Show churches serve all people of monticello are well attended the first bulwark of all american communities is its churcher churches monticello citizens are proud of their churches the newest and by far the largest church here belongs to members of the faith that started and first settled this area la im IBM 1880 the church of jesus christ of latter day saints better known as the mormon church the new chapel was finished in 1952 at a cost of approximately the brick structure consists of a large cha chapel 1 a recreation hall with a fae full sized stage and cyclorama at one end 12 classrooms 2 rest rooms a cloak room a tiled baptismal font large foyer bishops office store room lockers and a spacious relief society room the entire building Is equipped with a loud speaker system te m the e church also maintains a seminary and a welfare supply house kouse here the church has the facilities and has planned its organizations so that its members are furnished with a rounded social program as well as with complete religious training for people of all ages from toddlers on up the first protestant missionary MI S 1 to stay in this area for any 1 length n gry h of ame time I 1 was as sent here by the northern ort n baptist convention in 1923 for many years the protestant people met about once a month for their services in the country school houses near monticello the present san juan community church had its inception in 1940 at the am guest ranch when 27 people signed pledges to support the organization to be known as the san juan community church actual construction was not begun until 1948 before the church was faill finished b la in 1949 fire from an overheated stove destroyed the east half of the new building after this blow the struggling community church received struggling assistance I 1 from many outlying communities as well as from the generous members in monticello I 1 finally the new church was con completed and dedicated in 1950 it consists of a large sanctuary 3 classrooms a social hall and a large modern modem kitchen many of civic organization organizations and clubs such as the chamber of commerce lions club and the ah clubs now hold their ban in the community church ball had As near as can be learned the first catholic mass mats was held la in a private home about 1916 shortly before this the catholic settlers had bad begun to gather funds to build a church however they were not able to begin building until 1934 at which time they erected a ch church u ach of stucco construction several years later a modern four room log rectory was attached to the rear of the church in 1948 a church recreation hall had was built at the rear of the church property the interior of the original church was completely remodeled and redecorated during the spring and summer of 1954 the catholic population of monticello has recently increased so much that plans are being made W to greatly enlarge the present church or to build a new one in i the near future |