History of Grace Church

How we got here.

View of State Street

Historical Photograph

Housing the state legislature

Historic Marker

View of State Street

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Steps from the Capitol

The Grace Church congregation formed in 1810 when Harrisburg still had dirt roads. The current building was opened in sections between 1873-1878. In February, 1897 the Pennsylvania Capitol building burned down. Some legislatures wanted to relocate the government to Philadelphia. Grace Church offered their building for the legislature’s official use. Because of this, the newspapers of the time have referred to Grace as the Savior of The Capitol. All religious items and furnishings were removed, replaced by desks, chairs and spittoons. They met here until sometime in 1898.

McFarland Rose Garden

J. Horace McFarland was a driving force behind Harrisburg's City Beautiful movement from 1900-1930. Which provided the development of the city parks we still enjoy today including Riverside Park, Wildwood, Bellevue Park, and the stunning park behind the Capitol. Originally located in front of the Polyclinic Building on Third Street where beds of roses were planted among statuary and reflective pools, it was removed to make room for an addition to the hospital and more parking. The roses were relocated to the yard behind the Grace Church parsonage.

Rose Garden Dedication Plaque

McFarland Cultivated Rose

Entrance to Rose Garden

Rose Garden Dedication Plaque

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Starkey Organ

Shown in it's original placement in the balcony

Organ Console

Shown in it's current location at the front of the sanctuary

Organ Pipes

Starkey Organ

Shown in it's original placement in the balcony

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Starkey Organ

Given by William Paul Starkey in honor of those who served in WWI. One of the largest instruments in the area with 80 ranks of pipes and 6 divisions.

Artifacts

Above the back balcony is the "Ascension" window of Tiffany glass
Italian marble pulpit, lectern, altar, and baptismal font adorned with mosaic inlays of Tiffany glass
At the front of the sanctuary is a painting titled "Adoration of the Shepherds" by E. Irving Couse (1899)
The Rose Garden Window in George Chapel on the third floor
A painting by Wanda Macomber (1969) depicting the Book of Revelations 4:1-8