Grace Reformed Church (Washington, DC)

Collection

Identifier: Church RG 844

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Contains the materials from Grace Reformed UCC Church in District of Columbia from 1877-2017. In 1877, this church was founded as St. Stephen's Reformed until 1881, before becoming Grace Reformed until its closure in 2017. In a collection of 8 boxes, you will find all of the following:

- Annual Reports (1949-2016) - Awards, Certificates, Recognitions (1986-2000) - Bulletins (1910-2017) - Church Records (1881-2008) - Baptisms (1881-1939) - Confirmations (1880-1927) - Marriages (1881-1939) - Deaths (1883-1939) - Communicants (1889-1902) - Directories (1930, 1964, 1970, 1974, 1984, 1990, 2005) and Membership Lists (1981-1983) - Guest Registers (1915-2008) - Statistical Reports (1890-1928) - Consistory Minutes (1877-1973, 1984-1985, 1989, and 1993-2006, 2008-2014) - Constitutions and By-Laws (1956, 1981 and 1999 (With Change of Article V in 2016)) - Financial Records - Treasurer's Reports (1924, 1942-1956, 1959-1962, 1965-1980, 1984-1985, 1990, 1992-2007, 2016-2017) - Loans, Memorial Funds and Endowment Funds (1958-1969) - History - Grace Reformed Church (1877-2017) - Theodore Roosevelt Association (1958-2011) - Legal Records - Bequests (1944-2015) - Newsletters (1942-2010) - Pastors (Correspondence, 1950-1997) - Photographs (Regular and Oversized Photographs) - Photographs (Smaller than Legal Size, Box 005) - Oversized Photographs (Box 007) - Auxiliary Organizations - Ladies Aid Society (1890-1941) - Women's Guild (1942-1971) - Artifacts (Box 008) - American Flag, Flag of Christianity, Communion Set, and 2 Church Plates (Will be stored along with Artifacts in Artifact Room)

- Also includes 3 items that were digitized. They can be found in Attachments and URLs section. It includes a video of a worship service from November 1998, and audio recordings of Sermons by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. - Collection DOES NOT include Pulpit Bible (1901 American Standard Version, Presented by Mr. and Mrs. Troxel to Grace Reformed), and 3 Bibles written in Japanese (1955)

Dates

Creation: 1877 - 2017

Biographical / Historical

Taken from 100th Anniversary of Grace Reformed Church; 1877-1977. Pgs 4- In the Winter of 1873-1874, several meetings began the creation and formation of Grace Reformed. Formal organization occurred on October 7, 1877 in the YMCA on 9th and D Streets, N.W. In that same meeting, the name of the congregation was declared as St. Stephens Reformed Congregation of Washington. Two weeks later on October 21, 1877, other names were proposed for the congregation. After 3 formal votes, the St. Stephens' was retained. Two years later in March 1879, the name was changed to Grace Mission of the Reformed Church in Washington. The Certificate of Incorporation was approved and ordered filed with the Recorder of Deeds of the District of Columbia at the first Consistory meeting held at the Lapham home, November 2, 1877. The first pastor was Rev. George B. Russel, who served from 1878-1879. Second Pastor was Rev. Charles F. Sontag who served from 1880-1889. In May 1880, the Maryland Classis met in Washington to review lots for sale for the erection of a chapel and other buildings. The chapel was built between 1881-1882. The Ladies' Aid Society formed in 1885. Theodore Roosevelt was a regular attendant of Grace Reformed while he was Vice-President and President of the United States. The Present Church (Closed in 2017), was built between 1901-1903. The Organ was installed in the Sanctuary in 1931 by Moeller Organ Company, Hagerstown, Md.