Grace United Methodist Church (Des Moines, Iowa)
| Grace Methodist Church | |
|---|---|
| Grace United Methodist Church | |
 The church sanctuary | |
  Grace Methodist Church  Grace Methodist Church | |
| 41°35′53.12″N 93°40′2.35″W / 41.5980889°N 93.6673194°W | |
| Location | 3700 Cottage Grove Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311 |
| Country | USA |
| Denomination | United Methodist Church |
| Membership | 786 (2023)[1] |
| Weekly attendance | 255 (average in 2023)[1] |
| Website | gracedesmoines |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Grace Methodist Episcopal Church |
| Founded | 1885 |
| Architecture | |
| Years built | 1885,[2] 1902,[3] 1927,[4] 1957[5] |
| Clergy | |
| Senior pastor(s) | Gregory Neal[6] |
| Laity | |
| Organist(s) | Ann Gerdom[6] |
| Music group(s) | Grace Chancel Choir, Grace Bell Choir, The Pathway Praise Team[6] |
Grace United Methodist Church is a historic Methodist church in Des Moines, Iowa. It is located one kilometer southwest of Drake University, at 3700 Cottage Grove Avenue. As of 2023, it had 786 members.[1]
History
In 1885, the church congregation began meeting in a tent, provided by Rev. W. A. Wiseman, located on a vacant lot at the intersection of 19th and Crocker streets. The tent was replaced by a small (40 by 60 foot) frame church building later that year.[2][4][7] A second, larger church building which could seat up to 1,400 people, was erected at the same location in 1902.[3][8] This building was badly damaged by a fire in 1917, and the congregation continued to meet at Drake University and the First Christian Church, until repairs could be made.[9]
Construction of the current building began in 1925. Its Cottage Grove location had been the site of a 5-acre experimental farm run by Henry A. Wallace, when he was a teenager.[10] The new church building was dedicated in 1927, and cost $325,000.[9][4] A 3-story education wing was added to the east side of the building in 1957, at a cost of $239,500.[5]
Gallery
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View from the south -
Fellowship Hall -
West Sanctuary Window -
East Sanctuary Window
References
- ^ a b c "Des Moines, Grace United Methodist Church - Active". United Methodist Church Online Directory & Statistics. United Methodist Church. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Dedications". The Des Moines Register. December 29, 1885. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ a b "New Grace Church". The Des Moines Register. January 28, 1902. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "Dedicate New Grace Church Sunday A. M." Des Moines Tribune. Cowles. December 9, 1927. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ a b "3-Story Educational Wing". The Des Moines Tribune. Cowles. March 16, 1957. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "Grace United Methodist Church". Grace United Methodist Church. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ Andrews, Tamara (2001). A Tradition of Grace, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (1 ed.). Des Moines, Iowa: Grace United Methodist Church.
- ^ "Dedicate Grace Church". The Des Moines Register. George Roberts. January 26, 1902. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Drake Neighborhood Architectural and Historical Survey" (PDF). City of Des Moines. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ O’Donnell, Thomas R. "Marker to recognize location of H.A. Wallace's first corn-breeding experiment". Iowa Science Interface. Retrieved 26 June 2025.