| Grace Episcopal Church History |
| " Lord I love the house in which you dwell and the place where your glory abides." Psalm 26:8 |
| On September 1, 2002, Grace Episcopal Church celebrated its 50th Anniversary. Grace Church did not begin at it's current location in 1952. Our origins began on June 25, 1879, when Grace Episcopal Church had its first service in Hutchinson, Kansas, celebrated by Bishop Thomas Vail in the Presbyterian Church. There were 22 active members at the time and Hutchinson's population was less than 2,000. The small parish had big thoughts and it wasn't long before these few people raised $250.00 and bought a piece of land on the corner of 1st Avenue and Maple Street.Their plans were to someday build a church building. That day did not come until 1891, and they really did not build a church, but moved it from Nickerson.The cost in 1891, including the move was $350.00. There are still members in our cogregation who worshiped in that little building on 1st and Maple. A church still stands on that corner and ironically enough; its current pastor is a regular particiapnt in Our Thursday morning Men's Bible Study Group. As Grace Church grew, the building on 1st and Maple became too small. A bigger church was needed. Once again, blessed with forward leadership, the church went looking for land. They soon found what they were looking for on the corner of Main Street and Hyde Park Drive. This sight had origianlly been earmarked for a large mansion, but half way through the construction, the owner abandoned the site. The corner lot and its half built mansion were later described, by the Hutchinson News, as " an eight year old eyesore" and a "monument to marital troubles for the former Hutchinson couple." In 1947, Grace Episcopal Church bought the old "Douglas Mansion, " however; it was six years before ground was broken for the new church. After a year of construction, the first service was held in the new building on August 31, 1952. At that time, the High Altar was a temorary altar and the medallion on the altar was hand carved by Father Croft, the Rector. A permanent one soon replaced the Altar and the temporary altar is now in St. Margaret's Chapel, as well as the original stained glass windows. The medallion now hangs over the back doors on the balcony screen. The eagle lectern that stands near the altar has heard many lessons read throughout the years. The fiddle-back Roman Chasuble is about 150 to 200 years old, the Russian Orthodox Cope is about 500 years old and the prayer books we use were adopted in 1976, but contain prayers that reach back almost 1800 years. The form we use for Eucharist has been around since just after the days of St. Paul. Our ceiling soars, reaching heaven. The great arches resemble a hull of a ship - The Ark of Noah that carries us through the trials of life. The stained glass windows tell the stories of the apostles. In the year 2000, an office addition was added to the original structure and the old office, a house located on Main Street, was moved away. Most Recently, Grace Church has added a Memorial Garden. A wonderful place to admire the flowers or have a moment of prayer or meditation. Grace Episcopal Church has vision for the future. There are many ideas that are being worked on now and ideas that have yet to be concieved. No matter what our vision, our prayers and God will help guide us through the process. |
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