Grace Presbyterian Church (Peoria, Illinois)

Grace Presbyterian Church is a historic congregation located in Peoria, Illinois with approximately 2,000 members. It is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America

History

Initially called the Fourth Ward Mission School, Grace Presbyterian was founded in 1862 as a Sunday School for area youth. D.W. McWilliams, the first superintendent, was a prominent railroad man who had recently moved to Peoria from New York. He was able to secure a passenger rail coach to use as a meeting place. The school started with 19 children, and within a few Sundays a second passenger coach was added to accommodate growing attendance.

In 1874, the group formally organized as a church mission, taking on the name Grace Presbyterian. Three years later, under the leadership of H.S. Beavis, the church become autonomous and self-supporting; the Grace Presbyterian Mission became Grace Presbyterian Church.

The first permanent location at Wayne Street and Madison Avenue was destroyed by fire in 1890. However, the congregation continued worshiping on Peoria's "near north-side" for several generations. In 1957, the church moved to what would become a well-known location, the corner of Knoxville Ave. and Forrest Hill Ave. The church moved to its current 60 acre campus in 2010.

During the Great Depression the church dwindled and barely survived due to financial difficulties. The congregation voted to remain open by a single vote.

In 1982, under the leadership of Dr. B.W. Dunn, the congregation affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America after congenially departing ways with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. Under the agreement, Grace Presbyterian was allowed to leave the existing denominational alliance without sacrificing property ownership rights.

Recent story

New campus

In 2010, under the leadership of Dr. Ben Johnston, 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. The new sanctuary opened with great fan fare and no vocal opposition on October 10, 2010. The 1,600 seat sanctuary is situated within a 60 acre campus on Peoria's far northwest side. Peoria's NBC affiliate (WEEK TV-25) continues to broadcast Sunday morning worship as they have since 1972.

According to the executive director the old church structure was too small for the growing church. Additionally, parking and safety had become a serious concern. Congregants who parked in an overflow lot were forced to cross a busy intersection in order to worship.

Leadership

Partial list of Ministers

Bryan Chapell	2013	current
Ben Johnston	2000	2013
John Queen	1993	2000
Bruce Dunn	1951	1991

Doctrine

Grace Presbyterian adheres to the Westminster Confession of Faith, subordinate to the Bible. The church emphasizes the following doctrines:

• 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

External links

• Grace Presbyterian Church