Grace Episcopal Church was established in 1889 – before Woodlawn was incorporated – to minister to the textile, foundry, and blast furnace workers during Birmingham’s first industrial boom. In 1890, a wood-framed church was built on the current 1st Ave North plot, and in 1902, Grace was admitted into the Diocese of Alabama.
By the 1970s, Woodlawn had transformed from a Caucasian middle-class neighborhood to a predominately African American and Hispanic community, many of which were low-income or homeless. Grace quickly responded to Woodlawn’s needs by opening the Community Kitchens, the Food Pantry, and the Clothes Closet.
Now in its 133rd Year, Grace continues to embrace and serve the Woodlawn community by bringing Christ’s love to each and every person through numerous outreach ministries.
1889
Established as an Episcopal mission under the name Calvary Church
1890
The town of Woodlawn was incorporated
1890
Church building erected
The church purchased a lot & erected a wood frame church on the same corner where the current building stands.
1894
Name changed to Grace Church
1902
Grace Church was admitted into the Diocese of Alabama
The Rev. Daniel Forney Hoke was ordained as its first priest.
1904
The Rev. Francis Willis Ambler began his ministry as the second rector of Grace Woodlawn
1910
The Rev. John Jabez Lanier began his ministry as the third rector of Grace Woodlawn
1914
The Rev. Luther Williams began his ministry as the fourth rector of Grace Woodlawn
1918
The Rev. Carl Henckell began his ministry as the fifth rector of Grace
July 24, 1924
The cornerstone of the new church building was laid.
Rev. Henckell’s vision was that the church would be built without incurring significant debt.
Oct. 9, 1927
First service in the new church building held
(The building was built without incurring significant debt)
1936
The Rev. Wayne Buchanan began his ministry as the sixth rector of Grace
1937
The Rev. Peter H. Dennis began his ministry as the seventh rector of Grace.
1942
The Rev. Joseph Burton began his ministry as the eighth rector of Grace
1948
The Rev. Joseph P. Hollifield began his ministry as the ninth rector of Grace
1954
Three stained glass windows behind the altar were installed and dedicated.
The central light depicts Christ the King; on the left is the Blessed Virgin Mary, and on the right is St. John the Evangelist.
1959
Cornerstone placed for the new parish hall
1960
The Rev. James Keith Marshall Lee served as Grace’s tenth rector until he retired.
1961
The Rev. John Townshend Harrison began his ministry as the eleventh rector of Grace.
1964
The Grace Church building was consecrated.
The Grace Church building was built and completed without any debt in 1927 and should have been consecrated by 1928. No one knows why 37 years passed before the consecration of the Grace Church building.
1967
Rev. Charles H. Murphy, Jr. began his ministry as the twelfth rector of Grace
1972
Rev. Charles Edward south began his ministry as the thirteenth rector of Grace
1974
The education building connecting the church to the parish was completed.
1977
Rev. Charles Settler Horn began his ministry as the fourteenth rector of Grace
1982
The Interfaith Hospitality House was established for families unable to afford housing.
1982
A soup kitchen opened at Grace and began serving lunch two days a week
1983
Community Kitchens of Birmingham incorporated under the leadership of Rev. Maurice Branscomb
1985
Grace was designated a Jubilee Center by the Diocese and National Church.
1988
Rev. Maurice Branscomb began his ministry as the fifteenth rector of Grace
1989
A store selling donated second-hand items was opened in Henckell Hall.
The store eventually moved to its current location at Five 55th Place and was named 55th Place.
1991
Father Branscomb helped to organize The Woodlawn Christian Center with other neighborhood churches
The center was founded to provide emergency food supplies and help people in need contact aid agencies.
1994
Grace By Day ministry began
Members of Grace began an interdenominational ministry called Grace By Day, which welcomes clients to the parish hall an hour or two before lunch is served.
1989
The 100th Anniversary of Grace was celebrated
The education building was renamed Henckell Hall
1995
A “new” used organ was acquired through the gifts of parishioners & installed
1996
Father Branscomb moved the font from the front of the nave to just inside the First Avenue doors
1997
The Rev. Timothy Scott Holder began his ministry as the sixteenth rector of Grace
1998
A Spanish speaking congregation called Iglesias Episcopal de la Gracia was formed within Grace
Grace was the first church in central Alabama to open and welcome the Hispanic communities for services.
1999
The house & lot beside the church was purchased.
The house was repaired and became the rectory.
1999
Grace Won Most Outstanding Parade Entry in Pride Parade
We were the first mainline congregation to participate as an official entry!
2000
The lot beside the church was turned into an ecoscape
It became a flower and community garden setting for the neighborhood.
2002
The Rev. Ruth Bradbury LaMonte began her ministry as the seventeenth rector of Grace
(interim)
2003
House & Land Purchased
The house & land at 107 58th Street North (across the street from Henckell Hall) was purchased by a parishioner and gifted to Grace. That land is now the additional parking lot.
2004
The Rev. James W. Williams began his ministry as the eighteenth rector of Grace
2004
Grace Food Pantry was established to help provide food to struggling families and those in need
2006
The Rev. Roberts Poinsett Johnson III began his ministry as the nineteenth rector of Grace
(interim)
2010
St. Benedict’s House was established in the house next to Branscomb Commons as a shelter for veterans without homes
2012
The Rev. Robyn E. Arnold began her ministry as the twentieth rector of Grace
2013
GraceWorks summer ministry began to provide a haven to youth ages 10 to 15
2013
Grace’s Emergency Warming Station begins offering overnight shelter in the Parish Hall during inclement weather
2016
Grace Place building was donated to GraceWorks Ministries
2022
The Rev. Mary Bea Sullivan is called as the Interim Rector
March 12th, 2023
The Rev. José R. Fernández, Ph.D. begins his ministry as the twenty-first rector of Grace