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Grace Church had its beginnings in 1885 as St. George’s Mission, a mission of St. Paul’s Church. The mission first met in stores and the fire hall in south Chattanooga until a building was donated by the Richmond family in memory of their daughter, Grace Chestnutwood Richmond. In memoriam, the name, St. George’s Mission, was changed to Grace Memorial Episcopal Church. The original cornerstone is incorporated in the wall of the narthex of Grace Church.
South Chattanooga Years (1885-1907). During the early years of Grace Church, there was an irregular supply of priests until The Rev. J.H. Blacklock came as Priest-in-Charge in September, 1890. These years saw many struggles for Grace, including having adequate funds and parishioners to maintain the church. In 1907, The Rev. A.M. Hildebrand was appointed by the Bishop of Tennessee to take charge of Grace and found only three communicants who showed any interest in the church. As industrial plants moved into the area, many people had relocated east of Chattanooga to the Highland Park area. Rev. Hildebrand was not able to revive the church, and a decision was made to abandon the location in favor of moving to Highland Park.
Highland Park Years (1907-1941). For a number of years, Grace struggled to establish itself in the Highland Park area of Chattanooga. The congregation met in various locations and finally was able to build a new church building in 1915. This marked the beginning of growth and ministry for the group that had struggled for so long. Under the care of The Rev. Edward R. Jones, the church began to grow, and he remained at Grace through World War I until 1925. A number of priests had short tenures until the arrival of the Rev. Battle McLester as Priest-in-Charge (later to become the first rector of Grace). During the Great Depression, many of the congregation lost their jobs and moved out of town seeking employment or were not able to support the church as they had previously. During this period, The Chattanooga Plan was developed and brought Grace Memorial, Thankful Memorial and Christ Church under the direct care of St. Paul’s. Under this plan, Grace increased in number and in activity although many of the parishioners were moving to a newly developed area called Brainerd. At the urging of St. Paul’s vestry, the vestry of Grace voted to buy property in Brainerd and relocate the church.
Early Brainerd Years (1941-1956). Several sites were considered for Grace’s move east of Missionary Ridge. During the search, Mrs. John Pegler approached Wallace Bathman, who was a real estate professional and treasurer of Grace Church, to ask him to sell her home at the corner of Brainerd Road and Belvoir Avenue. According to Salty Christians, the Pegler house “sat on a rise of ground that became a sweeping lawn” and was surrounded by a number of mature trees. Mr. Bathman took the opportunity to recommend this property to the Grace vestry. With the financial assistance of St. Paul’s through The Chattanooga Plan, Grace was able to purchase the large home. Soon afterwards, modifications were made to the interior for use as a church, and the first service was held there on September 28, 1941. In January, 1942 “Memorial” was dropped from the name and the church became known as Grace Episcopal Church.
Even during World War II, the church began to grow even though many projects had to be postponed. All parts of the building, including the attic and basement, were used for Sunday School classes, the choir and other groups to meet. Grace was the site of many war efforts for churches located in the Brainerd area and participated in “Bundles for Britain” and the Red Cross program to provide rolled bandages.
After the war, Grace experienced substantial growth. Between 1947 and 1949 Grace had 139 new members, bringing the total number of communicants to nearly 400. However, because Grace was not totally self-supporting, Rev. McLester was considered a “vicar” and the rector of St. Paul’s, Thorne Sparkman, was priest of Grace Church according to the Chattanooga Plan. The vestry of Grace began discussions about phasing out the financial support from St. Paul’s and repaying the money owed for the purchase of the Peglar property. The goal was to name Rev. McLester as the first rector of Grace and begin making plans for a new building to house Grace Church. Once the remainder of the debt had been repaid to St. Paul’s, plans were made to raise $17,000 to match the funds set aside by St. Paul’s for a building fund. After several years of increased giving, fund raisers, gifts to Grace and memorial bequests, by May, 1953, the Grace building fund had over $17,000.
The vestry voted to move forward with plans to build a new nave first; the educational building followed a few years later. The new building was designed by one of Tennessee’s most prominent architects, Charles Barber of Knoxville. The building proposed would be Gothic in design and would be constructed of brick instead of stone to reduce the cost. Ground breaking for the new nave was on Palm Sunday, 1955 with the first service being held September 30, 1956.
After serving Grace for more than 35 years, Rev. McLester announced his retirement and was named Rector Emeritus by the vestry. The Rev. Lee Balch was called as the next rector of Grace on November 7, 1956.
The Balch Years (1957-1978). Grace Church was on a firm foundation, poised on the brink of growth and service and in need of a person to lead this growth. This was found in the Rev. Lee Balch, and growth did indeed occur. During the 1950s and 1960s, Grace benefited from the growth of the baby-boomers, and average attendance increased to 425-450 per week. With this continued growth, plans moved forward to add educational space to the Nave that was completed in 1956. By September, 1962 the new building was ready for occupancy.
With the growth of the population and the growth of Grace, in 1957 a group of parents approached the Rev. Balch to recommend a kindergarten at Grace. The result was St. Nicholas School. Due to the building of the new education wing, the kindergarten was short lived but was reorganized in 1961, with plans to accommodate up to 40 students. The children of the school excelled academically entering the first grade, and soon there was a waiting list. The school continued to grow, with first and second grade classes added in 1973 and grade three through six added in 1975. The school became separately incorporated in 1981 and remained at Grace until 1994, when it moved to a campus in East Brainerd.
Another notable piece of Grace’s history also happened during Rev. Balch’s tenure – The Lower Room Coffee House. Housed on the first floor of the education wing, the coffee house provided a place for teens of the late 1960s to meet, talk, play music and invite guests to answer questions in their “Hot Seat.” Whoever who agreed to sit on the “Hot Seat” would spend the first few minutes introducing themselves and were then obligated to answer any reasonable question with openness and honesty. The “Hot Seat” was always reserved for adults. When Brainerd High School was closed due to racial tension, the Lower Room was open with black and white kids sitting together in dialogue.
In 1975, the chancel of Grace was remodeled and the altar was moved away from the East wall and could be approached from all sides, so that the celebrant could face the people.
Even with much good that was happening, one of Rev. Balch’s first pastoral challenges involved a case of acute alcoholism. Based on past experiences, he was deeply troubled by the ravages of this disease which led to his cooperation with Alcoholics Anonymous. He was instrumental in founding a treatment facility for chemically addicted persons, called Hillandale. That facility is now known as Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services (CADAS) and still has facilities operating in north Chattanooga. Father Balch’s recognition of the destructiveness of addiction may have inspired Grace to offer space to a variety of 12 Step programs throughout the years.
In the mid 1970s, Grace began to acquire property located in the same block as the church for possible expansion of the St. Nicholas School or a retirement home. With the exception of one home that was recently sold, Grace owns the block bordered by Brainerd Road, Belvoir Avenue, Sunbeam Avenue and Marlboro Avenue. This property includes the Grace campus, several homes (including the Grace rectory), a soccer field and a small business, Belvoir Gardens.
In April, 1978, Lee Balch resigned as rector of Grace Church.
The Curtis Years (1979-1994). After the resignation of Rev. Balch, there was an interim period before the institution of the Rev. Jim Curtis. During this interim period, a first for Grace occurred with the election of the first woman to serve as senior warden.
Rev. Curtis began service as the third rector of Grace in September 1979. Grace was no longer a small neighborhood church and consisted of a congregation that was scattered throughout Chattanooga and was a diverse group – economically, generationally, and socially. Many members knew only the fellow parishioners who shared similar church-related interests and service-time preferences. In order to encourage a sense of family, Jim asked that a series of 25-30 neighborhood meetings be held and he attended each one. He also encouraged monthly parish dinners that included a time of singing, games and sharing celebrations of birthdays or other special events.
Rev. Curtis also instituted a Pentecost celebration in 1980. The service began inside but processed outside for the anthem, the Eucharistic Prayer, and the bread and wine. Silent clowns were there to thrill the children and a chasuble was made from a sheet and adorned with bright red fringe. The children painted it with magic markers as their contribution to the service. Helium filled balloons were passed out and released at the appointed time.
During this time, stained glass windows were added to the Nave that depict saints and events in the life of Jesus. The windows were designed by the Connick Studios of Boston and were bought one at a time as a dedication or memorial to a Grace member. The final window was installed and dedicated in October 1983.
As Grace approached the one hundred year mark, the vestry authorized a fund raiser, The First Century Fund. The objective was to raise $350,000, and there were three main goals:
Another addition to the Grace campus was the Memorial Garden, which is located on the southwest corner of the property on a gentle, sloping site. The garden features a brick wall that matches the bricks of the church and an iron gate that was originally used in the south Chattanooga church and had been moved to the Highland Park church. There benches along the wall face the internment area, and further down the wall are bronze plaques listing the names of those interred in the garden.
Throughout the years, Grace has benefited from many bequests and gifts. When a substantial bequest was made in 1988, the vestry realized that an Endowment Fund was needed to assure proper, legal management of such bequests. This fund was established in 1989.
In January 1990, Dr. Curtis and the Rev. Paul McDaniel of the Second Missionary Baptist Church planned a joint commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s life. Dr. Curtis saw the service as an opportunity for growth in the life of Grace and the community and hoped to foster a togetherness of denominations both black and white, bridging a gap toward a new day and a new understanding. These celebrations grew and continued until Rev. McDaniel’s retirement in 2014.
The long planned and awaited St. Luke’s chapel was completed in 1992. The chapel was dedicated to the healing ministry of Christ as an outward and visible sign of the healing ministry that has evolved at Grace Church over many years. Each Sunday the congregation is invited to kneel at the chapel for prayers of healing before or after communion.
In 1993, the Grace Outreach Committee sponsored a Bosnian family in cooperation with Bridge Resettlement Ministries. In a short period of time the parish was mobilized to provide housing, transportation, food, clothing, furniture, household supplies, language instruction, and health services. Later that year, Grace sponsored two additional families.
Dr. Curtis made a decision to change directions in his life and pursue other projects. His retirement became effective June 1994.
The Years leading into the Twenty-first Century (1995-present). After the retirement of Dr. Curtis, the Rev. George Glazier was called as the fourth rector of Grace. Father Glazier came to Grace from Trinity Church in Alliance, Ohio, but had roots in West Virginia.
Grace continued with liturgical excellence highlighted by Father George’s sermons from the top of the Chancel steps – usually without notes. Father George also instituted an “Offering Plate Sermon” during which he took questions from the congregation on the 5th Sunday of any month with five Sundays. These questions, collected over time, became the focus of his dissertation for his Doctor of Ministry degree from the University of the South. Father Glazier also brought a more casual style of dress – sandals, for example.
Also during this period, the Grace choir grew and excelled under the leadership of Dr. Jim Greasby. The choir often performed major works with orchestral accompaniment and in 1998 toured and performed in England.
As the congregation of Grace continued to age, the addition of an elevator from the Brainerd Road parking lot to the fourth floor of the educational building was a welcome addition.
In 2000, Father Glazier left to become the rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Columbus, Ohio.
In 2001, the Rev. Gene Smitherman was called as the fifth rector of Grace. Father Smitherman came to Grace from East Tennessee.
With Father Smitherman’s arrival, Grace began a time of exploration and potential renewal, including a “Raising the Roof” activity facilitated by a representative from Alban Institute. This revitalization event involved many parishioners; however, while insights were gathered, substantial change was not made.
Grace added Lou Parsons as Assistant to the Rector. Mother Lou brought a strong pastoral presence to Grace as well as Celtic liturgies. These Celtic liturgies were presented on Sunday and were immensely popular with the church and the larger community. They incorporated music performed on flute and drums and readings drawn from the Celtic tradition. Presently, Mother Lou is the rector of St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church.
With the close proximity of the University of the South, Grace has hosted several seminarians from The School of Theology for their field study. Their new energy and ideas have always been a welcomed addition to Grace.
“Grace Speaks,” the on-going speakers program at Grace, began under Father Smitherman. Matthew Fox was one of the first speakers and had a great impact on Grace and the larger community.
Father Smitherman retired in 2009.
After Rev. Smitherman’s retirement, the Rev. Susan Butler became the interim priest of Grace Church in 2010. Within a month, the congregation was asking for Susan to become the rector of Grace. The vestry approached Bishop VonRosenberg to ask if there was a possibility because he had a standing policy that the interim of the church was not eligible to become the permanent rector. However, a compelling case was made and he agreed to name Rev. Butler as Priest-in-Charge under Special Circumstances for a period of two years. At the end of this period, if Grace Church still wanted to call her as priest, he would allow it.
It was during this period that Bishop VonRosenberg announced his retirement and Bishop Young was consecrated in June, 2011. Upon review of Rev. Butler’s tenure at Grace, he instructed the vestry and rector search committee to resume their work to officially call Rev. Butler as the rector of Grace. She was installed as the sixth rector of Grace in April, 2012.
The Butler years were known and are fondly remembered for the continued liturgical excellence and Rev. Butler’s seemingly effortless empowerment of the lay people of Grace in all their ministries. Her celebration of the Eucharist was joyful, and she made an open table central to Grace’s full expression of Eucharistic inclusion. Her humility in the practice of receiving communion after everyone else, touched the people of Grace because in her words “mother eats last.”
Under her leadership, Grace continued to lead the Diocese in Ministries of Inclusion and Diversity, celebrating the Blessing of Same Sex Relations, once approved, and Marriage, once authorized by the US Supreme Court and the Episcopal Church. Bishop George recognized this in his first sermon at Grace when he stated that Grace was known throughout the Southeast for its “radical inclusivity.”
Rev. Butler instigated a summer Saturday evening liturgy which were contemplative in nature, less formal than Sunday rites and very communal, with little or no music; she also began a celebration of a “Creation Season” at Grace which began at St. Francis’ Sunday and ran through the end of the season of Pentecost, incorporating Eucharistic Prayer 1 and non-canonical readings in place of the Epistle. The delight in and care for creation that the season emphasized became visible in other endeavors, such as the Farmers’ Market, Grace’s Green Initiative, the Community Gardens, the Pavilion and the vibrant communities that have formed through those ministries.
She continued “Grace Speaks,” inviting annual speakers, including a weekend with Bishop John Shelby Spong teaching and preaching.
During this time, Erik Broeren joined the staff for Pastoral Counseling. Erik, holder of a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt School of Theology, brought his sense of presence and love to Grace.
Mother Susan participated with energy in the life of the community and the Diocese, engaging with closer ties to Met/Min and the Community Kitchen, and serving on the Diocesan Bishop and Council.
In November 2015, Rev. Butler announced her retirement, with an effective date of January 2016. After a reception in the undercroft, Senior Warden Jim Milburn presented her with a “purse” from Wal-Mart and blessed her retirement with tears and hugs.
Grace has undergone several changes since Mother Susan’s retirement. The Rev. Ken Ritter was called as interim rector in February 2016 and resigned in April 2017 to accept the call to another church.
In the summer of 2016, Erik Broeren left Grace for Anglican Studies at the School of Theology at the University of the South in preparation for ordination to the priesthood. Janice Eernisse, who had served as Parish Administrator for ten years, retired at the end of 2016, and Brad Weeks, who had served as Deacon for almost a decade, retired from the Deaconate in January 2017. Director of Music Adrienne Olson resigned from Grace in March 2017 to devote more time to her family.
On the plus side, Zack Nyein came to Grace as a transitional deacon following his graduation from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. Zack was ordained at Grace and serves as the Associate Rector with principal responsibility for Pastoral Care, Christian Formation, and Outreach.
South Chattanooga Years (1885-1907). During the early years of Grace Church, there was an irregular supply of priests until The Rev. J.H. Blacklock came as Priest-in-Charge in September, 1890. These years saw many struggles for Grace, including having adequate funds and parishioners to maintain the church. In 1907, The Rev. A.M. Hildebrand was appointed by the Bishop of Tennessee to take charge of Grace and found only three communicants who showed any interest in the church. As industrial plants moved into the area, many people had relocated east of Chattanooga to the Highland Park area. Rev. Hildebrand was not able to revive the church, and a decision was made to abandon the location in favor of moving to Highland Park.
Highland Park Years (1907-1941). For a number of years, Grace struggled to establish itself in the Highland Park area of Chattanooga. The congregation met in various locations and finally was able to build a new church building in 1915. This marked the beginning of growth and ministry for the group that had struggled for so long. Under the care of The Rev. Edward R. Jones, the church began to grow, and he remained at Grace through World War I until 1925. A number of priests had short tenures until the arrival of the Rev. Battle McLester as Priest-in-Charge (later to become the first rector of Grace). During the Great Depression, many of the congregation lost their jobs and moved out of town seeking employment or were not able to support the church as they had previously. During this period, The Chattanooga Plan was developed and brought Grace Memorial, Thankful Memorial and Christ Church under the direct care of St. Paul’s. Under this plan, Grace increased in number and in activity although many of the parishioners were moving to a newly developed area called Brainerd. At the urging of St. Paul’s vestry, the vestry of Grace voted to buy property in Brainerd and relocate the church.
Early Brainerd Years (1941-1956). Several sites were considered for Grace’s move east of Missionary Ridge. During the search, Mrs. John Pegler approached Wallace Bathman, who was a real estate professional and treasurer of Grace Church, to ask him to sell her home at the corner of Brainerd Road and Belvoir Avenue. According to Salty Christians, the Pegler house “sat on a rise of ground that became a sweeping lawn” and was surrounded by a number of mature trees. Mr. Bathman took the opportunity to recommend this property to the Grace vestry. With the financial assistance of St. Paul’s through The Chattanooga Plan, Grace was able to purchase the large home. Soon afterwards, modifications were made to the interior for use as a church, and the first service was held there on September 28, 1941. In January, 1942 “Memorial” was dropped from the name and the church became known as Grace Episcopal Church.
Even during World War II, the church began to grow even though many projects had to be postponed. All parts of the building, including the attic and basement, were used for Sunday School classes, the choir and other groups to meet. Grace was the site of many war efforts for churches located in the Brainerd area and participated in “Bundles for Britain” and the Red Cross program to provide rolled bandages.
After the war, Grace experienced substantial growth. Between 1947 and 1949 Grace had 139 new members, bringing the total number of communicants to nearly 400. However, because Grace was not totally self-supporting, Rev. McLester was considered a “vicar” and the rector of St. Paul’s, Thorne Sparkman, was priest of Grace Church according to the Chattanooga Plan. The vestry of Grace began discussions about phasing out the financial support from St. Paul’s and repaying the money owed for the purchase of the Peglar property. The goal was to name Rev. McLester as the first rector of Grace and begin making plans for a new building to house Grace Church. Once the remainder of the debt had been repaid to St. Paul’s, plans were made to raise $17,000 to match the funds set aside by St. Paul’s for a building fund. After several years of increased giving, fund raisers, gifts to Grace and memorial bequests, by May, 1953, the Grace building fund had over $17,000.
The vestry voted to move forward with plans to build a new nave first; the educational building followed a few years later. The new building was designed by one of Tennessee’s most prominent architects, Charles Barber of Knoxville. The building proposed would be Gothic in design and would be constructed of brick instead of stone to reduce the cost. Ground breaking for the new nave was on Palm Sunday, 1955 with the first service being held September 30, 1956.
After serving Grace for more than 35 years, Rev. McLester announced his retirement and was named Rector Emeritus by the vestry. The Rev. Lee Balch was called as the next rector of Grace on November 7, 1956.
The Balch Years (1957-1978). Grace Church was on a firm foundation, poised on the brink of growth and service and in need of a person to lead this growth. This was found in the Rev. Lee Balch, and growth did indeed occur. During the 1950s and 1960s, Grace benefited from the growth of the baby-boomers, and average attendance increased to 425-450 per week. With this continued growth, plans moved forward to add educational space to the Nave that was completed in 1956. By September, 1962 the new building was ready for occupancy.
With the growth of the population and the growth of Grace, in 1957 a group of parents approached the Rev. Balch to recommend a kindergarten at Grace. The result was St. Nicholas School. Due to the building of the new education wing, the kindergarten was short lived but was reorganized in 1961, with plans to accommodate up to 40 students. The children of the school excelled academically entering the first grade, and soon there was a waiting list. The school continued to grow, with first and second grade classes added in 1973 and grade three through six added in 1975. The school became separately incorporated in 1981 and remained at Grace until 1994, when it moved to a campus in East Brainerd.
Another notable piece of Grace’s history also happened during Rev. Balch’s tenure – The Lower Room Coffee House. Housed on the first floor of the education wing, the coffee house provided a place for teens of the late 1960s to meet, talk, play music and invite guests to answer questions in their “Hot Seat.” Whoever who agreed to sit on the “Hot Seat” would spend the first few minutes introducing themselves and were then obligated to answer any reasonable question with openness and honesty. The “Hot Seat” was always reserved for adults. When Brainerd High School was closed due to racial tension, the Lower Room was open with black and white kids sitting together in dialogue.
In 1975, the chancel of Grace was remodeled and the altar was moved away from the East wall and could be approached from all sides, so that the celebrant could face the people.
Even with much good that was happening, one of Rev. Balch’s first pastoral challenges involved a case of acute alcoholism. Based on past experiences, he was deeply troubled by the ravages of this disease which led to his cooperation with Alcoholics Anonymous. He was instrumental in founding a treatment facility for chemically addicted persons, called Hillandale. That facility is now known as Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services (CADAS) and still has facilities operating in north Chattanooga. Father Balch’s recognition of the destructiveness of addiction may have inspired Grace to offer space to a variety of 12 Step programs throughout the years.
In the mid 1970s, Grace began to acquire property located in the same block as the church for possible expansion of the St. Nicholas School or a retirement home. With the exception of one home that was recently sold, Grace owns the block bordered by Brainerd Road, Belvoir Avenue, Sunbeam Avenue and Marlboro Avenue. This property includes the Grace campus, several homes (including the Grace rectory), a soccer field and a small business, Belvoir Gardens.
In April, 1978, Lee Balch resigned as rector of Grace Church.
The Curtis Years (1979-1994). After the resignation of Rev. Balch, there was an interim period before the institution of the Rev. Jim Curtis. During this interim period, a first for Grace occurred with the election of the first woman to serve as senior warden.
Rev. Curtis began service as the third rector of Grace in September 1979. Grace was no longer a small neighborhood church and consisted of a congregation that was scattered throughout Chattanooga and was a diverse group – economically, generationally, and socially. Many members knew only the fellow parishioners who shared similar church-related interests and service-time preferences. In order to encourage a sense of family, Jim asked that a series of 25-30 neighborhood meetings be held and he attended each one. He also encouraged monthly parish dinners that included a time of singing, games and sharing celebrations of birthdays or other special events.
Rev. Curtis also instituted a Pentecost celebration in 1980. The service began inside but processed outside for the anthem, the Eucharistic Prayer, and the bread and wine. Silent clowns were there to thrill the children and a chasuble was made from a sheet and adorned with bright red fringe. The children painted it with magic markers as their contribution to the service. Helium filled balloons were passed out and released at the appointed time.
During this time, stained glass windows were added to the Nave that depict saints and events in the life of Jesus. The windows were designed by the Connick Studios of Boston and were bought one at a time as a dedication or memorial to a Grace member. The final window was installed and dedicated in October 1983.
As Grace approached the one hundred year mark, the vestry authorized a fund raiser, The First Century Fund. The objective was to raise $350,000, and there were three main goals:
- Renovation of the Undercroft (parish hall)—After many years of use in an unfinished state, the cinder block walls in the Undercroft were covered with sheetrock and ceiling tiles were added to improve the acoustics. The north transept was finished to provide space for art exhibits or other similar functions.
- Purchase a new organ—In 1988, a new Moller pipe organ was installed and remains in use today.
- Continue to acquire property—The move to acquire property that began in the 1970s was finally realized with the purchase of the final home in 1995.
Another addition to the Grace campus was the Memorial Garden, which is located on the southwest corner of the property on a gentle, sloping site. The garden features a brick wall that matches the bricks of the church and an iron gate that was originally used in the south Chattanooga church and had been moved to the Highland Park church. There benches along the wall face the internment area, and further down the wall are bronze plaques listing the names of those interred in the garden.
Throughout the years, Grace has benefited from many bequests and gifts. When a substantial bequest was made in 1988, the vestry realized that an Endowment Fund was needed to assure proper, legal management of such bequests. This fund was established in 1989.
In January 1990, Dr. Curtis and the Rev. Paul McDaniel of the Second Missionary Baptist Church planned a joint commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s life. Dr. Curtis saw the service as an opportunity for growth in the life of Grace and the community and hoped to foster a togetherness of denominations both black and white, bridging a gap toward a new day and a new understanding. These celebrations grew and continued until Rev. McDaniel’s retirement in 2014.
The long planned and awaited St. Luke’s chapel was completed in 1992. The chapel was dedicated to the healing ministry of Christ as an outward and visible sign of the healing ministry that has evolved at Grace Church over many years. Each Sunday the congregation is invited to kneel at the chapel for prayers of healing before or after communion.
In 1993, the Grace Outreach Committee sponsored a Bosnian family in cooperation with Bridge Resettlement Ministries. In a short period of time the parish was mobilized to provide housing, transportation, food, clothing, furniture, household supplies, language instruction, and health services. Later that year, Grace sponsored two additional families.
Dr. Curtis made a decision to change directions in his life and pursue other projects. His retirement became effective June 1994.
The Years leading into the Twenty-first Century (1995-present). After the retirement of Dr. Curtis, the Rev. George Glazier was called as the fourth rector of Grace. Father Glazier came to Grace from Trinity Church in Alliance, Ohio, but had roots in West Virginia.
Grace continued with liturgical excellence highlighted by Father George’s sermons from the top of the Chancel steps – usually without notes. Father George also instituted an “Offering Plate Sermon” during which he took questions from the congregation on the 5th Sunday of any month with five Sundays. These questions, collected over time, became the focus of his dissertation for his Doctor of Ministry degree from the University of the South. Father Glazier also brought a more casual style of dress – sandals, for example.
Also during this period, the Grace choir grew and excelled under the leadership of Dr. Jim Greasby. The choir often performed major works with orchestral accompaniment and in 1998 toured and performed in England.
As the congregation of Grace continued to age, the addition of an elevator from the Brainerd Road parking lot to the fourth floor of the educational building was a welcome addition.
In 2000, Father Glazier left to become the rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Columbus, Ohio.
In 2001, the Rev. Gene Smitherman was called as the fifth rector of Grace. Father Smitherman came to Grace from East Tennessee.
With Father Smitherman’s arrival, Grace began a time of exploration and potential renewal, including a “Raising the Roof” activity facilitated by a representative from Alban Institute. This revitalization event involved many parishioners; however, while insights were gathered, substantial change was not made.
Grace added Lou Parsons as Assistant to the Rector. Mother Lou brought a strong pastoral presence to Grace as well as Celtic liturgies. These Celtic liturgies were presented on Sunday and were immensely popular with the church and the larger community. They incorporated music performed on flute and drums and readings drawn from the Celtic tradition. Presently, Mother Lou is the rector of St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church.
With the close proximity of the University of the South, Grace has hosted several seminarians from The School of Theology for their field study. Their new energy and ideas have always been a welcomed addition to Grace.
“Grace Speaks,” the on-going speakers program at Grace, began under Father Smitherman. Matthew Fox was one of the first speakers and had a great impact on Grace and the larger community.
Father Smitherman retired in 2009.
After Rev. Smitherman’s retirement, the Rev. Susan Butler became the interim priest of Grace Church in 2010. Within a month, the congregation was asking for Susan to become the rector of Grace. The vestry approached Bishop VonRosenberg to ask if there was a possibility because he had a standing policy that the interim of the church was not eligible to become the permanent rector. However, a compelling case was made and he agreed to name Rev. Butler as Priest-in-Charge under Special Circumstances for a period of two years. At the end of this period, if Grace Church still wanted to call her as priest, he would allow it.
It was during this period that Bishop VonRosenberg announced his retirement and Bishop Young was consecrated in June, 2011. Upon review of Rev. Butler’s tenure at Grace, he instructed the vestry and rector search committee to resume their work to officially call Rev. Butler as the rector of Grace. She was installed as the sixth rector of Grace in April, 2012.
The Butler years were known and are fondly remembered for the continued liturgical excellence and Rev. Butler’s seemingly effortless empowerment of the lay people of Grace in all their ministries. Her celebration of the Eucharist was joyful, and she made an open table central to Grace’s full expression of Eucharistic inclusion. Her humility in the practice of receiving communion after everyone else, touched the people of Grace because in her words “mother eats last.”
Under her leadership, Grace continued to lead the Diocese in Ministries of Inclusion and Diversity, celebrating the Blessing of Same Sex Relations, once approved, and Marriage, once authorized by the US Supreme Court and the Episcopal Church. Bishop George recognized this in his first sermon at Grace when he stated that Grace was known throughout the Southeast for its “radical inclusivity.”
Rev. Butler instigated a summer Saturday evening liturgy which were contemplative in nature, less formal than Sunday rites and very communal, with little or no music; she also began a celebration of a “Creation Season” at Grace which began at St. Francis’ Sunday and ran through the end of the season of Pentecost, incorporating Eucharistic Prayer 1 and non-canonical readings in place of the Epistle. The delight in and care for creation that the season emphasized became visible in other endeavors, such as the Farmers’ Market, Grace’s Green Initiative, the Community Gardens, the Pavilion and the vibrant communities that have formed through those ministries.
She continued “Grace Speaks,” inviting annual speakers, including a weekend with Bishop John Shelby Spong teaching and preaching.
During this time, Erik Broeren joined the staff for Pastoral Counseling. Erik, holder of a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt School of Theology, brought his sense of presence and love to Grace.
Mother Susan participated with energy in the life of the community and the Diocese, engaging with closer ties to Met/Min and the Community Kitchen, and serving on the Diocesan Bishop and Council.
In November 2015, Rev. Butler announced her retirement, with an effective date of January 2016. After a reception in the undercroft, Senior Warden Jim Milburn presented her with a “purse” from Wal-Mart and blessed her retirement with tears and hugs.
Grace has undergone several changes since Mother Susan’s retirement. The Rev. Ken Ritter was called as interim rector in February 2016 and resigned in April 2017 to accept the call to another church.
In the summer of 2016, Erik Broeren left Grace for Anglican Studies at the School of Theology at the University of the South in preparation for ordination to the priesthood. Janice Eernisse, who had served as Parish Administrator for ten years, retired at the end of 2016, and Brad Weeks, who had served as Deacon for almost a decade, retired from the Deaconate in January 2017. Director of Music Adrienne Olson resigned from Grace in March 2017 to devote more time to her family.
On the plus side, Zack Nyein came to Grace as a transitional deacon following his graduation from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. Zack was ordained at Grace and serves as the Associate Rector with principal responsibility for Pastoral Care, Christian Formation, and Outreach.
