Column: Grace Episcopal celebrates bicentennial
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Grace Epsicopal Church has been a major part of my life, even before I started attending its church services. Starting as a preschooler, some of my earliest memories and first friendshsips happened within the church. I fondly look back at my time spent in the undercroft taking harp lessons, eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, and even camping at Pisgah National Forest, so I was both excited and amazed at the announcement of its 200th anniversary on April 18th.
It is safe to say that Grace Episcopal Church plays a large role in the Lexington community. The church predates both Lexington and Davidson County, being founded seven months before Davidson County became separate from Rowan County and six months before Lexington was founded. The church, although having gone through periods of change and building, can be seen on a simple drive through town. People park in the parking lot during the Barbecue Festival and children of the community love to play on the open playground behind the church.
Throughout the complex history of the physical creation of the church to multiple storms destroying buildings, three different names, and renovations, the community of Grace Epsicopal Church has persisted. Beyond its traditions that have withstood tumultuous times, a strong presence of service is seen throughout its history helping to shape the lives of many in the community.
Starting in the 1960s, Grace became not only a body of religious people, but a body of changemakers. In the early stages, programs began to develop for those in the community. The church began providing spaces for children of the community who needed a place to go after school when they did not have anywhere else to go. In 1964, the church stated that anyone was welcome to be a member of the congregation regardless of race, making a big statement in an important time of history. Grace Episcopal also worked on gender issues during this time, with many members helping to elect the first women on the Lexington City Council and Davidson County Board of Commissioners.
By the 1970s, Grace’s congregation deepened its public service. Members of the community helped to develop a domestic violence hotline, which later became Family Services in the area. The church as a whole helped to resettle a Cambodian family who had just immigrated into the United States, and in the 1980s began to offer English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to those in the community who needed them.
Moving into the late 20th and early 21st century, Grace Epsicopal began some of the services people of the community still enjoy today. The first Arts Camp began during this time, exposing the importance and opportunities of art to students in the community. The church also sponsored the Girls Receiving After-School Care Enrichment (GRACE) program, giving students another opportunity to go somewhere after school.
With this story of service in mind, it is wonderful to say that this is not history, but still occurring. Grace Epsicopal Church still serves the community through the Sunday Lunch Program, in spite of having some complications due to Covid-19. On the 200th anniversary, the traditions of Grace Episcopal Church are still being continued with the community acting in love and strong in their faith. Regardless of denomination or religion, the 200th anniversary marks 200 years of a religious group of people that have affected many lives, and all are invited and welcomed to celebrate this time.
