Grace Presbyterian Church (Peoria, Illinois)

File:Grace Presbyterian Church, Peoria, IL.png

Initially called the Fourth Ward Mission School, Grace Presbyterian was founded in 1862 as a Sunday School for area youth. It was associated with the Old School Presbyterian Church,{{cite web|url=http://tb.history.pcusa.org/dbtw-wpd/Textbase5/Halls_WebQuery.htm}} which identified with Calvinist Orthodoxy and emphasized education over revivalism. The school was sponsored by the former First Presbyterian Church of Peoria as part of its "sabbath school" movement.{{cite web|url=http://campusce.icc.edu/acp/course/course.aspx?C=1219&pc=82&mc=&sc=|title = First Presbyterian Churches of Peoria}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pjstar.com/x2071997184/Heartland-Area-churches-honored-for-150-years-or-more-of-existence|title=Heartland: Area churches honored for 150 years or more of existence}}{{cite web|url=http://www.peoriacountyillinois.info/churches/church_history_presbyterian.html}} D.W. McWilliams, the first superintendent, was a prominent railroad man who had relocated from New York to Peoria. He was able to secure a passenger rail coach to use as a meeting place.{{Cite web |title=Grace Presbyterian (PCA) in Peoria, IL to move into new building on October 10 |url=https://theaquilareport.com/grace-presbyterian-pca-in-peoria-il-to-move-into-new-building-on-october-10/ |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=theaquilareport.com}} The school started with 19 children. In 1868, the group was able to organize as a church, which was a goal of the school's founding.{{cite book|url=http://catalog.history.pcusa.org/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=20533&query_desc=kw%2Cwrdl%3A%20peoria%20and%20kw%2Cwrdl%3A%20Grace%20presbyterian|title = Grace Presbyterian Church (Peoria, Ill.) minutes and records}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pjstar.com/x2071997184/Heartland-Area-churches-honored-for-150-years-or-more-of-existence|title=Heartland: Area churches honored for 150 years or more of existence}} Originally just called Grace Church, it was renamed Grace Presbyterian Church in 1883.{{cite web|url=http://www.peoriacountyillinois.info/churches/church_history_presbyterian.html}} The Church's first permanent location, at Wayne Street and Madison Avenue, was a wooden structure built in 1873. It was destroyed by fire in 1890 and replaced by a brick structure at the same location.{{cite web|url=http://www.peoriacountyillinois.info/churches/church_history_presbyterian.html}} The church faced great financial difficulty during the Great Depression. As resources dwindled, the question of closing was put to the congregation - but members voted to carry on.{{cite web|url=http://www.gracepres.org/about/|title=Grace Presbyterian Church|publisher=Gracepres.org|accessdate=6 December 2014}} In 1957, the church moved to the corner of Knoxville Ave. and Forrest Hill Ave.{{cite web|url=http://www.peoriacountyillinois.info/churches/church_history_presbyterian.html}} In 1973 a larger sanctuary was added. The church experienced large and sustained growth throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s. The church attracted several from other Protestant congregations, sometimes due to concerns regarding the World Council of Churches.Smith, William H. Mennonites in Illinois. Wipf and Stock, 2001. It was during this time that Grace's Sunday sermon was carried on over 150 broadcast stations across the United States, Canada, Latin America and Africa.Grace Worship Hour News, 1976, Vol. 1 No. 5Grace Worship Hour News, 1977, Vol 2, No. 2 In 1981, the church voted unanimously to disaffiliate with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. A congenial departure agreement allowed Grace Presbyterian to leave the denominational alliance without sacrificing property ownership rights. In 1982, after exploring several options, the church Session voted to join the Presbyterian Church in America.{{cite web|url=http://theaquilareport.com/grace-presbyterian-pca-in-peoria-il-to-move-into-new-building-on-october-10/|title=Grace Presbyterian (PCA) in Peoria, IL to move into new building on October 10|date=18 September 2010|publisher=Theaquilareport.com|accessdate=6 December 2014}} Education and Sunday School continue to be an important focus of the church, which moved to its current 60 acre campus in 2010.

According to the executive director the previous church structure was out-dated and ill-suited for the church's growing slate of programs.{{cite web|url=http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/video/Three-years-after-a-ground-breaking-Peorias-Grace-Presbyterian-Church-has-a-new-facility-thats-even-larger-than-its-previous-one-103835274.html|title=New Grace Presbyterian Church|publisher=Cinewsnow.com|accessdate=6 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304132935/http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/video/Three-years-after-a-ground-breaking-Peorias-Grace-Presbyterian-Church-has-a-new-facility-thats-even-larger-than-its-previous-one-103835274.html|archive-date=4 March 2014|url-status=dead}} Additionally, parking and safety had become a concern. Congregants who parked in an overflow lot were forced to cross a busy intersection in order to worship. In 2010, the church built a new 110,000 square foot facility containing worship space, classrooms, recreational and administrative areas. Based on five years of planning and discussion, the auditorium style worship center features theater seating and studio quality lighting. Once known for its conservative and orderly mode of Protestant worship, the congregation retained some traditional elements from the former building. The DeCou organ and the chapel stained glass, for example, were transferred from the previous building.{{cite web|url=http://olliatbradley.blogspot.com/2013/10/peoria-area-houses-of-worship-october.html|title=Peoria Area Houses of Worship- October 15, 2013|date=24 October 2013}} The DeCou organ is still being used today. The Church has two organists currently: Head Organist Kristin Stewart and Student Organist Josh Blanchard. The 1,352-seat sanctuary is situated within a 60-acre campus on Peoria's far northwest side.{{cite web|url=http://www.pjstar.com/x2146872888/Whats-going-on-here|title=What's going on here?|work=Journal Star|accessdate=6 December 2014}} Peoria's NBC/ABC affiliate (WEEK TV-25) continues to broadcast Sunday morning worship as they have since 1974.

Grace Presbyterian adheres to the Westminster Confession of Faith, subordinate to the Bible. The church emphasizes the following doctrines:{{cite web|url=http://www.gracepres.org/about/faith.asp|title=Grace Presbyterian Church Statement of Faith|publisher=Gracepres.org|accessdate=6 December 2014}}

• The Bible is the written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscript
• The Holy Trinity
• The sinfulness and hopelessness of mankind in its natural state
• The graciousness and faithfulness of God towards his people
• Salvation comes from God alone as he sovereignly chooses those He will save
• The Holy Spirit indwells God's people to give them strength and wisdom
• Jesus is the eternal Son of God
• All aspects of life are for the Glory of God under the leadership of Jesus
• Jesus will return bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind and to receive His people to Himself

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.gracepres.org Grace Presbyterian Church]

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Category:Presbyterian Church in America churches in Illinois

Category:Presbyterian churches in Illinois

Category:Churches in Peoria, Illinois

Category:Religious organizations established in 1862

Category:1862 establishments in Illinois