A substantial portion of Grace Church�s history is found in a journal written by the Reverend Uriah Symonds who was the priest from 1886 until 1916. His writings include information regarding the construction of the church, the activities of the church and the diocese and a description of life in Port Jervis at that time---racial uprising, fires, floods, blizzards and a cyclone. Following is an excerpt from his journal.
HISTORY OF GRACE CHURCH
As written by
The Reverend Uriah Symonds
June 19, 1891
On the 22nd day of August, 1853, the congregation worshipping in the Presbyterian Church of Port Jervis, according to the usages of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the U.S.A., met in said place of worship for the purpose of incorporating themselves as a religious body under the acts of the State of New York, due notice having been given of such a meeting.
At this meeting, Samuel Fowler and Uriah Mills were duly elected Church Wardens, and Alex Turner, Thos. J. Lyon, Thos. Walsh, M.D., John Fowler, Benjamin Hall, Thos. N. Coleman, E. LaFarge and A. Kophman were elected Vestryman.
The first clergyman and missionary, Rev. John Grigg, began his work in Port Jervis in the year 1854. He was succeeded by Rev. M. Halsey, who in turn was followed by Rev. Mr. Canfield.
In the year 1868, under the authority of the Bishop of the Diocese, and the Western Convocation, the Rev. J. Appleton was appointed to the work, by whose efforts a lot was procured and work begun for a new church.
Not far from the present site and on Main Street, a small and humble place of worship was erected by Mr. Fowler. No record is found why the service was discontinued and the church disposed of. During or after worship ceased in this place, work was begun opposite this present site, on the corner of this property yonder. The design was to erect a substantial stone church. This also was abandoned but why, as before, no record is found of it. After these vicissitudes the congregation worshipped for some years in a hall down town.
This brings us to the work begun by Mr. Appleton and carried on by Rev. F.N. Luson. Mr. Luscon remained in the parish four years. He was a very energetic man and no doubt kept in mind the interests of the parish, but the heavy encumbrance upon the church kept the work of the parish in abeyance for many years. Mr. Luson was followed by the Rev. J.G. Rosencrantz, a man whom all delighted to know for his constant toil and earnest piety.
The next three succeeding clergymen were Rev. L.P. Clover, Rev. Capron and Rev. J.B. Shepherd. These were good and faithful men and they did their best to lighten the burdens of the parish. They were associated, as were the other clergymen, with a number of hard-working, faithful men and women who made sacrifices for the parish and its work. Mr. Sheperd found a large floating debt and during his stay of over two years, saw it nearly disappear.
The present incumbent, Rev. Uriah Symonds, was asked to take charge by Bishop Potter in October 1886. In a little while, the small floating debt that remained was wiped out.
And now comes to the parish a way out of its difficulties, relief from its burdens that had oppressed it for many years, and that ultimately must have annihilated it. A door seemed to have opened through which the parish was to enter upon a new and brighter era.
The German Lutherans wanted a new place of worship. They had sold theirs to the village for school purposes and although they had been offered a site free for the church, they refused the offer and asked to negotiate with our congregation and the proper authorities for the purpose of buying the church. After many meetings, discussing prices, etc., a sale was effected. This was done by advice of Bishop Potter, the Bishop of the Diocese, and after the necessary legal steps were taken.
In 1870 the church members constructed a church on Hammond and Sussex streets. This is the church they sold to the Lutherans in 1889. This same year a wealthy family from New York gave them property and in 1891 the present stone church was built. An article appeared in the Port Jervis newspaper regarding the Church�s opening on October 25, 1891. See link (above left) to read that article.
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