|
The first minister to visit the Pekin site was a Methodist circuit rider,
Rev. Jesse Walker, visiting the first cabin built here in 1826. In 1843,
some Germans gathered in their homes to sing and pray in German, and in
1848, the German Methodist Episcopal Church was organized. In 1850,
they built their first small frame church, assisted by the original "English"
Methodist congregation and including pews from that earlier church. A
larger church followed in 1854 (at a cost of $2728). In 1874, a great
Gothic church was finished and dedicated on the present site, housing
Pekin's first pipe organ. This grand structure was repeatedly chosen to
host the annual Methodist conferences.
In 1881, a spacious parsonage was built just across the street.
Rev. Jesse Walker, visiting the first cabin built here in 1826. In 1843,
some Germans gathered in their homes to sing and pray in German, and in
1848, the German Methodist Episcopal Church was organized. In 1850,
they built their first small frame church, assisted by the original "English"
Methodist congregation and including pews from that earlier church. A
larger church followed in 1854 (at a cost of $2728). In 1874, a great
Gothic church was finished and dedicated on the present site, housing
Pekin's first pipe organ. This grand structure was repeatedly chosen to
host the annual Methodist conferences.
In 1881, a spacious parsonage was built just across the street.
In 1911, a wind storm, lightning, and fire destroyed the
Gothic building. The congregation entered the new (and
present) Tudor church in 1912. It was now called the Grace
Methodist Episcopal Church, instead of "German Methodist."
The new church included the Hinners organ, custom built by
the church's own organist and choir master's local organ
factory. The new name marked the change from German to
English, four years before World War 1, the event that
triggered a wave of such changes elsewhere across both
England and America
Gothic building. The congregation entered the new (and
present) Tudor church in 1912. It was now called the Grace
Methodist Episcopal Church, instead of "German Methodist."
The new church included the Hinners organ, custom built by
the church's own organist and choir master's local organ
factory. The new name marked the change from German to
English, four years before World War 1, the event that
triggered a wave of such changes elsewhere across both
England and America
In 1949, the new parsonage was built and the old one
became the Fellowship House, which was replaced in 1958
by the present education building, dedicated as the Joseph A.
Mason Christian Education Building on August 30, 1987.
In 1968, Grace Methodist became Grace United
Methodist Church. We Celebrated the 125th anniversary in
May, 1973
In the 1980s, the rest of the church block, including
the Lincoln School, was purchased, assuring the parking lot;
another parsonage was purchased; time capsules were buried
in December, 1984 ; an elevator addition was built and
dedicated on September 14, 1986; carpeting and interior
renovation was done in 1987; and the covered south portico
entryway was erected in the fall of 1988.
Forty-eight pastors have served Grace church,
including the present one, Gary Ford, and since 1963, twelve
"associate pastors'.
Sean Masterson currently serves as our Director of
Family Ministries.
became the Fellowship House, which was replaced in 1958
by the present education building, dedicated as the Joseph A.
Mason Christian Education Building on August 30, 1987.
In 1968, Grace Methodist became Grace United
Methodist Church. We Celebrated the 125th anniversary in
May, 1973
In the 1980s, the rest of the church block, including
the Lincoln School, was purchased, assuring the parking lot;
another parsonage was purchased; time capsules were buried
in December, 1984 ; an elevator addition was built and
dedicated on September 14, 1986; carpeting and interior
renovation was done in 1987; and the covered south portico
entryway was erected in the fall of 1988.
Forty-eight pastors have served Grace church,
including the present one, Gary Ford, and since 1963, twelve
"associate pastors'.
Sean Masterson currently serves as our Director of
Family Ministries.
Pastors of Grace Church 1900 - Present
1900-1904 ............................. E. C. Margaret
1904-1909 ............................. Fredrick L. Mahle
1909-1915 ............................ A. L. Koeneke
1915-1921 ............................ J. E. Tusehhoff
1921-1925 ............................ A. L. Koeneke
1925-1928 ............................ Iver Johnson
1928-1929 ............................ J. C. Brown
1929-1935 ............................ C. F. W. Smith
1935-1939 ............................ E. L. Tobie
1939-1941 ............................ Donald Gibbs
1941-1944 ............................ Boyd Rudd
1944-1950 ............................ Preston Horst
1959-1955 ............................ Clarence C. Nording
1955-1972 ............................ Joseph A. Mason
1972-1983 ............................ James K. White
1983-1991 ............................ Robert S. White
1991-1997 ........................... Charles W. Sensel
1997-2002 ........................... Gaylord E. Buss
2002-Present ....................... Gary L. Ford
1900-1904 ............................. E. C. Margaret
1904-1909 ............................. Fredrick L. Mahle
1909-1915 ............................ A. L. Koeneke
1915-1921 ............................ J. E. Tusehhoff
1921-1925 ............................ A. L. Koeneke
1925-1928 ............................ Iver Johnson
1928-1929 ............................ J. C. Brown
1929-1935 ............................ C. F. W. Smith
1935-1939 ............................ E. L. Tobie
1939-1941 ............................ Donald Gibbs
1941-1944 ............................ Boyd Rudd
1944-1950 ............................ Preston Horst
1959-1955 ............................ Clarence C. Nording
1955-1972 ............................ Joseph A. Mason
1972-1983 ............................ James K. White
1983-1991 ............................ Robert S. White
1991-1997 ........................... Charles W. Sensel
1997-2002 ........................... Gaylord E. Buss
2002-Present ....................... Gary L. Ford
Associate Pastors of Grace Church
1963-1966 ................. Richard Krumpe
1966-1967 ................. M. Dale Sanner
1967-1972 ................. James P. McClarey
1972-1976 ................. Harold Simpkins
1976-1979 ................. Frederick C. Cramer
1979-1981 ................. Gene R. Johnson
1981-1984 ................. David Hultberg
1984-1987 ................. Gary Brown
1987-1989 ................. Rebekah Dees
1989-1992 ................. Thomas Hubbel
1992-1997 ................. Bruce W. Bolin Ghitalla
1997-2005 ................. Krista L. Brockman
1963-1966 ................. Richard Krumpe
1966-1967 ................. M. Dale Sanner
1967-1972 ................. James P. McClarey
1972-1976 ................. Harold Simpkins
1976-1979 ................. Frederick C. Cramer
1979-1981 ................. Gene R. Johnson
1981-1984 ................. David Hultberg
1984-1987 ................. Gary Brown
1987-1989 ................. Rebekah Dees
1989-1992 ................. Thomas Hubbel
1992-1997 ................. Bruce W. Bolin Ghitalla
1997-2005 ................. Krista L. Brockman
Director of Family Ministries
2005-2007 ................. Derek Stemen
2007 to Present .......... Sean Masterson
2005-2007 ................. Derek Stemen
2007 to Present .......... Sean Masterson
Grace Methodist Church 1971
New Education Building 1959
Hinners Organ built at Pekin Organ Factory