History & Archives

Grace Episcopal Church has a long history in the Kirkwood community.

Kirkwood resident H.I. Bodley commenced lay readings at his residence for his own family in 1854. He began inviting his neighbors to join him in worship.

By 1859 the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri admitted Grace as a parish with 16 communicants. And on May 25, 1860 Grace Episcopal Church, Kirkwood, was consecrated to the service of God. Two adults and six children were baptized at that morning service.

Our original church building was at Argonne and Taylor, which is now Eliot Unitarian Chapel. In 1960 we dedicated a new church at Argonne and Woodlawn, which remains our home today.

In 2013 Grace Church and St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Warson Woods merged. Our historic parish registers from both parishes have been digitally archived. You can access those records through the following links:

Grace Episcopal Church, Volume 1 (1854-1896)

• History (1854-1896), Parishioners
• Baptisms (1859-1896), Confirmations (1860-1896), Communicants (1859-1896)
• Marriages (1863-1896), Burials (1860-1896), Offerings (1859-1879)

Grace Episcopal Church, Volume 2 (1896-1922)

• History (1896-1912), Families
• Baptisms (1896-1919), Confirmations (1897-1919)
• Communicants (1896-1917), Marriages (1896-1922), Burials (1896-1918)

Grace Episcopal Church, Volume 3 (1922-1944)

• Families, Marriages (1943-1944), Baptisms (1919-1944)
• Confirmations (1919-1944), Marriages (1922-1943), Burials (1918-1944)

Grace Episcopal Church, Volume 4 (1945-1952)

• History (1945-1950), Communicants, Baptisms (1945-1952), Confirmations (1945-1952)
• Burials (1945-1952), Marriages (1945-1952)

Grace Episcopal Church, Volume 5 (1952-1964)

• Confirmations (1958-1960), Communicants/Transfers (1952-1963), Baptisms (1952-1960), Confirmations (1952-1958)
• Burials (1952-1968), Marriages (1952-1964)

Grace Episcopal Church, Volume 6B (1960-2018)

• Baptisms (1960-1971)
• Baptisms (1971-2018)

Grace Episcopal Church, Volume 6C (1961-2017)

• Confirmations (1961-2017)

Grace Episcopal Church, Volume 6D (1968-2018)

• Burials (1968-2018)

Grace Episcopal Church, Volume 6M (1965-2000)

• Marriages (1965-1970)
• Marriages (1970-1986)
• Marriages (1986-2000)

Grace Episcopal Church, Volume 7 (2001-2018)

• Marriages (2001-2018)

Grace Episcopal Church, Volume 7 – Vestry (1910-1922)

• Vestry (1910-1914)
• Vestry (1914-1918)
• Vestry (1918-1922)
• Vestry (1922)

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Volume 1 (1955-1964)

• Names/Communicants (1955-1963), Baptisms (1956-1964), Confirmations (1956-1963), Burials (1957-1964), Marriages (1963), Families

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Volume 2 (1962-1983)

• Index, Baptisms (1965-1983), Baptized Persons
• Confirmations (1965), Communicants (1962-1973), Marriages (1964-1983), Burials (1957-1983)

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Volume 3 (1984-2014)

• Index, Baptisms (1984-2012), Baptized persons, Confirmations (1984-2009), Communicants, Marriages (1985-2007), Burials (1984-2014)