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Constructed in 1928, Grace Lutheran Church is the Mother Church of the Grand Canyon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Founded in 1914, five other congregations have emerged from Grace Lutheran since its establishment. It is the oldest Lutheran congregation and building in the state of Arizona. The church is unique in that it is one of the few buildings in the state designed in the Gothic style. It also features stained glass windows and a pipe organ dating to 1928 (it was refurbished in 2000).

Grace Lutheran Church as it looks today.

Grace Lutheran Church as it looks today.

Historic postcard of Grace Lutheran. n.d.

Historic postcard of Grace Lutheran. n.d.

"The Incarnation." One of 8 stained glass windows added in 1960.

"The Incarnation." One of 8 stained glass windows added in 1960.

Lutheran members in California took note of Phoenix’s growth in 1911, and they wanted to establish a Lutheran presence in the city. The members recruited a pastor to start the church and they purchased the lot on 3rd Street in 1925 after renting different buildings. The pipe organ is as old as the church and built by the Hall Organ Company of New Haven, Connecticut. It was first located on the ground floor close to the pulpit but was moved to its current location in 1960 as part of a church remodel in 1960.

"About Grace," Grace Lutheran Church official website, accessed September 16, 2016.  http://www.graceinthecity.com/about-grace. 
 
"Category: Grace Lutheran Church (Phoenix, Arizona)," Wikimedia listing, 10 exterior photos, accessed September 15, 2016.  https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Grace_Lutheran_Church_(Phoenix,_Arizona)#

"Congregation Trend Report, 2008-2015," for Grace Lutheran Church, published by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, accessed September 16, 2016. http://webapps.elca.org/research/pdf.ashx?report=trend&key=01000000C032B80291B964D147A5E24E6EEAD588F...  

"Grace Lutheran Church," National Park Service historic property information, accessed September 15, 2016. http://focus.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/93000835. 

"Grace in the City: Grace Lutheran Church," Facebook page, accessed September 15, 2016. https://www.facebook.com/GraceInTheCity/timeline.

"Grace Lutheran Church," Evangelical Lutheran Church in America directory listing, accessed September 16, 2016. http://search.elca.org/Pages/Location.aspx?LocationID=91197e43-0070-4aef-a904-25235e41fdef&LocationT...  

Jasmine Kemper, "Grace Lutheran Church celebrates centennial by looking at church's history with community," DOWNTOWN DEVIL, February 24, 2014, (affiliated with Arizona State University), accessed September 15, 2016. http://downtowndevil.com/2014/02/24/55271/grace-lutheran-church-celebrates-centennial-history.