The Grace Brethren Church in Wooster, Ohio, a congregation with deep roots in the Brethren movement, will host the historic 2011 gathering of the Grace Brethren family.
Originally known as the First Brethren Church, it began as a Bible class in 1938-39. Some of the ?rst teachers included Alva J. McClain, John Aeby, J. C. Beal, Wayne Baker, and Charles W. Mayes.
The congregation organized on September25, 1939, and the last living active charter member, Halcyon S. Palmer, just passed into the presence of the Lord on December 27, 2010, at the age of 98.
The church has only had three senior pastors. John H. Squires served from 1939 to 1945. Kenneth B. Ashman was called in 1945 and served until he was called home to be with the Lord in 1981. Under Pastor Ashman the church conducted the “Your Morning Devotions” radio broadcast for 33 years, and the ?rst church building was built at the corner of Burbank and Reed Roads.
In 1986 the congregation voted to purchase30 acres on Wooster’s north side, and that property was subsequently exchanged for the current 40 acres at 4599 Burbank Road. Construction on the 55,000-square-foot facility began in 1991 and the facility was dedicated in November of 1992. Some of the associate pastors who have served the Wooster church include George Johnson, James Custer, Knute arson, Thomas Miller, Bud Olszewski, Tad Hobert, and others.
