HISTORY

Formerly known as Grace United Methodist Church, our history and heritage date back to 1879 when two churches established roots in Norway to serve the needs of both Swedish-speaking and English-speaking immigrants.

            The Swedish church was built on the crest of a hill in the village.  Services were well attended, with men greatly outnumbering the women.

            St. Paul’s (the English-speaking church), which became Grace United Methodist Church, was the first English-speaking Protestant Church in Norway.  It traces its congregational roots back to a two-story log home where Sunday School was started in 1879.  Due to rapidly increasing enrollments, services soon had to be held at a school.  In 1889 the cornerstone was laid for a new church building on Nelson Hill.  The church was destroyed by fire in 1908, but thanks to $3,500 from insurance claims, and a $3,000 settlement with the mining company, another church was built in the center of town the following year.

            The first service for Vulcan Methodists was held in a small school house in 1882..  By 1886, a new church building had been built and dedicated.  Vulcan shared a pastor with Loretto in the early years and services were also held at State Road and in Waucedah.

            An interesting item appeared in the paper in 1857 when the local preacher was asked to fill the pulpit in the English speaking Methodist church in Norway.  He arrived at the church, and not till he opened the Bible to read his text did he discover he was in the Swedish speaking church . . . an unexpected guest in the wrong church!  The churches were located on the same street just a few blocks away from each other.

            In 1954 the Immanuel Swedish Methodist Church merged with St. Paul’s and the name was changed to Grace Methodist Church.  In 1964 the Vulcan Methodist Church also merged with Grace.  In 1964 the Methodist denomination and the Evangelical United Brethren denomination merged, forming the United Methodist Church.  For many years, Grace United Methodist Church was part of a two-point charge with Faithorn United Methodist Church. In 2024, Grace United Methodist Church became Grace Methodist Church

Our rich heritage will continue on.  We have worshiped in many places – in homes, in schools, and in beautiful new church buildings.  Its current building is shared with Bethany Lutheran Church at 130 Odill Drive in Norway, and was built together, with its first service occurring in August 2009.  While individual churches, Bethany and Grace not only share a facility, but also joint services and activities throughout the year.