by Mary O'Bryan

At the request of your vestry, I am providing my recollection of the founding of our church. It was an honor to be a part of the founding of this church and an ongoing member. I hope that these comments will be only the start of a longer and continually positive history of our church.

In 1979 when I was attending All Saints Episcopal Church in Vista, Bishop Walterstorff asked the minister, Rev. Ralph Haines, to invite the people from San Marcos who attended All Saints to meet and discuss the possibility of starting a mission in San Marcos.

We met at the home of Pat and Audrey Henry where we talked about what we could do to start a mission. Attending the meeting were Mary O’Bryan, Stevie and Mac McLean, Al Freund, and Rev. Ralph Haines. Later we went as a group and looked at various pieces of property as possible sites for the location of the new church. We met with Archdeacon Richard Harms to report our findings on the properties. The decision was made to buy the property at the intersection of Mulberry and Rose Ranch Road where Grace Episcopal Church now stands.

Rev. F. Ted Johnson had just completed seminary and was available to be vicar at the new mission.

From 1980 to 1982, Rev. Johnson held services in the Parish Hall of St. Mark’s Catholic Church on Discovery in San Marcos. Then from 1982 to 1984, we met at San Marcos Lutheran church on Grand in San Marcos.  

When it came to selecting a name for the new church, Rev. Johnson opened the matter for suggestions from the congregation. Many good recommendations were made. It was recommended  that we call the church Grace Episcopal Church, as we come together to receive the Grace of God. Many of the congregation supported the recommendation and that is how our church was named.

The  San Marcos Historical Society gave the church at the corner of Pico and San Marcos Boulevard to Grace Episcopal Church. Under the direction of Rev. Johnson the church was moved to its present location at 1020 Rose Ranch Road. 

That move is recounted in “A Biography of a Country Church” by Charlotte Geary as follows:
                        

          It was determined that the move would be much more  
          economical if the roof and the steeple could be removed
          first and moved separately, eliminating the need for the
          temporary relocation of power lines along travel
          routes.  Before that could be accomplished four
          layers of old shingles were removed from the roof,
          enough to fill several trucks.  The lath and plaster
          were removed from the ceiling and walls.  This removal
          revealed more than the bare bones of the building, it
          uncovered more vagrants living in the attic and belfry…
          bats!  After fumigation, some 1500 dead bats were disposed
          of, along with untold quantities of “evidence”.

 
          The move to the new site finally took place in January, 1984.
          The building was again split into four parts - the roof, the
          main sanctuary, and the two side buildings.  Without the roof
          to stabilize it, the structure loosened up considerably,
          requiring some skillful resquaring before the roof could go
          back on.  All the electrical wiring was replaced with new.
          The exterior of the church ws sandblasted to remove layers
          and layers of old paint, and the beautiful redwood of the
          original construction was again painted white.

          The old square nails, many rusted throuogh, were replaced,
          and the interior wainscoting was sandblasted and stripped of
          many generations of paint.  The steeple had to be newly
          braced and squared.  A crane was hired to lift the roof
          sections into place, and then the steeple was swung onto its
          lofty perch.

          In the reconstruction, the cross atop the steeple was
          somewhat askew, so the Vicar cut it off with a hacksaw. He
          approached a workman on a job in a nearby residential area
          and asked him if he would weld the cross in place sometime. 
          The workman showed up early the very next morning,
          completed the welding, and smilingly told the Vicar that he
          did the job “for the Lord”, and there would be no charge.
          There have been many such instances of donated labor
          and/or materials from non-church members, given for honor
          and glory of God, by way of people’s affection for this
          “born again” church.

          The old, round stained glass window over the main door was
          preserved and as it catches the morning sun, its reflected
          colors paint rainbows inside the church.

          Three new, round windows, including the “Apostle Window”
          over the altar, were designed, crafted, and donated by a
          local stained glass artisan’s guild.

November 4, 1984, Grace Church was dedicated. The ability of the Rev. F. Ted Johnson to put it all together will always be remembered by those of us who witnessed his ability and dedication.

When Bishop Gethin Hughes started the Season of Transformation, Rev. Eric Menees was at Grace Episcopal Church and many of us gave additional financial support to upgrading the church. The wall on the north side of the church was removed  and the area where the church offices had been was opened up to be where the choir and organ are now. The pews that had been given to us in 1984 were replaced by pews that fit better and new carpet was installed. The steps to the east of the main entrance were installed. A new exit from the north side of the church was installed.

On September 3, 2006  Rev Eric Menees announced at the end of the service that he was leaving Grace Episcopal Church and starting Church of the Resurrection in San Marcos. About half of the congregation went with him.  The bishop asked Rev. Wm. Lieber to be in charge until a new clergyman could be secured for Grace Episcopal Church.

On December 7, 2008, Rev. David Marshall joined the church and remains its pastor.

Vicars  of Grace Episcopal Church:

The Rev. F. Ted Johnson 1980 to March 1991

The Rev. Dr. Robert Jepsen September 1991 to June 1999

The Rev. Eric  Menees September 1999 to September 3, 2006

The Rev. William Lieber  September 3, 2006 to December 7, 2008

The Rev. David Marshall  December 7, 2008 to the present

Bishops of the Diocese of San Diego:   

The Right Reverend Robert Walterstorff

The Right Reverend Brinkley Morton

The Right Reverend Gethin Hughes

The Right Reverend James Mathes

Dates to remember:

September 7, 1980

First service of our mission at St Mark’s Parish Hall.

October 5, 1980

Voted to call our mission Grace Episcopal Church of the Valley.
 
November 4, 1984

Dedication of Grace Episcopal Church of the Valley

November 6, 1994

Tenth Anniversary of Grace Episcopal Church Dedication Please stop by again. Thank you for your interest!