Grace Church History

A Short History of Grace Episcopal Church, Decorah

The organization of an Episcopal parish in Decorah came in 1868. Before the church building

was constructed in 1876, the parish met at the Decorah Methodist and Congregational Churches.

The first vestry included members of Decorah’s so-called “English colony,” a group of British

people who sought their fortunes here in the 1860’s. Among these founding Episcopal church

members were representatives of some of Decorah’s earliest and well-known families, with

names like Weiser, Ashmore, Baker, Driggs, Horn, Allison, and Portman. By 1871, five years

before the church building was constructed, there were over twenty families in the parish and

Decorah had a population of over 3,000.

Construction of Grace Episcopal Church at 506 West Broadway in Decorah began in 1875 and

was completed in 1876. The building is a modified form of the Gothic style with an arched

ceiling and trusses of oak. The wainscoting, pews, and altar are in black walnut. All of the

original stained-glass windows were made by the McCully and Miles firm of Chicago. The

plans for the church were purchased from Henry L. Gay, a Chicago architect.

In 1908, a disastrous hailstorm destroyed half of the stained-glass windows and damaged the

church’s spire. The windows on the east side of the building are original and from 1876; those

on the west side and behind the altar are 1908 replacements, made by H. M. Hooker & Co. of

Chicago, in the same style as the original windows. In 1960, the windows were repaired and

conserved, and are currently being conserved and re-installed. In 1931, the church’s spire and

tower were dismantled and the bell re-hung. The spire was removed because its maintenance

became prohibitively expensive.

Grace Church began with 147 founding communicants, and its membership has increased and

decreased during its nearly 150-year existence. Throughout its history, the vital role of women in

maintaining the church is an important element. These members raised badly needed funds in

lean years; provided music and vestry leadership; and, more recently, help lead our parish as

ordained priests. Grace Church has enjoyed the services of many charismatic priests and lay

leaders since its founding.

Grace is now a growing parish with a group of people who are particularly fond of music and

interested in singing. What distinguishes Grace is its spirit of inclusiveness and its Anglican

heritage. We Episcopalians depend greatly upon The Book of Common Prayer for our liturgy

and spiritual guidance. We welcome new members and guests and invite all to join with us.