Grace Lutheran Church Murfreesboro

The History of Grace Lutheran Church

The beginnings of Grace Lutheran Church go back to the mid 1940’s when Rev. Gustav Biar of Concordia Lutheran Church in Nashville conducted a monthly worship service in Murfreesboro. These services were held in the homes of Lutheran families living in Murfreesboro. The schedule increased to weekly services in December of 1959. In January of 1960 the people began worshiping in the church building recently vacated by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. On Sunday, February 7, 1960, the entire group met and selected Grace Lutheran Church as the name for the congregation. On February 28, 1960 the members of Grace voted to officially become an organized congregation of the then Western District (which later became the Mid-South District.)

There were nine households that officially chartered Grace Lutheran Church and the congregation grew from then on. The constitution and by laws were adopted on March 13, 1960. The first Pastor was Rev. Paul Donner who was installed on September 18, 1960. Present property was purchased in March 1961 with groundbreaking held in January of 1962. The building was dedicated on October 7, 1962.

The ladies of the congregation formed a Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) in September 1961, and the men of the congregation formed the Lutheran Laymen’s League (LLL) in August 1963.

The current fellowship hall along with the connecting classrooms was built in 1984. Groundbreaking services were held in conjunction with the morning service on June 12, 1983. Construction started on August 15th. Dedication was April 29, 1984.