The early history of Grace Episcopal Church dates back to 1857 when the Reverend Dr. James Abercrombie, Rector of St. Paul’s Church  ( now the Cathedral) in Erie, requested Mr. Albert Lewis, a student at Nashotah House Seminary , to conduct Episcopal services at the Methodist Church in Girard. This was the first move toward establishing the mission of Episcopalianism in the Lake Shore region west of Erie. Seminarian, Mr. Lewis continued holding services with some regularity until the fall of 1862 with the aid of visiting clergy and local laymen.

The first entry in the Parish registry of Grace Church is that of the baptism of James Hall and Charles Miles, September 26, 1861. This Sacrament was administered at the home of James Miles by the Rt. Rev. Henry W. Lee, first missionary Bishop of Iowa. In that same year John H. Hall received the Sacrament of Holy Conformation at the hands of the Rt. Rev. Samuel Bowman, Bishop Coadjutor of Pennsylvania.   Rt. Rev. William Stevens, fourth Bishop of Pennsylvania confirmed a class at Miles Grove that same year. The Diocese of Pennsylvania with its See in Philadelphia covered the entire Commonwealth at that, Girard and Miles Grave (to become North Girard and then later Lake City) were at the furthest corners of the Diocese.

In 1862 The Rev. John f. Spaulding, Rector of St. Paul’s Church, Erie secured the appointment of the Rev. John Ireland as Lake Shore missionary, who served until 1868. Services were held at the Girard Presbyterian Church and in the school house, midway between the Boro and Girard Station.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh was created in 1865 to serve the western part of the Commonwealth. The Rt. Rev. John b. Kerfoot was its first Bishop and he arranged for the Rev. Calvin C. Parker of St. John’s Church, Erie, to take charge of the Episcopalian services at the Methodist Church Girard Station. St. John’s Church has been re-named the Church of the Holy Spirit after it united with another Erie Parish. Services continued in 1870 with; the Rev. William Ballard and followed by the Rev. P. O. Tongue in 1873 in various locales in both Girard and Girard Station. Thus for sixteen years Episcopalian services had been held with some regularity in the area without the building of an actual church structure.

Mary Jane Bell, eldest daughter of Judge James Miles, placed a bequest of $2500.00 in her will in 1874, for the purpose of the building of a Protestant Episcopal Church at or in the vicinity of Miles Grove provided the balance of the money be raised and the church be built within two years after her death. Mrs. Bell died November24, 1875 and within two years the erection of the present was begun. May 1877 saw work begun on the foundation of the present church on the land donated by J. Robert Hall, who was the agent for the estate of Mrs. Bell’s father Judge Miles.

The Congregation the moved to incorporate under the law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a charter was applied for in May 1877 and was granted. On July 3, 1877 the Charter was officially recorded and Grace Episcopal Church officially cam into existence. Incorporating members included Julia Hall, Zeruah Miles, N.M.VanAken, Eliza Miles, Elizia Davis, Carrie Davis, Nancy Miles, J.D. Kelley, and P. M. Magee, The first Rector was called at this time, the Rev. Edward D. Irvine, who remained as spiritual leader of this fledgling congregation for the next twelve years.

The cornerstone was officially laid on August 14, 1877 by the rev. William Mills, Rector of St. Paul’s Church, Erie and the Dean of the Erie Deanery officiating. The rev. Dr. James Moore, rector of St. Peter’s Church, Ashtubula, Ohio was the preacher at the service. The Rector of the two Erie parishes was also participants at this service.

Nearly a year later the brick church was completed and the first service initiating its use was the Baptism of Henry Ward, initiating his life in Christ, June 30, 1878.

Grace Episcopal Church, Miles Grove, Pennsylvania, was consecrated in the Name of the Blessed and Undivided trinity, November 20, 1878, by the Rt. Rev. James Barrett Kerfoot, Bishop of Pittsburgh,. The service of consecration brought clergy from Erie, Pittsburgh, Ohio, Western New York, the Bishop preached the service.

Of some interest today is the cost involved in building this church which has served as the spiritual home of many for the past one hundred years. The actual cost of construction was$3785. The furnishings within the church cost $382.00. a 700 pound bell made of brass is still hanging in the belfry, inscribed in memory of Mrs. H. C. Davis, cost $203.00. The main Church window, dedicated to the memory of Mary Jane Bell, as well as the other stained  glass windows were all installed for $405.00. Fencing around the church, now valuable for its antique value, cost $204.00. Total cost of the building and furnishings in 1878 was $5603.00. Nothing has been changed in the basic structure of the original building. To be sure, pulpit, candles, crosses, and choir pews have been added and moved around conforming to changing liturgical expressions of the Eternal Truth of Jesus Christ. The basic lines, unique in their style and architecture still remain as they did one century ago; still there to express the hopes of God's Family assembled for worship in their century.

A fire in the home of Miss Clara Miles destroyed many of the early vestry minutes and obscured the early history of the parish. From the Register we do know that the first Episcopal visitation was made by Bishop Kerfoot to the new church building on May 9, 1879. Conformation class of two was presented. Miles Grove was still on the geographical edge of the Diocese, even with the See city in Pittsburgh, consequently missionary Bishops passed though were often pressed to administer Episcopal Sacraments. The register of 1882 indicates the first wedding held in the church, a young couple who had journeyed from Geneva Ohio. Charlotte McConnell Rice, wife of Dan Rice (of circus fame) was given burial in 1895 from Grace church. The register from 1860 to 1910 show 119 baptisms, 79 Conformations, 33 Marriages, and 47 burials.

 In 1913 the first pastor to take up residence in the locality was the Rev. Fredrick B. Hornby and during his tenure the vestry applied for union with the diocese of Erie which was formed in 1910. On May 27, 1914 at the Fourth Convention of the Erie Diocese Grace Church became part of the diocese.

He was replace by Rev. Fredrick C. Randolph, the first in a series young Priest who were beginning their ministry at Grace.

Clara Miles was the first woman member of the vestry and also served as the church treasury. The Rectory was purchased in 1920 with funds raised by the Women’s Auxiliary; a mortgage of $1500 was paid off in one year.

            In 1925 a WWI veteran, Rev. W.J. Hendry became rector, followed by Rev. Kenneth R. Waldron in 1928 who was well known for his involvement in the community. During hiss tenure Grace acquired a new reed organ, Eucharistic altar candles, and a brass pulpit and altar that came from a church in Mt. holy, New Jersey. The cross that is behind the present day pulpit came from altar.

     In 1945 land was purchased to extend the church property to Denio St. for the sum of $1000 which included the old carriage house which was renovated and used as the parish hall until the present one was completed in 1956.

       The present day pulpit was designed and installed during C. Thomas Jackson’s tenure at Grace, during this time we also saw a new steeple installed, the original one was lost many years before during a wind storm.

       In 2004 Donald Baxter purchased and installed the present day sound system.

 

 

 

Ministers of Grace Episcopal Church

 

Edward Irvine                          1877-1889

W.B Thorn                              1889-1893

J. T. Chambers                        1893-1894

G.W. Preston                          1894-1898

Albert Clay                              1898-1904

W. E. Ryerson                         1906-1912

W. Archibold                          1912

Fredrick Hornby                     1913

Ossee Celsus Fox                   1914-1915

Fredrick Randolph                  1915-1917

John Fairburn                          1918-1925

W. J. Hendry                          1925-1928

Kenneth Waldron                   1928-1937

Robert Becker                        1937-1939

Robert Stetler                         1940-1945

Robert Becker                        1946

Fredrick Haworth Jr.              1947-1948

Cloud C. Rutter Jr.                 1949-1947

E. L. Baxter                            1957-1960

John G. Mac Donald               1960-1962

Arthur J. Rathbun                   1962-1963

Willard S. McGinnis               1963-1966

Sidney Cross Newhouse         1967-1970

John M. Master                       1970-1974

Thomas H. Whitcroft              1995-1977

C. Thomas Jackson                

Steven Herbert

John Myers

Victor Kinninin

William Burrows

Phil Swickard

Warren Fructal                                -2002

Donald Baxter                         2002-2005

Robert T. Burke                      2005-