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Grace Community Methodist Church was a Methodist church in East Oakland at 2385 - 103rd Avenue beginning in 1935. Initially it took the name of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, a former Methodist church in West Oakland, but it doesn't appear to have any connections besides the name, as there was a gap of more than 10 years. A 1947 article traces things back to a local Sunday school led by Rev. P.T. Lynn in 1927. 2 Later the church was known as Grace Methodist Church.

The church first met at 10303 Foothill at the corner of Frazier. In 1935, there were plans to build at 103rd Avenue near Foothill using the older name 1 but it's unclear if a structure was built then. In 1937, a church structure was moved to the 103rd Avenue site. A parsonage was built in 1942, and a new sanctuary building constructed in 1947. 2

Following a fire in 1960, repairs were made to the sanctuary, and a new fellowship hall was built. 3

The church was around until at least 1973, when they paid off their debt. 4 The building is now home to Fale Maama Tongan United Methodist Church.

Pastor Year(s) Refs
Phineas T. Lynn 1927-1935 ref
Walter Graef 1935-1936 ref
W.P. Grant 1936-? ref
John E. Zoeller 1946-1949 ref
Robert Sanford 1949-1953 ref
Herbert Graves 1954-1956 ref 1,ref 2
Don Mueller 1956-1965 ref 1,ref 2
Jack S. Blakeman 1966-1967 ref 1,ref 2
Warren Lee Dale 1967-1968 ref 1,ref 2
P, Malcolm Hammond 1968-1971 ref

1950 Sanborn excerpt1960 groundbreaking 3

Links and References

  1. New Church To Be Built Oakland Tribune May 30, 1935
  2. Consecration Ceremonies Today Mark Completion of Grace Community Methodist Church Oakland Tribune June 15, 1947
  3. Groundbreaking Set at Grace Methodist Church Oakland Tribune September 8, 1960
  4. Speaker Oakland Tribune April 15, 1973
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