In 1838, the history of Grace Episcopal Church in Astoria, Oregon began with the visit of the first Anglican missionaries to the area. On September 4, 1864, The Reverend Thomas A. Hyland ( 1864 - 1878 ) took up the considerable challenge of being the first Episcopal rector on the north coast of Oregon.
The first two years of Episcopal services were held in the courthouse. A few years later in 1866 the first Grace Church was erected on what is now known as Eighth and Commercial streets where the Spexarth Building now stands. The name ‘Grace’ was chosen by Martha Hyland, wife of the first rector.
The congregation outgrew this original building within a couple of decades. The Rev. Marden Wilson ( 1882 - 1886 ) led parishioners in a drive to build a new church on Franklin Avenue on land that was a legacy from Mrs. Susan Shively. This is the same structure in which we worship today.
The Rev. Marden and his congregation first celebrated Holy Communion on Easter Sunday, 1886 and the building was consecrated on June 6th of that same year. A very old wood-framed brass plaque of dedication is located at the top of the inside stairway.
Several church treasures were transferred to the new location. Among them: the baptismal font, the Sacraments Window behind the altar, the Trenchard Memorial Window in the nave and the deeper voiced of the two bells presently in the tower.
In 1891, new roadwork was done in front of the church and the entrance was then below street level. The church building was lifted more than ten feet to elevate the front to the level of then muddy and unpaved Franklin Avenue. Structural changes include a new wing which enlarged the Vestry Room. The present Recotry was built in 1923 and the Parish Hall was added in 1954, along with several classrooms.
In 1986, Grace clebrate 100 years at the present Grace location. An elevator was installed early in 2003 and was dedicated June 15, 2003.