Echo Lake, Daniels, Highland, Bergen, Starbuck and Fillius Parks, Belmar, Highlands Ranch Headquarters,  St. Catherine’s Chapel at St. Malo, Steinhauer Field House at Colo. School of Mines, Denison Laboratory Building Colorado University, Keys on the Green, and the Summer White House at Mt. Falcon.  Almost all of them are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Jacques Benedict has been described by biographer Doris Hulse, as “talented, cultured, eccentric, flamboyant, practical, difficult, opinionated, generous, temperamental, considerate, gentleman farmer,   and a man-about-town”.  Jacques Littleton Church is a testament to original design and to all the people who have contributed to the making of a better life here.  Today we salute Jacque Benedict.  We have reason to be grateful for your legacy of graceful spirit reflected in the house that has been left in our care.

Jim Grow – Care and Follow-up Elder