amber@northstarreporter.com
Grace Episcopal Church in downtown North Attleborough has made the decision to sell the historic building at 104 North Washington St. and merge with All Saints Episcopal Church in Attleboro.
The church’s leadership is clear: this is not the end of Grace Episcopal, but a step forward.
“We are not closing; we’re moving,” said Reverend Kathy McAdams, in a press release.
The congregation, which has been worshiping with All Saints Episcopal Church in Attleboro, is actively working toward a formal merger. The two vestries are in the process of finalizing details, including selecting a new name for the unified congregation.
Rev. McAdams will continue her ministry with the newly merged church. A farewell service for Grace Church’s current home is planned for the spring of 2025, offering a moment for reflection and gratitude for the decades of community and faith the building has fostered.
Lyn Darling, member of All-Saints Episcopal Church, said they hope to finalize the merger by summer, but this is not a set timeline.
“We are looking to find a name that would be meaningful to both congregations…we’ve been working toward becoming a community,” she said.
Grace Episcopal Church, completed in 1931, has been a part of the community for 93 years. Its architectural beauty and historical standing earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, as part of the North Attleborough Town Center Historic District.
The partial collapse of its bell tower last May 18 led to Grace Episcopal being condemned.
The sale of the property signals a fresh start. The congregation remains steadfast in their commitment to one another and to their mission, proving that the true heart of Grace Episcopal Church lies in its people, not its walls.
