“Welcome home” echoes in the very architecture of the United House of Prayer For All People. Bishop Charles Manuel Grace, affectionately known as Sweet Daddy Grace, founded this church. He brought it to Savannah in 1926. The United House of Prayer For All People started humbly on W. 31st Street.
Sweet Daddy Grace had come to Savannah seven years after establishing his first House of Prayer in West Wareham, Massachusetts. His services were known for emotional worship. Marathon preaching, spirited brass bands, and faith healing defined the experience. This less-restricted religious setting appealed to many.
Bishop Grace’s visits across the eastern United States were legendary. From the 1920s to the 1950s, he led long processions. Massive tent revivals and hundreds of baptisms marked his ministry. The Savannah Tribune advertised his first tent revival in Savannah on April 1, 1926. Services were scheduled for April 11, 1926.
In 1964, Bishop W. McCollough, Grace’s successor, built the current United House of Prayer For All People. Bishop S. C. Madison renovated and expanded it in 1995 to its present form. The church has a colorful and creative appearance. Multiple crosses adorn the walls. Tricross supports act as columns for the porch. Seated lions flank the entrance. Winged golden angels with upturned hands stand on the roofline. They further ornament the church.
Bishop Grace began his southern ministry with a message. He taught that all must be born again. His Gospel of Purity drew Black people into a new mindset. All who came to God would be as one spirit. The United House of Prayer For All People celebrated its Centennial Anniversary in 2019. They gave thanks for 100 years of worship. The United House of Prayer For All People stands as a testament to faith. It reflects community. It shows the enduring spirit of its founder, Sweet Daddy Grace. It welcomes all people. It invites them to experience joyous worship.