Grace Church has been part of the Martinez community since 1869
and was established by The Rev. Lloyd Breck. The original church building is located in downtown Martinez at Green and
Las Juntas Streets. We are blessed to have the original triptych stained-glass windows dedicated to Rev. Lloyd behind
the altar. Although it may not be visible from the outside, visitors to Grace Church feel a connection to the past--and
rightly so, since Grace was the first Episcopal Church in Contra Costa County. Before the first Holy Eucharist was celebrated
in Martinez on Easter Sunday 1868, parishioners had to cross the Carquinez Straits to Benicia to worship at St. Paul's Episcopal
Church.
With the enthusiasm of the small congregation and through the fundraising
efforts fo a few dedicated women, a church was completed in early October 1869 at a cost of $1,750. Old habits being
hard to break, ties with the church in Benicia weren't officially severed until the consecration of Grace Church on July 10,
1870. The land for the first church building on Las Juntas Street was dontaed by Judge T.A. Brown according to church
records; however, other notes indicate that the women of the church paid $100 for the property. The church relocated
to Mellus Street, inhabiting the former Lamb's Club, a men's boarding club, after the original property was sold in 1941.
In 1955, the property on Mellus Street was sold and the church moved to its current location on Muir Station Road.
Even though Grace's history is fascinating, it's really the congregation that
makes it special. Although Grace may appear to be a little country church, it has a lot of life to it. Grace Church
is a popular place for weddings and baptisms, and true to the church's tradition, the dedicated women and men in the congrgation
have known to put on some fantastic feasts! For parishioners with children, Grace Church offers Sunday School classes
for teens and children during the regular school year.
But even these things aren't what makes Grace so special. Many of the
parishioners have commented that there is a sort of magic about Grace that just can't be explained. Some have said the
welcome they received here made them feel like they were coming home after having been gone for a long time. The parishioners
at Grace truly have a fight for making the newcomer feel at home. Others were looking for a place where they could make
a meaningful contribution to their fellow human beings and found that they didin't have to "work their way in" to Grace.
Their efforts were welcomed immediately and sincerely appreciated. Our church is made up of members of all ages.
Some people have been members of Grace Episcopal Church ever since there was a church in Martinez (almost!). Many people
are new and just beginning to experience Grace's unique charm. We think the serenity of the surroundings and warmth
of the fellowship make our church truly an extraordinary place to worship.
Come and worship and be part of the community at Grace and become a part of
the tapestry of Grace Church's history.
