The Birth and Growth of Grace Lutheran Church

Church Founder - Mr. John F. Mayer
John served as Superintendent of Sunday School, (18 years), Church Council (45 years) and as Council president from 1907 - 1926.

Significant Dates and Events
First Service was held on October 5, 1902 in the home of Mr. Fredrick Pries with twenty-seven (27) original members.

Sunday School was organized on October 19, 1902.

City Mission Society organized, resulting in the calling of the Rev. E.H. Boettger to be missionary pastor of the South Buffalo Mission, now Grace Church. He held his first service with the congregation on July 1, 1903.

Grace English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Buffalo was organized March 17, 1904 and held its first service in Kingston Hall on Palm Sunday, March 27, 1904.

The incorporation of the church took place on April 20, 1905.

Pastors:
Rev. Edwin H. Boettger (1903-1953)

Rev. John W. Roberts, Jr. (1953-1988)

Rev. Ruth Snyder (1988-1999)

Rev. Billy J. Banks (2000-2007).

Rev. Marlene Hyden (2009-).

Over the years, Grace Church has provided significant support to St. John's Orphan Home, Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center, Hamburg Mission Church - now All Saints Lutheran Church, Niagara Lutheran Home, Lutheran Charities, LCA World Wide Hunger Appeal, Crop Walk, Upstate New York Synod, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Other significant events and dates:
April 20, 1905 - Building Lot Purchased on Cazenovia Street for $2,075.00

July 1907 - Parsonage Completed

November 4, 1907 - Ground broken for original church building. The building was erected for a cost of $12,000.00.

May 23, 1908 - Consecration of new Church with 80 members.

1924 - Established Elk Street Mission ministering to the Hungarian community.

June 9, 1929 - Ground broken for new church building at a cost of $95,000.00.

July 21, 1929 - Cornerstone laid May 25, 1930 - Church and Parish House (Sunday School Wing) dedicated.

February 13, 1949 - Mortgage retired.

1956 - John F. Mayer Memorial Chapel renovated and dedicated.

1967 - Hands Bells purchased.

1975 - Organ rebuilding and new Console for $32,000.00.

October 30, 1994 - Medical Building and Parking lo purchased for $144,000.00.

September 2001 - Renovations of building began.

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Last modified: 10/30/09