In 1828, the first few members of Grace Episcopal Church began to meet in homes. Since that time, the parish has grown to be a thriving community of prayer, compassion and belonging in this area. We take seriously our mission “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.” (Book of Common Prayer, 855).
Grace Episcopal Church is a parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, an area extending from Columbus to Macon, just north of Augusta, and north to the North Carolina and Tennessee borders. The Diocese of Atlanta is a diverse community of parishes and worshiping communities, and Grace is grateful to be a vital spiritual community alongside our many brothers and sisters.
The Episcopal Church finds its roots in the post-revolutionary period, having continued the Anglican Tradition from the Church of England after the war. We are a part of the broader Anglican Communion, a community of 39 autonomous provinces throughout the world with historic links to the Church of England. Each province adapts the practice of Common Prayer, guidance from the Holy Scriptures, and governance with bishops, priests, deacons, and laity in their different contexts.
The Episcopal Church is, in many ways, a community “in the middle.” Our identity is both Catholic and protestant, with a deep appreciation of liturgy and the sacraments; the importance of bishops, priests, and deacons; and a heightened understanding of the importance of the Holy Bible in the life. We “seek and serve Christ in all persons,” and we “honor the dignity of every human being,” as our Baptismal Covenant reminds us (BCP, 304).
The Rev. Dr. Stuart Higginbotham
Rector
