Anniversary Information

100th Anniversary - Grace Lutheran Church Building

On December 7, 2008, we celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the current building of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church. On December 6, 1908, the dedication service for "New" Grace church was held at 10:30 AM, with baptisms and confirmation at later services that day. Special services were held throughout the week. The Rev. Dr. C. Elvin Haupt was pastor of Grace as the congregation worshipped in "Old" Grace, during design and construction of the new building, and for the first twelve years in this new place.

For more than one year during construction, Grace's congregation worshiped in nearby Shaarai Shomayim synagogue. When the basement of the new church building could be occupied, worship services, Sunday School classes, and the parochial school were held there.

From the Intelligencer Journal of Saturday, December 5, 1908: "The basement (of the new church) contains a large Sunday School room, classrooms, infant rooms, a church school (parochial school operated until 1923), kitchen, scullery, heating department, library, and toilets. The entire basement is finished in selected yellow pine."

Grace Lutheran congregation began in 1855 as a Sunday School. It was known as the "James Street Branch Sunday-School," and was formed under the auspices of the Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity, our mother church.

After the 816 working days needed to erect the edifice, the newly dedicated church building was ready to serve its congregation, its neighborhood, and the world from Queen and James Streets. Our mission continues from here today.

Memorial Gifts and Renovation Projects

1908   Church windows (the von Gerichten Art Glass Co., Columbus, Ohio);
              organ (Hope Jones Organ Co.,    Elmira, New York);
              memorial bell from "Old"Grace installed in tower of "New" Grace building
1916   Altar
1918   Lectern
1920   Tower chimes (a set of ten bronze bells)
             Memorial tablet for Grace members who served in the World War
1923   pulpit (from the entire congregation in memory of Pastor C. Elvin Haupt)
1925   Candlesticks
1927   Brass offering plates
1931   Sanctuary renovations
             Lighted cross atop tower
1950   Marble communion rail and bronze gates;
             altar vases;
bibles for pulpit and lectern;
             new bronze cross, covered in gold leaf, atop spire in church tower;
             cap for baptismal font
(font itself was brought to "New" Grace from "Old" Grace Church)
1960   Sacristy dedicated to memory of Pastor Benner
1962   Addition of a twelfth tower bell
1967   Total sanctuary renovation,
             including new Schlicker organ and its relocation to balcony, and new pews
1987   chancel kneelers, needlepoint by Grace members
1991   Saint Peter's Chapel added in basement of church building
1996   Total restoration of tower bell console and addition of three new bronze bells,
for a total of fifteen
2005   Narthex renovation

Dates and Costs Associated with the Building Project

1871   Lot purchased, corner of Queen and James   $4,000
1874   "Old" Grace building completed
1886   "Old" Grace first church in Lancaster City to install electricity
1906   Original bid to build "New" Grace   $65,000
1907   Donation from Andrew Carnegie for organ   $2,000
1907   Hope Jones organ contract   $4,500
1909   Contracts to date for church   $91,600
1909 Total indebtedness to this time   $45,750
1909   Cost of windows   $4136
1910   $40,000 in bonds sold
1910   Pew rents $6 to $10 annually
1924   Entire debt paid off during Pastor Benner's ministry

	Grace Lutheran Church *Worshipping with the Saints -- Seeing Christ in others* Lancaster, Pennsylvania
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Grace Lutheran Church 517 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 (717) 397 2748