Church History

A Legacy of Faithfulness: The Story of Grace UCC

Grace United Church of Christ traces its roots to a small Sunday School mission and has grown into a vibrant, Spirit-led congregation at the heart of Southside Allentown.

Our story began in 1869 with the Salisbury Mission Sunday School, a faithful outreach that planted seeds of spiritual growth in the community. In 1894, Salem Reformed Church, under the guidance of Rev. George W. Richards, D.D., adopted the mission and shepherded it into a congregation. Just three years later, on July 9, 1897, Grace Reformed Church was officially organized.

The land for the church was secured by the Ladies’ Sewing Society in 1896, and the foundation was dug by the hands of Sunday School members and community volunteers. The cornerstone was laid on September 27, 1896, and by May 9, 1897, the building was dedicated with forty-nine charter members—a testament to grace, grit, and shared vision.

Over the years, Grace continued to grow and adapt. In 1914, the original cornerstone was moved during a remodeling project. The stained-glass window in the Narthex was dedicated in 1951, and the educational wing was added in 1960, allowing the church to expand its ministry to children, youth, and adults. The chapel was lovingly furnished with pieces from the original sanctuary, keeping our heritage close.

In 1957, Grace Reformed Church became Grace United Church of Christ, following the historic union that created the UCC—a coming together of the Evangelical and Reformed Church (of which Grace was a part) and the Congregational Christian Churches. This merger was more than structural—it was a bold expression of unity in the Body of Christ, rooted in a vision of faith that is deeply rooted and always reforming, diverse yet united, and always led by the Still Speaking God.

Our heritage is shaped by the German Reformed tradition—especially here in Pennsylvania—and also by the wider streams of the Protestant Reformation. Together, these traditions have formed us into a congregation that values thoughtful faith, open-hearted worship, and deep connection to community.

Across more than a 125 years, Grace UCC has been served by just 10 pastors, with Pastor Chris as the 11th, each bringing their own gifts to our unfolding story. Today, our legacy continues not only in bricks and stained glass, but in a living, growing community of faith, with vibrant ministries, intergenerational programs, and a heart for serving our neighbors in Southside Allentown and beyond.

We are proud of our past—but even more excited about what God is still doing in and through Grace UCC. This is a place where faith is formed, love is shared, and hope is born—again and again.