The official site of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church Restoration
& Creation of the Grace Heritage Site in Lincoln, Virginia.
Restoration
Numerous individual donors have contributed to our annual campaign over the years. Look at our progress!
Preparatory
Phase I
Our project began with fundraising. A sold-out showing of To Kill a Mockingbird with guest appearances from the actors, grants from Loudoun Preservation Society, material donations from Turner Construction, and original pew donations from the former trustees of the Grace Church have all contributed to the progress. In addition, volunteers, led by Bob Shuey, conducted an archaeological survey of the site.
Floor It!
Phase II
Fixing up the flooring was our next step. In 2019, Allen Cochran and George Caison led a team of volunteers in replacing floor joists, using local lumber. Sub-flooring was then installed, and the concrete steps leading to the church's enterance were also repaired.
Raise the Roof!
Phase III
The roof restoration project was completed in January 2024. This work involved removing the entire roof structure and rebuilding it completely. The roof reconstruction was made possible by a generous grant from the Virginia Museum of History and Culture's Commonwealth History Fund, as well as matching contributions from our donors.
Looking Ahead
Phase IV+
Our end goal is to restore the Grace Church to its former glory. Once structural repairs are finished, the building will be finished as it once was, including the original pews and historically accurate lighting. The lower level will feature a memorial to local African-American war veterans, many of whom are buried on site without any recognition for their service and sacrifice.
Project Chronology
June 2004
In 2004, Sarah Huntington took a series of photographs of the church's interior and exterior for reconstruction purposes. The gravel driveway was redone. The building's doors and windows were boarded up to prevent trespassers and critters from gaining access. Intensive research began regarding the building's history.
June 2005
In 2005, an archaeological dig, led by Bob Shuey started. Numerous artifacts were uncovered and catalogued; mostly consisting of pottery shards, buttons, bottles, and parts of an old wood stove.
The church bell and bellfry were removed and placed in safe storage by David Logan of Vintage Renovation.
November 2006
Flooring Solutions Inc of Sterling, Virginia donated flooring materials to the project. The donation valued $8700 will provide building materials for the restoration of the floors and ceiling of the historic Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in Lincoln, Virginia.
2013-2014
During 2013 and 2014, the Grace Church Trustees formed a private, non-profit organization, "The Friends of Grace," and began the long process of transferring the building title to the non-profit in order to seek preservation grants from a wide array of institutions. The title was legally transferred from the United Methodist Church to the Friends of Grace in 2015.
Summer 2019
Work sped up in 2019, and volunteers, under the direction of Allen Cochran and George Caison, replaced floor joists and installed wide-plank sub flooring from locally sourced lumber, cut at a local sawmill. The concrete entrance steps were also repaired. The original church pews and the original set of fine upholstered chairs were returned to the sanctuary.
Summer 2019
The interior of the church today, with the rough sawn flooring and pews in place. Much is left to do, but it's starting to look like its old self, again.
February, 2022
The new, handcrafted front entrance doors are installed and ready for final finishing. These doors are exact replicas of the originals which were damaged beyond repair. The front retaining wall is also nearing completion after sitting in ruin for years. The stones are all from the original wall. Both projects rely on local craftsmen John Summers (stonework) and Calvin Page (carpenter, Calvin’s Enterprises), who have ancestral ties to the building.
January, 2024
The new roof is complete, thanks to a generous donation from the Virginia Museum of History and Culture's Commonwealth History Fund, as well as matching contributions from our donors. Historic tradesman, Allen Cochran, of Cochran's Stone Masonry was our contractor.