Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne (formerly St. Philip and St. James Episcopal Church)
The Rev. Geoffrey Ashworth, was hired to be its first vicar and began holding services for 35 families in a barn on the property and later in a gymnasium at Village Woods Elementary School. The congregation searched for money to fund the building. Early architectural plans proved too expensive for the parish, but two parishioners, Tony Bada and Don Stinson, devised a plan to construct a utility building at a cost of about $63,000 in 1970. Wood called them a "godsend." The first service was held on November 1, 1970, at which time the church was officially incorporated.
After a series of vicars that included George Davis, William Gibson, and Ronald Poston, the church became an independent parish in 1988, receiving parish status at the diocesan convention. The Rev. Robert Fitzpatrick became rector in 1990, and three years later the vestry made the decision to sell the Tillman property and make plans for a new building in Aboite Township. Several years followed with the congregation meeting in local schools. In 1996 the congregation decided to change the parish name to Grace Episcopal Church in order to reflect the low liturgical style of services the parish had adapted. Local architect John Shoaff devised plans in 1998 for a traditionally-styled frame church at a location at 10010 Aurora Place, located on a hill off Liberty Mills Road. Funding challenges continued, and a church with an adapted design opened and was dedicated on 10 September 1999 by Bishop Edward Jones of Indianapolis. Fitzpatrick left the parish to become Bishop of Hawaii in 2000.
After Fitzpatrick left and a year of interim ministry by the Rev. Theron Lansford, the parish called the Rev. Isaac Ihiasota, but the congregation became divided over his leadership style, and he left in April 2003. From 2003 to 2007, Grace was led under the interim pastorate of the Rev. Barbara Schmitz. In September 2008, the parish called the Rev. Kathy Thomas, who was installed in November. She remained rector until her retirement at the end of 2017. Thomas P. Hansen, the recently-retired rector of Trinity Fort Wayne, became its supply priest as the congregation began a search for a new rector. Plans were made in 2019 for a shared position with St. Alban's.
Clergy:
Geoffrey Ward Ashworth, 1969-1972
George Miller Davis, 1972-1973
John Wesley Inman Jr., 1973-1974
William Gibson, 1974-1986
Ronald G. Poston, 1987-1989
Robert Fitzpatrick, 1990-2000
Theron Lansford (interim supply), 2000-2001
Isaac Ihiasota, 2001-2003
Barbara G. Schmitz, 2003-2007
Kathryn Pauline Thomas, 2008-2017
Thomas Parker Hansen (interim supply), 2017-
Bibliography:
Phyllis Markoetter, Grace Episcopal Church: A People's Story of Faith. Fort Wayne: Grace Episcopal Church, 2002.
Kathy Thomas, "Top 30 Events in the 20 Years of Grace Episcopal Church 'on the Hill.'" Information sheet.
Interview with Rev. George B. Wood, 1989, on Trinity Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, and the Founding of St Philip and St. James
This page references:
- St. Philip amd St. James Episcopal Church Groundbreaking with Rev. Geoffrey Ashworth 1970
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, Easter 2016, exterior
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, Roberta Ring, Bishop Little, Kathy Thomas, 24 Nov 2013
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, exterior, 2003
- St. Philip and St. James, Fort Wayne, chancel with Rev. Ronald Poston, ca 1989
- Rev. Ron Poston, vicar of St. Philip and St. James, Fort Wayne
- St. Philip and St. James Episcopal Church, Tillman Road, Fort Wayne, ca 1971 nave
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, Easter 2016, interior
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, Bishop Little, Kathy Thomas, and confirmands, 8 March 2015
- St. Philip and St. James, Fort Wayne, outdoor festival 1, ca 1980
- St. Philip and St. James, Fort Wayne, chancel with Rev. Ronald Poston, ca 1989 2
- Rev. Ron Poston, vicar of St. Philip and St. James, Fort Wayne, at altar, 1
- St. Philip and St. James Episcopal Church, Tillman Road, Fort Wayne, ca 1970, consecration
- Grace Episcopal Church at Easter 2016
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, exterior, 8 March 2015
- St. Philip and St. James, Fort Wayne, outdoor festival 2, ca 1980
- St. Philip and St. James, Fort Wayne, font, ca. 1989
- Rev. Ron Poston, vicar of St. Philip and St. James, Fort Wayne, 2
- St. Philip and St. James Episcopal Church, Tillman Road, Fort Wayne, ca 1971, interior tapestry
- Bishop Edward Little at Grace Fort Wayne, with Fred and Lisa McKissick, Deacon Roberta Ring, and Rev. Kathy Thomas, Easter 2016
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, interior, 8 March 2015
- St. Philip and St. James, Fort Wayne, outdoor festival 3, ca 1980
- St. Philip and St. James, Fort Wayne, crucifix, ca 1989
- St. Philip and St. James Episcopal Church, Tillman Road, Fort Wayne, ca 1971
- Rev. William Gibson, vicar of St. Philip and St. James, portrait
- Rev. William Gibson, vicar of St. Philip and St. James, portrait 2
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, Rev. Kathy Thomas, 4 January 2017
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, Kathy Thomas and confirmands, 8 March 2015
- St. Philip and St. James, Fort Wayne, exterior ca 1980
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, exterior
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, 20th Anniversary celebration, 29 Sep 2019 with Father Thomas Hansen
- St. Philip and St. James Episcopal Church, Tillman Road, Fort Wayne, ca 1971, view 2
- Rev. Cory Randall and Rev. William Gibson of Fort Wayne at Diocesan Convention
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, congregation with Bishop Sparks, 21 May 2017
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, arrival of new steeple, 1, 2011
- St. Philip and St. James, Fort Wayne, Rev. William Gibson and babies
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, 20th Anniversary celebration, 29 Sep 2019 with Father Thomas Hansen 2
- St. Philip and St. James Episcopal Church, Tillman Road, Fort Wayne, ca 1971, view 3
- Rev. William Gibson with Anne Bradley
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, visitation 4 January 2018 with Bishop Sparks
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, arrival of new steeple, 2, 2011
- St. Philip and St. James, Fort Wayne, exterior, ca 1989
- Rev. Geoffrey Ashworth portrait
- St. Philip and St. James Episcopal Church, Tillman Road, Fort Wayne, ca 1971 plaque
- Rev. William Gibson with babies at baptism
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, Rev. Kathy Thomas, Bishop Little and unidentified, 15 Jan 2012
- Grace Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, arrival of new steeple, 3, 2011
- St. Philip and St. James, Fort Wayne, nave, ca 1989
- Rev. Geoffrey Ashworth standing
- St. Philip and St. James Episcopal Church, Tillman Road, Fort Wayne, ca 1971 chancel