Here stands Grace Community Evangelical Church a testament to faith. It is also a beacon of community in Chicago. Grace Community Evangelical Church began as Mennonite Bible Mission in 1917. A.F. Wiens led this early mission.
Abraham F. and Katharina Wiens served as missionaries since 1906. They represented the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren. Their work also included service at the Mennonite Home Mission. Conflict arose around 1915. Wiens had to step down from his leadership role. The Wiens family then started an independent mission. This mission included a Sunday school and began in December 1917.
In 1937 A. F. Wiens passed away. John T. Neufeld then became the leader. He was an architect and married one of Wiens’ daughters. By 1939 the Home Mission Board embraced the mission. The church joined the Middle District Conference that same year.
The congregation was diverse in the 1930s. It included Germans French and Irish members. There were also Swedish Norwegian Polish Greek Jews and Dutch people. Other East Europeans also joined.
On December 31 1950 Mennonite Bible Mission changed its name. It became Grace Mennonite Church.
Tragedy struck on April 30 1977. An arsonist threw firebombs at the church. The interior was destroyed. Pastors Lee and Betty Hochstetler were present. They escaped unharmed. Groundbreaking for a new building occurred in late 1979. It opened in the fall of 1980. The congregation met in a converted garage in the interim. The congregation changed its name before the rebuild. It became Grace Community Church.
Grace Community Church closed in late 2014. A Spanish-speaking church now occupies the building. It is called New Life Community Church.
Let us consider another Grace Church in Logan Square. It was established in 1904. This Grace Church has been a stalwart ever since. The founders underestimated the church’s growth. They rebuilt the structure just a few years after its founding. An education wing was added in the mid-20th century.
In 1968 the Methodist Episcopal Church and Evangelical United Brethren merged. Grace, the EUB congregation invited the Methodist Episcopal congregation in. Later Grace merged with another local congregation. They all came together in the same building.
The historic building stands on Wrightwood and Kimball avenues. It boasts distinctive architectural features. These include arched doorways and yellow brick. Limestone striping and carved stone medallions also decorate it.
The neighborhood around Grace Church has embraced its historic building. Grace has a history of supporting its surrounding neighborhood. The church collaborates with Unity Park. They work together on events that draw many families. Grace Church is a member of the Logan Square Ecumenical Alliance. This alliance focuses on social justice initiatives. These initiatives include advocating for affordable housing. They also support community-based mental health clinics. Grace Church has helped make real changes to benefit the community. In normal times the church shares its space. Community basketball leagues and AA groups use it. A community art program also takes place here. Organizations help the homeless yoga classes and music groups as well.
Grace Church was the largest Evangelical congregation in the city by 1914. It belonged to the Evangelical Association’s Chicago District. In 1946 Grace Evangelical merged. It joined the United Brethren. It became Grace Evangelical United Brethren Church. This also included another Logan Square church.
Grace Church has served as a gathering place. It has hosted polling stations for elections. It has provided social services for locals in need.
The Wrightwood parapet wall was rebuilt in 2019-2020. Other masonry needs were addressed too. A second phase plans for the rehabilitation of the annex.
Grace Church is working to find a productive way to fill the space. One idea is to turn it into a field house for Unity Park. This would be in partnership with the Chicago Park District.
Grace Church’s story is rich. It shows faith community and adaptation. From its early days to its present-day activities Grace remains a vital part of Chicago. Its doors are open to all.