After 13 years of living as nomads and worshipping in many different locations around downtown Spartanburg, we are finally planting our roots in Spartanburg’s Northside community. We’ve purchased a historic church building at the corner of Brawley and Farley streets, and renovations are in progress. This is a very exciting time in the life of our church, and we invite you to return to this page every few weeks for renovation progress updates.
The original sanctuary
The “new” Grace Presbyterian Church building was originally the home of Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church, a congregation dating back to 1889, and spun out of Central United Methodist Church on Church Street. In 1946 the original wooden structure shown here was demolished and a new brick building was completed in 1947. The official dedication was held in 1948.
Post WW II sanctuary
This photo of the church dates to the early 1970s.
In 2006, the Duncan Memorial congregation met for last time and was absorbed back into Central United Methodist Church. Following this, the building was the home of The Last Days Healing and Deliverance Center for several years.
The need for restoration
By the Fall of 2020, a friend to Grace brought the Brawley Street property to the Session’s attention. This began a months-long period of due diligence. We also kicked off a 3-year capital campaign to fund the purchase of the property.
When we finally closed on the property in December of 2021, it was in great need of repair - rotting wood, broken windows, sagging and leaking roof, non-functional alarm system, overgrown shrubs and trees, hazardous asbestos, substandard electrical system, and numerous water leaks. But the building was structurally sound, and we worked quickly to restore the alarm system and replace the roof in order to protect the building from further damage.
Prayer and action
The covid-19 pandemic made further renovations impossible due to accelerating prices coupled with labor and material shortages. Instead, we focused on prayer for the Northside community and the part our small congregation might soon play in its renewal. This became a time of preparation for us as we considered how we could love the community and join them in the work they were already doing.
Small beginnings
Before we could begin work inside we had to hire a remediation crew to remove asbestos. There were also several congregational workdays at the property focusing on throwing away junk, doing yardwork, and chatting with interested neighbors.
In 2023, Grace restarted efforts to refurbish the property as prices had started to come down, although not as much as we hoped. After rescoping the project to reduce costs and to enable us to begin using the property, Grace kicked off a second capital campaign in Fall of 2023 to obtain the additional needed funding. By December 31, the Lord had enabled us to far exceed the goal and to begin work.
Work has begun
In January of 2024, we began the planned renovations to the sanctuary, first floor classrooms and offices. The 80-year-old stained glass windows were temporarily removed to be refurbished. The stained glass is being replaced with clear panes, and the frames are being restored and weatherproofed.
A new look
Early March and new sanctuary and classroom windows are installed and looking great.
Progress Continues
The new clear and bright windows help illuminate the sanctuary, making it feel more open and inviting. Work on the walls and ceiling are still on track. Near the front left of the sanctuary a new door has been added.
The bell tower floor is under construction as are the new restrooms in the education wing. And one of the classrooms has repaired walls and floors, and new windows.
