Historical November 1992 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
This November marks the centennial of Grace United Methodist Church which has occupied the corner of Waterman and Skinker since October 11, 1914.
The church was founded on November 20, 1892 on Lindell and Newstead and then followed its parishioners westward to its present home.
The current church was rebuilt stone by stone from the original edifice on Lindell.
The building was completely redecorated in 1975. Today the church’s membership is drawn from throughout the metropolitan area though about thirty percent call the Central West End home. Grace United Methodist was instrumental in the formation of the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council in 1966.
It was also in the 1960s that Grace United Methodist made a firm commitment to ‘remain a metropolitan church in the true sense” at its city location on Skinker.
In 1975 Grace United Methodist established the Breitmayer Ministry as a tribute to the memory of Douglas R. Breitmayer who had been Grace Church Minister of Music for 14 years prior to his death.
This special ministry is aimed at fulfilling the needs of youth and adults in the immediate neighborhood. Laura Wright. the present director, lives on Waterman. Grace Church has conducted its summer program since the founding of the ministry.
It allows children a place to gather during summer vacation. Participants range in age from 2 to 12 and part of the funding comes from SLATE.
This summer program does some tutoring, math exercises, reading, science, art projects and has fitness periods.
There are also field trips once a week.
The Breitmayer ministry also tries to deliver Thanksgiving baskets to those in need and to have a Halloween or Christmas party for neighborhood children. Other accomplishments include a jobfind program for the unemployed and a weatherization program for those in older homes.
In addition, Grace United Methodist runs a very popular preschool program that has been utilized by many Skinker DeBaliviere parents. Grace United Methodist. Church is planning several events to celebrate its centennial.
On November 20 there will be a celebratory dinner at the Holiday Inn in Clayton for members and friends. Then, on Sunday, November 22 the Church is holding its special centennial service and birthday party.
The Church has invited all its neighbors to join in worship and celebration that Sunday. Congratulations to an important neighborhood [Sentence ends here in the printed source.]
Original photograph caption
Grace United Methodist Church at Waterman and Skinker. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November 1992.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Printed final sentence ends “Congratulations to an important neighborhood”; no missing noun invented.
Original source: SD_Times1992_11.pdf, printed page(s) 1; PDF page(s) 1.
