Christ Episcopal Church

Welcome to

Cody, Wyoming

The “Poker Church” was built by money won in a lively poker game held at Purcell’s Saloon in 1900.

In 1898, Anna Peake and her husband arrived in Cody, where he was to become the editor of the Cody Enterprise newspaper. Anna stirred up what other few women there were in the budding 2-year-old town to make civic improvements, one of which was to build some sort of church. Being an Episcopalian, Anna wrote to the nearest Bishop in the area, Bishop Funston of Idaho. Learning that there were souls yearning for enlightenment in far off, rugged Wyoming, he made the trip by horse, stage, and train to reach Cody. He held a service in the first rock school house erected that year, baptized several persons, and urged his “flock” to build an edifice. H e said he would then find someone willing to come to serve Christ in this windy, forsaken spot.

It was not easy, there were so few people in the town, most of whom were men, more interested in visiting the saloons that lined the short main street than going to church. Anna persevered; she and several other women “nagged” their spouses about the need. Thus, the stage was set for the Purcell Saloon poker game.

Buffalo Bill, George T. Beck (both town founders), as well as several ranchers and hangers-on at the saloon, were having their usual poker game one evening. The pot grew large and Buffalo Bill, knowing that he should be doing something toward a church in the town (he had heard enough about that, after all!), suggested that, since it was such a large pot, the winner should donate the money to a church of his choice. George Beck won, and to placate his wife, he quickly designated the money to go toward the Episcopal Church. With bake sales, and dinners, the ladies managed to make up the difference and by late 1901 the church, being built to specifications for mission churches, was underway on the corner of Rumsey and 11th Street. Rev. Jennings was here to oversee the building. The Methodist Episcopal was also building at the other end of town, and the race was on to see who could have the first service. If rumors handed down are true, the Episcopal Church won, by only a few days.

During prohibition, when other churches were serving grape juice instead of wine for the Holy Eucharist, Christ Church held tough. Some of the parishioners and the priest brewed their own fermented wine.

In 1965 the large church was built and the Poker church was moved to its present location to become our chapel.

Services are held in the poker church from June until September. Many weddings and baptisms are performed there throughout the year. It is a much loved part of the Christ Church family and the community of Cody.