Our Statement of Faith

Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior.
He is the head of the body of Christ, His Church.
He is the way, the truth and the life
and the only way to the Father.

Grace Church, Old Saybrook began holding regular meetings in 1825. The Church met at the Center Schoolhouse with the rector of St. John's Episcopal Church, Essex, presiding. After meeting at the school for five years, the congregation began construction of a church building on what is now Main Street, just south of the Old Boston Post Road. Construction took one year, after the laying of the cornerstone in 1830, and was completed under the leadership of the Rev. Ashbel Steele, the congregation's first rector. The building was consecrated and set apart for sacred purposes on August 16, 1831 by the Rt. Rev. Thomas Church Brownell, third bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut.

In 1871 construction of a new building was begun, in the English Gothic Style, using the cornerstone of the original church building  (which was later moved around the corner to the Old Boston Post Road, where it remains minus its spire). At the time of construction, an Odell pipe organ was installed. The new building, still in use today, was consecrated by Bishop Brownell's successor the Rt. Rev. John Williams on October 24, 1872. The original rectory, probably lost by fire, was replaced by the present rectory about 1892.

At various times the need has arisen for restoration and renovation of the church buildings. The first was recorded in the early 1900's. In 1957 the undercroft was excavated and built, providing much needed storage and activity space. The present parish hall was built and dedicated in 1967 under the leadership of the Rev. Edward R. Merrill, whose name it bears in honor of his ministry as rector from 1948-1969. Housed in the parish hall are the church school, sacristy, robing room, offices, kitchen, and both a large and a small meeting room used for various functions.

One of our most recent acquisitions is a lovely residence situated on property immediately north of the church. After being used as a private home for many years by the Chapman family, it was bought by Grace Church in 1972. Since then, the "Chapman House" has served a variety of needs for meetings, seminars, and the like. The building has also served as offices for the ESS (Episcopal Social Service) as well as Parish Rectory. It is currently leased as a private residence until it is needed for staff housing or other church-related needs.