Grace Lutheran Church (Akron, Ohio) Records

• Rev. A. E. Bay 1921-1944
• Rev. Carl H. Toelke 1945-1956
• Rev. Elmer C. Kieninger 1957-1958
• Rev. A. H. Wismar, Sr. 1959-1979
• Rev. Delvin C. Bertermann 1979-1993
• Rev. Nicholas Zipay 1993-1994
• Rev. Kevin W. Martin 1994-2000
• Rev. Paeter E. Mills 2001-?

In 1920, there wasn't a church of the Synodical Conference on the west side of Akron, but the population of Akron had tripled between 1910 and 1920. On November 7, 1920, Rev. J. Franklin Yount, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church, started a Sunday School in the auditorium of Grace Elementary School. No divine services were held at that point in time. The English District Mission Board called Rev. A. E. Bay. He accepted the call and was installed on April 17, 1921. Services continued at that location for ten years. This congregation was incorporated in October 1921. In December 1921, the decision was made at a congregational meeting in the pastor's home to purchase land for the first church site. The debt was paid by 1927, and a building committee was appointed in 1929. Groundbreaking was held on May 4, 1930, the cornerstone was laid on June 22, 1930, and Pastor Bay conducted the first service in the new church on November 30, 1930. As part of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the congregation in 1946, additions were made to the church building consisting of a narthex and three stained glass windows were dedicated to the memory of three members of Grace who were killed in World War 2. The congregation continued to grow, and by 1959, relocation was decided upon. A tract of land was purchased in early 1960, and the mortgage was burned on February 16, 1966 - four years early! The original church building was sold in November 1967 and the last service was held in that building on December 31, 1967. Arrangements were made with the trustees of the Stan Hywet Foundation for the use of office space, church services, and Sunday School classes. All church activities were held at Stan Hywet for the next fifteen months. Groundbreaking for the new church building was held on June 14, 1968. The cornerstone was laid on October 6, 1968. The consecration service was held on March 30, 1969. A formal dedication service was held on May 18, 1969. Burning of the mortgage for this building was on December 5, 1982. This congregation’s Rite of De-consecration and Disposition of the property was held on August 12, 2012.