Our common values are Mission, Love, Worship, Inclusion.
ABOUT GRACE CHURCH
Grace Episcopal Church is a progressive community that works to advance social justice as an outward sign of our spirituality.
Our goals are simple:
- Be a loving community, welcoming everyone, following the path of Jesus.
- Engage in ministries that matter to us and our neighbors, the people of Allentown.
- Nurture spiritual growth within ourselves and others, in and out of Church.
Grace Congregation membership include The Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, The Lehigh Council of Churches, and The Recovery Mission of the Episcopal Church.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF GRACE
i. Origin: Roots in early 19th century, our congregation began by meeting in homes, other churches, and the Courthouse as early as 1853, until the church could be incorporated and built in 1865.
On April 18, 1865, the cornerstone was laid by Assistant Bishop Rt. Rev. William B. Stevens, and on July 3, 1866, the Church was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, father of Grace’s first rector, The Rev. Eliphalet Nott Potter. To provide some historical context, on April 14, 1865, Abraham Lincoln, was assassinated.
Grace Episcopal Church is the oldest house of worship in continuous use in Allentown.
ii. Highlights of Grace’s role in the Community of Allentown.
- In Approximately 1893, the Rector at Grace was among community members who worked toward establishing the first Hospital in Allentown. During the planning, there was vigorous debate as to whether the hospital should be private or public, and Grace’s rector led those who lobbied for a public hospital. Eventually, it was agreed to construct a public hospital.
- Neighborhood Center during The Great Depression.
- World War II women used the wrapped bandages and prepared packages for soldiers in combat.
- 1960s – active prison ministry (The Rev. Fred Bender)
- In 1970’s the Congregation chose to stay in their downtown location, while other denominations were moving to the suburbs. The congregation remains dedicated to being a ‘downtown’ Allentown church.
- The Reverend Fr. Knapp began giving food to hungry downtown residents in 1972, from a closet in the church. As the demand for food grew, he realized that there were enough needy and hungry people to warrant a more organized food distribution. Grace Episcopal Church became the first documented food bank in the City of Allentown.
- In 1994, Because of the separation of state and church rule; in 1994 Grace Food Bank petitioned for 501(C)3 non-profit status, operating as Grace Community Foundation (GCF). This status allowed Grace Community Foundation to apply for Federal and State funding in order to provide more food to local, hungry residents.
- In the late 1990s, GCF was serving approximately 160 families per month. When the recession in 2008 hit, GCF was serving approximately 260 per month. As the demand grew, other food pantries were formed, lessening the burden on GCF.
- Today, GCF continues to operate out of Grace Church’s basement, and is open every Friday; and the 3rd and 4th Saturday, from 9:00-11:00AM. They serve approximately 200 families each month. Five to six dedicated volunteers distribute food each of those days.
- Grace Montessori School (founded in 1993 by Grace Church members) is committed to the improvement of the lives of people living in Center City Allentown, reserving 30 percent of their enrollment for families with economic disadvantages to whom they provide scholarships.
- Approximately 90 students currently attend the school. Like the Food Pantry, the school grew in size and became an independent 501(C)3. A few years ago, due to the school’s size and complexity, Grace Church gave over management to the Diocese of Bethlehem.
- AIDS Project, a non-profit social service organization founded by Grace in 1989, to provide Individual and Family services to those suffering from AIDS.
- Lehigh Valley Literacy Program was given free space to hold GED classes for several years around 2008-2014.
- In 2009, a $250,000 grant awarded to Grace Episcopal Church Allentown and New Bethany Ministries Bethlehem to work together on the renovation of a vacant building (former Grace Rectory) in Allentown that would be used as a group home for chronically homeless individuals.
- Recovery Ministry, founded in 2019. Our goal (along with the Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church) is to renew and revitalize the Church’s capability to recognize and address the serious social ills surrounding the pathological use of alcohol, drugs and other addictive behaviors (gambling, overeating, sex, etc.) and suggest an appropriate Christian response.
- Our ‘Christian response’ shows in our monthly Hope, Healing, and Recovery Liturgy, and our relationships with Staff and Residents of Allentown Residential (nearby residential recovery program), and other recovery programs.
iii. The Church building belongs to the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem. Space inside the church is used for a fee by The Grace Community Food Pantry, Emmanuel Worship Center, Prophetic Birthing Center. To assist these non-profit groups, Grace sets fees at below-market value. We consider generous stewardship of the building as one of our ministries. The IMPACT Project/Community Justice Panel Program has use of a conference room for free.
Our Historic Building and Who else is here.
On April 18, 1865, the cornerstone was laid by Assistant Bishop Rt. Rev. William B. Stevens, and on July 3, 1866, the Church was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, father of Grace’s first rector, The Rev. Eliphalet Nott Potter. To provide some historical context, on April 14, 1865, Abraham Lincoln, was assassinated.