Grace Episcopal Church (Syracuse, New York) facts for kids

Grace Episcopal Church is a historic church in Syracuse, New York, located near Syracuse University. It is famous for its beautiful Gothic Revival style, which makes it look like a castle from long ago. The building was designed by an architect named Horatio Nelson White and was finished in 1876.

Because of its special history and design, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 20, 1973. This means it is recognized as an important American landmark that should be protected.

A History of Helping Others

The Grace Church community, or parish, was started in 1871. From its early days, the church became known for its work in social activism, which means helping to make society fairer for everyone.

The Story of Saint Oakerhater

In the late 1800s, the church welcomed a man named David Pendleton Oakerhater. He was a warrior from the Cheyenne tribe who had been a political prisoner. At Grace Church, he was baptized and later ordained, which means he became a leader in the Episcopal Church.

Oakerhater spent the rest of his life helping his people and the church. Because of his amazing work, the Episcopal Church made him a saint in 1992. He was the first Native American to become an Episcopal saint. Today, Grace Church is a national shrine honoring him. In 2004, special windows were installed at the church in his memory.

Grace Episcopal Church in Syracuse, New York.

Fighting for Equal Rights

Grace Church has a long history of standing up for equality.

• Racial Equality: In 1957, Grace Church joined with St. Philip's, a church with a mostly Black congregation. This made Grace Church one of the first fully integrated Episcopal churches in the United States, where people of all races could worship together.
• Civil Rights: During the 1960s, the church was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. It hosted one of the first Head Start programs, which helps young children get ready for school. It also held meetings for groups like the Congress for Racial Equality (CORE).
• Women in the Church: In 1974, a woman from the church named Betty Bone Scheiss was ordained as a priest. This was a big step, as it happened three years before the national Episcopal Church officially allowed women to become priests.

The Church Today

Grace Episcopal Church is still a very active church that works for social justice. Its members come from many different racial and ethnic backgrounds. The church is known for being a welcoming place for all people, no matter their race, background, or identity.

In 2008, it was one of the first churches in its area to participate in the Central New York Pride festival, showing its support for the LGBT community.

See also

• List of Registered Historic Places in Onondaga County, New York
• Grace Episcopal Church (disambiguation)