A Brief History of Grace Church
In 1835 the Ohio Methodist Conference at Springfield sent Willaim Nast to Hamilton to preach to his German fellow countrymen. After Nast, Circuit Riders provided pastoral support for 16 years prior to the official establishment of a congregation in 1854. The group was organized as a
German Methodist Episcopal Church with sermons preached in German and operated under the name Erste Deutsche Bischofliche Methodisten Kirch - First German Methodist Episcopal Church. Its church was located on North C Street between Park and Main Streets, our first church home.
German Methodist Episcopal Church with sermons preached in German and operated under the name Erste Deutsche Bischofliche Methodisten Kirch - First German Methodist Episcopal Church. Its church was located on North C Street between Park and Main Streets, our first church home.The Church continued to prosper and grow. According to records, German Methodism in this country, including Hamilton, was one of the most remarkable movements in the 19th century.
In 1906 the dream of purchasing a lot on the east side of the Great Miami River became a reality when a lot was obtained at 320 South Front Street. A church structure with its beautiful stained art glass windows was erected, a church large enough in which they could worship God and invite their friends to take part in the services.Services were held entirely in German and continued to do so until the detestable World Wars. The church that had been known as the First German Methodist Episcopal Church became in 1919 the
Grace Methodist Episcopal Church (or more popularly known as the Grace M. E. Church). Now that German speaking services were no longer held, there were now 2 Methodist Churches within 2 blocks of each other. Thoughts were being formulated of a move to an area of the city which was growing rapidly with new housing developments on the "west side".
A six and a half acre lot was purchased on Main Street and a parsonage built on
the lot in 1953. The sanctuary for the new Grace Methodist Church was dedicated in 1956. Thus began the first of six building programs in the church we now call Grace.
the lot in 1953. The sanctuary for the new Grace Methodist Church was dedicated in 1956. Thus began the first of six building programs in the church we now call Grace.A church is more than bricks and mortar; it is people with hearts and souls and dreams and energies. Folks with visions and the faith in God that enables these dreams and visions to come into being. Throughout all these years, God has always blessed Grace with the ability to honor our debts, pay our mortgages and our total apportionments, enlarge His house and minister to the people and perform an outreach to those within our city, our country and the world. We are, through God's Grace and to His glory, fulfilling our purpose and vision in the many ministries and programs which are available to our children, youth and adults.