In 1886, the Official Board of the Union Methodist Episcopal Church, located at Garrison and Lucas Avenues in the Piety Hill area of the City of St. Louis, observed that many of their members were leaving the old neighborhood to build homes farther west. Thinking that a church would be needed in the new suburbs, they appointed a committee to look into establishing a new Methodist church "somewhere west of Vandeventer Avenue".
The committee chose Lindell Avenue as the site for the new church. At that time, Lindell was fast becoming one of St. Louis' fashionable thoroughfares, lined with stately new homes with broad lawns and overhanging trees. In 1887, the Board of Trustees of Union Church purchased a property at the southwest corner of Lindell and Newstead Avenues, which was described as "some lots recently carved from Peter Lindell's farm".
Building began, and in 1892 the first worship service was held in the new stone chapel. Choosing the name from the location, the congregation named the new church Lindell Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church. The charter membership numbered about one hundred, eighty of whom were transfers from Union Methodist Episcopal Church. Five years later the main church structure was completed and dedicated. The total cost of church, chapel, and parsonage was about $175,000.00.
The westward population migration continued over the next fifteen years, and residents in the area around the church followed the westward trend. The congregation determined that the church, too, should move west. A site was chosen at the corner of Skinker Road and Waterman Avenue. On March 18, 1913, ground was broken and, beginning with the chapel, the process of moving the church buildings from Lindell to the new location was started. Fred C. Bonsack, the architect in charge of the removal, wrote, "As the old edifice was torn down the new one was erected in the new location, the top stones of the old church becoming the bottom stones of the new church".
The rebuilding of the chapel was accomplished and the first services were held in the new location on September 21, 1913. The completion of the church edifice followed a year later. The church, no longer on Lindell Avenue, was renamed Grace Methodist Episcopal Church and was rededicated on October 11, 1914.
In 1930, during the pastorate of Dr. James E. Crowther, a choir was established. Under the leadership of Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery Lynch, director and organist, the choir grew to a capacity of sixty-four voices with others on a waiting list. Numerous oratorios and cantatas were presented, and during the season of 1939-40 the choir had a weekly half-hour radio broadcast sponsored by Goodwill Industries. The high standard of musicianship established by the Lynches has been maintained throughout the years right up to the present day.
Over the course of the church's history, Grace pastors have shaped the focus of the church. Dr. Wilbert Dowson, pastor during World War II, developed the innovative University of Life program which was aimed at youth and young adults. Dr. Amos Thornburg enlarged the church staff in order to have worship and Sunday school twelve months per year instead being closed in summer. Dr. Thornburg also broadened the base of leadership in the church by encouraging the use of younger persons in official positions. Dr. Wesley Hager came to Grace Church in 1949 and served until 1970, the longest pastorate in the history of the church. Under his leadership, the church reached the highest level of attendance in its history, reporting 1800 members in 1962 with an average Sunday attendance of 600. One of the most important accomplishments during the pastorate of Dr. Hager was the formation of the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council, which has worked diligently to improve the neighborhood in which the church is located, and has been a major factor in the revitalization of the Skinker-DeBaliviere area.
In memory of Dr. Hager and his wife Charlotte, an annual lectureship was established to bring nationally known speakers for the spiritual and intellectual growth of Grace members and the broader community.
In the 1960's Grace Church once again considered its location, and this time made a firm commitment to remain in the city. That decision has enabled the church to remain a metropolitan church, one which ministers to people from all areas and which has diversity in its congregation that is unique in St. Louis United Methodism.
Looking back from this point, it is clear that the ministry and focus of Grace United Methodist church was shaped by a group of leaders in the early part of the twentieth century who made a bold decision to move west, and by another group of leaders in the 1960's who made an equally bold decision to stay and minister in the city.
The 1970's saw the formation of vital community outreach ministries that continue to the present. A Food Pantry was begun. Children's tutoring and enrichment programs were started. In 1975 the Breitmayer Memorial Ministry was established as a tribute to the memory of Douglas R. Breitmayer, a former Grace Minister of Music. This special ministry, which continues to the present, is aimed at fulfilling the needs of youth and adults in the immediate neighborhood. African-American families began to join Grace.
Rev. Bob Gordon returned to Grace where he had grown up, to lead the congregation for fourteen years. Grace became very involved in race relations and ecumenical concerns. Lay leader James Laue helped form the National Peace Academy, and Margaret Sonnenday represented United Methodism in international ecumenical dialogue. (In 1999 she received an international ecumenism award from The World Methodist Council.) In the early 1980's Grace sponsored the Thong Hnynh family, who were Vietnamese refugees. An annual Blood Drive was begun in partnership with St. Roch's Roman Catholic Church. Grace hosted the American Red Cross's first elderly day care center, and Grace Preschool continued to thrive. The Grace Men's softball team won ten consecutive championships. Rev. John Doggett became Grace's first African-American pastor, and the number of African-American members grew. Rev. John VanderGraf and Rev. Larry Gallamore followed him.
Rev. Bill Richardson pastured Grace Church through much of the 1990's. With a focus on the Grace Church Centennial in 1992, Grace members raised capital funds and completed a major building renovation. To symbolize ongoing commitment to outreach, some of the funds were used to build a Habitat for Humanity House. Under the leadership of Jaymes Dearing, REBUILD, Inc., a Housing Corporation was formed. Rev. Richardson died suddenly in his home in 1996. The congregation grieved, and clergy from across the region attended the funeral. Rev. Jack Adams provided interim leadership. Rev. Roger Wreath then served two years, assisting the congregation to move from grief to a renewed sense of mission and purpose. Dr. Kathleen Bolduan joined the staff as music director, and inspired the congregation to raise funds and renovate the historic organ. Mr. John Thomas, a neighborhood resident, replaced Rev. Paulette Ajavon as the Breitmayer Minister.
Rev. Mary Harvey became pastor in 1999, and Rev. Mark Harvey joined her as associate pastor in 2000. Under their leadership in 2001, the congregation posted a membership growth of 14%. The growth continues, with many young singles and couples joining the congregation. Many new ministries and groups have been formed, including Companions in Christ groups, a Holy Ground Home Repair Program, the youth praise band "Under the Influence," and the Holy Knit Wits. Grace has become active with Congregations Allied for Community Improvement (CACI) and Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU for St. Louis) to organize and advocate for children's justice issues, urban redevelopment and metropolitan equity.
At the time of Annual Conference (June) 2006, Mark Harvey was assigned to the UMC in Fenton and in 2007 Mary was assigned to Arlington UMC in Brigeton. Assigned to Grace was Rev. Mark Williams.