Grace United Methodist Church was founded on
November 2, 1905 when two nearby churches that
had worked closely together united.  The congregations
of Glenwood Methodist Episcopal Church, located on the
corner of Driving Park Avenue and Pierpont Street, and
Hedding Methodist Episcopal Church, across the river on
the corner of St. Paul and Scrantom Streets, had each
outgrown their buildings. When the Driving Park Bridge
was constructed in 1890, residents who were previously
separated by the Genesee River were now provided easy
access to both sides. Both congregations, therefore,
decided to merge and build a new church building. They
selected the present site for their new church because of its central location. The cornerstone was laid on June 7, 1907, and the church was completed a year later, with the dedication ceremony held on December 6, 1908. The dedication ceremony was preceded by both congregations each processing from their former buildings to join as one at 121, Driving Park Avenue.

By 1912 the sanctuary was complete and included a two-manual Moller organ, which was dedicated in january, 1912. The congregation at this time had grown from 400 to 845.

The remaining $25,000 debt on the church was liquidated in 1917. Since its inception, all expenses for the church had been paid for in small gifts by the congregation; no large gifts or contributions had been made by any one organization.

The 1920's saw large steps in the church's growth, in terms of membership and building projects. An echo organ and chimes were added to the organ in 1920, and 1923 saw the beginning of a campaign to raise money for the addition of an educational wind to the sanctuary building. Over $100,000 was raised in cash and in pledges. The cornerstone of the new wing was laid in April 1928 and the formal dedication of the building was in September 1928. Records indicate that in 1922 the total membership of the church was 1619. The addition of the educational building enabled the church to offer a much larger facility for the large number of young people in the congregation.

The church served as an anchor in the community during the depression and World War II. It was during the 1940's that the Women's Society of Christian Service (now known as the United Methodist Women) was organized, which has as its major goal the support of worldwide missions.

Up until the 1940's, Grace UM Church had a paid quartet to provide music for the Sunday services. At this time, they moved to an all volunteer choir, as it is currently.

In April 1945, $65,000 was raised to cancel the outstanding debt on the educational building; at last the church was free from debt. Then in August 1945 came V.J. Day with services of prayer and thanksgiving to celebrate the end of the war.

The 50th anniversary of the founding of the church occurred in 1955; special services were held and a colored brochure was prepared. At this time it was realized that extensive building modernization was required. A major capital improvement campaign was begun and pledges and cash to the amount of $120,000 was raised in 1956. The organ was rebuilt, the pulpit area modernized (to the blond wood now seen), new furnaces installed, floors refinished, and many rooms and the sanctuary were repainted. In addition, carpeting for the sanctuary and the Small Parlor was laid, and chairs at the back of the sanctuary were replaced by pews.

During the 1960's, the Vacation Bible School was initiated that was originally run with the cooperation of local Roman Catholic parished.

Activities during the 1980's include active participation in the Billy Graham Crusade, the formation of a Deaf Ministry, Single Mothers, and the Neighborhood Kids Club.

When Grace UM Church was founded in 1905, the area was considered to be suburban; the land north of Dewey was mainly farmland. Now, in 2008, our church is a city church and its congregation comes from all over Monroe County and surrounding areas. The needs of the congregation have changed and the church now emphasizes service to the local community, both to its parishioners and non-parishioners alike. Issues such as decent housing, drug abuse, poverty, hunger, child abuse and loneliness are all around us and are addressed by our local ministries.