A volunteer organization is pushing to rescue St. Victor's Chapel from deterioration and possible destruction, with a formal bid for federal historic recognition at the heart of the effort. The group has submitted an application for placement on the National Register of Historic Places, arguing that the building's Victorian architecture embodies the spirit of Victor — a community defined by a tradition of preservation rather than demolition.
The chapel dates to 1894 and was formally dedicated in 1902, though today it opens its doors only on special occasions. A turning point came in 2016, when Mary Bielz persuaded the Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs to transfer ownership of the property to the nonprofit Friends of St. Victor's. Bielz, who chairs the organization, says the group is responsible for funding day-to-day maintenance as well as longer-term preservation work.
Physical improvements carried out in recent years have included roof replacement, exterior painting, and tuck-pointing of the foundation. The interior altar — a marble-accented composite finished in 1918 — is adorned with depictions of Jesus on the Cross, St. Joseph with the infant Jesus, and St. Anthony, though no record of the sculptor survives. Flanking the altar are figures honoring the Blessed Mother Mary on the left side and the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the right.
Last month, the Friends marked the chapel's 132nd anniversary with a Mass followed by a reception at a community building on the opposite side of the street, held as part of the broader Victor Heritage Days weekend. In keeping with local custom, attendees contributed to a homemade potluck lunch, with a dessert from the Gold Camp Bakery rounding out the meal.
Supporters have long called the chapel "The City of God in the City of Gold," a phrase drawn from a 1952 booklet composed by the Rev. Omer Vincent Foxhoven honoring the Rev. Edward Downey, who served as the parish's founding pastor. Bielz credited two individuals — Reed Grainger of Victor and Chuck Murphy of Colorado Springs — as pivotal contributors to the ongoing work of maintaining and preserving the structure.
No timeline has been announced for a decision on the National Register of Historic Places application.