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WARREN -- Grace Methodist Church is marking 120 years of serving the local community.
The church members earlier this month celebrated the milestone with a dinner and program.
Garey Watson of Cortland, who has been a member for 61 years, said the milestone is something of which the church members are proud.
His family's relatives go back to the church's second minister, the Rev. J. H. Elder, in 1905.
Pete Kringeta of Champion, leadership chair, said he has been a member since he was 14.
"What means the most to me is the relationships people have in this church. It is truly is like a family," he said.
Mary Fuller of Warren said she was brought to the Lord when she was in sixth grade by a fellow member.
She met her husband through the church at a baseball game hosted by the church. They were married for 53 1/2 years.
'"We were married in the church and brought our children here where they grew up," Fuller said.
Fuller, who handles fellowship and publicity, said the church started out as a mission of Delightful Evangelical Church and then a church was built on Belmont Street when it became Evangelical United Methodist.
Watson, who is director of worship and music and a trustee, said the church used to be United Methodist and now is Global Methodist.
Watson shared a history of the church and also displayed several artifacts.
He said he is optimistic on a good future for the church.
Fuller said the congegration follows God's direction as they journey on.
"The church is concentrating on moving forward, she said.
HISTORY
Watson said that in 1902 the Evangelical Conference met in Akron and made a resolution enabling a group of people from their Evangelical Church in Delightful to establish a congregation in Warren.
A group selected a lot on Belmont Street for $700.
The first service was held in May 1903 at the corner of Belmont Street and Mercer Avenue. The first pastor was the Rev. H.D. Shultz.
In 1946, Grace Evangelical Church became Grace Evangelical United Brethren Church after the merger of the Evangelical Church and the United Brethern in Christ.
In 1948, land was purchased at the corner of Drexel and Moncrest avenues for $6,000.
On Nov. 22, 1953, which was the same date 50 years earlier that ground was broken for the Belmont church, ground was broken for the present day church.
In 1959, the congregation established the new church and educational unit.
In August 1965, groundbreaking took place for a new sanctuary and the cornerstone was laid in November for the new addition.
The first service in the new sanctuary was in June 1966.
In 1967, Grace EUB Church became Grace United Methodist Church as a result of a merger of the Methodist and EUB churches.
In 1976, additional property was purchased next to the church in anticipation of expansion of the church building.
In 1986, G.W. Masters, the last surviving charter member of Grace Church, died at age 103.
Watson said in 2022, plans were made to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church and on July 1, 2023, the church became Grace Methodist Church, a Global Methodist Church.
He said the church has seen 33 ministers serving the family since 1903. The current minister is Rev. Barry French.
Watson said the church has many members with 50 and 60 years of membership including Fuller with 65, Kringeta with 55, and himself with 61. Member Agnes Beachler has 66 years.