Methodism first came to Morgan County in 1821 when only 20 families occupied the entire area which is now Morgan, Cass, and Scott counties. As the county grew, Methodism also grew, meeting first in a cabin, then a log schoolhouse, a little brick church, and a larger brick church. By a petition to the Annual Conference meeting in Bloomington in 1850, 110 members of this group formed the "West Charge" to build a church to serve the growing west side of Jacksonville. The remainder of the group became the "East Charge" and still met in a brick church on East State Street.

Construction of the church began in May 1851. The building, which faced Church Street, was dedicated the following December. By 1872, the congregation had outgrown the building and plans were made to remodel, keeping the end walls of the old building and building the new one in the shape of a cross. Unfortunately, shortly after the roof was removed, a sudden storm caused the west wall to collapse, and a whole new building has to be erected. This building faced north onto State Street, was completed in January 1874, and became the home of what was then called the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church until 1909, when construction of a third building was begun. This building still stands.

In 1939, the previously-divided Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South joined with the Methodist Protestant Church to for The Methodist Church, and Grace dropped the word "Episcopal" from its name. It was about this time that the rooms on the first floor were renovated and a little chapel was built. By 1943, repairs were needed to the exterior, due to a leaky roof, loose stones over the windows and doors and the poor condition of the stones steps. Once the exterior repairs were completed, the congregation turned its attention to redecorating the sanctuary. The sanctuary was renovated again in 1956 and the Moeller pipe organ was installed.

The purchase of land immediately to the west of the church provided space for the addition of the wing that holds the offices, current chapel, music room, and classrooms, consecrated in 1966. With the purchase of the YMCA building west of the church (now our parking lot) in 1968, the congregation owns the entire block on which it stands. The year 1968 also marked our designation as the Grace United Methodist Church when the General Conference of the Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren.

The history of a church is far more than the changes to the building it uses for worship. Hundreds of people are responsible for the activities of the church, and Grace has been blessed with a good supply of talented and dedicated individuals as well as with a multitude of activities. The youth lounge which was dedicated in 1996 in memory of long-time youth leader Joan Leach serves as a gathering place for a variety of junior and senior high youth activities, including the planning of service projects, fundraisers to support the annual senior high mission trip, youth Bible study and fellowship activities. The sound booth was updated in the 1980's when recording for cable television was added to the radio broadcasting which had begun in the 1950's. In 2003, a new sound system, video equipment, and computer projection system were added to improve our multi-media capabilities.

In addition to the regular Sunday worship services, many members enjoy gathering for Wednesday noon fellowship lunch and prayer service in the chapel. All of our worship is blessed by the contributions of talented musicians, lay readers, and others who work behind the scenes.

Walk Through Bethlehem is an annual activity which regularly include many participants from outside our congregation. A van purchased in the 1980's was replaced by a bus equipped with a wheelchair lift. The bus is useful in providing transportation for church activities as well as in support of youth activities.

In the early 1960's Grace began receiving the first of many associate pastors who have served on staff to support our various ministries. One associate completed the requirements for ordination as an elder while serving Grace, and many members of the congregation were present at his ordination in June 1996. This was the last meeting of the Central Illinois Conference, which merged with the Southern conference in August 1996 to become the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, marking another stage in our history within Methodism.

Members of the Grace Church congregation serve each other, the local community, and the world through their participation in worship, in committees and various activities of the church. We are thankful for our rich heritage and for the opportunities we have to participate in witnessing our faith. Our prayers are that we will continue to grow in our service to God.