Grace Presbyterian Church of Baltimore

Historical Highlights of Grace Presbyterian Church

             On October 12, 1880, seventy-three members withdrew from the Madison Street Presbyterian Church and ,under the leadership of the Rev. Charles Hedges (1880-1891) founded Grace Presbyterian Church.  During the first years of its existence services were held in a building known as Linden Hall, located on the Sou8thwest corner of Hoffman Street and Linden Avenue.

             One year later, the fledgling congregation purchased property located at Dolphin and Etting Streets.  Worship began in this office and continued uninterruptedly at this site for ninety years.  During this period the church was led by the Rev. Frank Eggleston (1891-1908), the Rev. William E. Williams(1908-1916) and the Rev. John T. Colbert, whose long and distinguished career spanned the thirty-five year period between 1917 and his death on August 4, 1952.

           On June 7, 1953, the Rev. Robert T. Newbold, Jr. assumed the pastorate  of Grace Church.  Under Rev. Newbold’s guidance, the congregation confronted the need for expansion and in 1966 property on Greenspring and Banister Road was purchased.  When the property on Dolphin and Etting Streets was sold two years later, the congregation began worship in their temporary quarters in the Masonic Temple, at 1307 Eutaw Place.  In October, 1968, Rev. Newbold relinquished his position as pastor of Grace to assume duties as Associate Executive Secretary of the General Assembly’s Department of Ministerial Relations.

           In 1969, the Rev. William T. Peters, Jr accepted the call to leadership of Grace and devoted himself to the task of building a new church and of revitalizing the church in the areas of spiritual growth, working with young people and of mission to the wider community.  The first service of worship in its present location took place on Sunday, October 3, 1971.  On June 16, 1985 Rev. Peters was honorably retired after seventeen years of fruitful and faithful service.

           Grace Church continued to move forward under the leadership of the Rev. Reginald J. Daniels who served as Interim Pastor from June 1985 until December 1986.

           On December 1, 1986, the Rev. Arthur St. A. Reynolds assumed the pastorate of Grace.  Renovation and expansion of the edifice has become one of his major tasks.  Rev. Reynolds expresses sincere concern for people of all ages and feels that it is of utmost importance to minister to the sick and shut-ins.

           Grace has come a long way, and during 1990 a year long program of activities was planned in celebration of our 110^th anniversary.  We honor our past and remain committed to the work so nobly begun.