Welcome to Grace Community Presbyterian Church

Grace Community Presbyterian Church began in the years immediately following World War II under the supervision of the Board of American Missions of the United Presbyterian Church of North America. The Reverend Walter Ferris, a former Chaplin in the Army Air Service, was assigned as the first missionary to the new field in December 1946.

The first service of the Leechburg Road Community Church was held on January 12th, 1947 at Stewart School. On May 4th, 1947, we were chartered as Grace Community United Presbyterian Church with 74 members on the Charter Roll. On October 12th, 1947 the first session was originated under Presbytery guidance. The groundbreaking for the new church building took place on June 13th, 1948 with the cornerstone laid on April 10th 1949. Services were held in the new sanctuary on Sunday September 11th, 1949.

The Reverend Paul Musser conducted his first service at Grace on Christmas Sunday 1950. He was formally called in January 1954 to lead as Grace's next pastor. Seeing continued growth, plans were made to build again. The new education unit was built and was used by the Lower Burrell Township School District as classroom space during the school week.

On September 10th, 1956 the Reverend Charles J. Gensheimer was installed as the next pastor. Under his leadership, Grace changed the make-up of the Session to a unicameral government. Two worship services on Sunday and the congregation began to think of expanding once again.
The Reverend William Dandoy came to Grace in 1965 to become our new minister and oversee the final expansion of Grace Community Church. Our first service in the present sanctuary was on June 30th, 1968.

In November 1971, the Reverend Kenneth Lister was called to Grace Community Church. Many small study group meetings were developed under his leadership.

The Reverend Kirk Ryckman was called to Grace on August 19th, 1979. The years showed a deeper financial commitment and the hiring of Karen Willis as a Christian Education Director in 1981.

Reverend David Aber was called to serve at Grace in December of 1987. At this time in Grace Community's life, the congregation felt the need to have an Associate Pastor to aid in our continuing growth. Reverend Cynthia Wilson was called in August 1998 to be Associate Pastor.

The Reverend Kenneth Foust was called as our pastor in March 1996. Rev. Foust served Grace Community for 25 years before retiring in 2021. The Sanctuary was improved in 2020 with new Narthex and entrance that was more accessible. Rev. Foust was instrumental in keeping the congregation together through the 2 years of dealing with shut downs due to the COVID virus.

Today, Grace Community’s congregation mostly comes from 3 areas, Lower Burrell, New Kensington, and Allegheny Township. Currently, Doug Marshall is the Interim Pastor as we are in the process of looking for a new called pastor to lead Grace Church into the future God has for us.