OUR PURPOSE
To bring people to Jesus and membership in his family, develop them to Christ like maturity and equip them for their ministry in the church and life mission in the world, in order to magnify God's name.
HISTORY
In 2003 Grace Church celebrated its 120th Anniversary. During that period the Church had only eight rectors. The last three rectors served a combined total of almost 60 years. Our current rector, The Reverend Father Harold J. Cobb, Jr., D.D. is the eighth rector of Grace Church, serving as rector in both the 20th and now the 21st Century.
In those 120 years, despite the many significant and shattering events that have occurred in our country, from the The Great Depression through the Assassinations of President Kennedy and the Rev., Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and continuing devastation because of natural disasters:
In those 120 years, despite the many significant and shattering events that have impacted the world, from World Wars I and II, The Korean Conflict, The Vietnam War, the toppling of the Berlin Wall and the ongoing Conflict in Iraq:
In those same 120 years, despite events that have shattered the peace and well-being of our country and the world, there have been many celebratory and special events in the life of this Parish:
• The move from Kent and Cumberland Streets to Brambleton Avenue
• The construction of the Educational Building and Parish Hall
• The renovation of our present facilities due to a successful capital campaign
• The redevelopment of Central Brambleton by our own Plumb Line Ministries
• Becoming a regional church with a parish family that lives throughout Hampton Roads, including Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News and Suffolk
• Being designated a Jubilee Ministry Church
There is something special about Grace Episcopal Church. We have been blessed by God to be the largest historically Black Episcopal Church in Virginia and one of the largest in the United States. We have outstanding programs including great musical talent, Campus Ministry, Boy and Girl Scouts in addition to other youth programs; Outreach to the community and great worship.
We have a great future and know that we will continue on this wonderful journey because