Grace Community Church Celebrates 80 Years of Faith and Community in North Fork
Grace Community Church in North Fork will celebrate its 80th anniversary on September 12, 2026. All are welcome, so mark your calendars and stay tuned for details about this joyous and fun-filled community event.
As previously described in our SNO History Series, the church was moved piece by piece from a Central California Army base to its current location on Road 200 in North Fork. The beautiful yet simple architecture is still appreciated today and has been enhanced by the addition of a steeple. If you have never been inside the church, take a look at the photos included here. You will see the beautiful high ceiling that required the assistance of a PG&E crew and its equipment to raise.
The mission of Grace Community Church has always included providing food to the local community, raising money for local organizations, and aiding other communities throughout the nation and beyond whenever needs arise. A key component of this mission is the “North Fork Macy’s,” otherwise known as the GCC Thrift Store, which is operated by the Friendship Circle. This group is open to all community members and runs the thrift store year-round.
In 1968, the Friendship Circle began the tradition of creating and giving away Christmas baskets, providing all the ingredients needed for a holiday meal. This tradition continues today and now serves more than 150 families each year. The program is funded through the sale of thrift store treasures auctioned on the Town Hall stage during the North Fork Christmas Bazaar.
In 1970, church members donated their time, skills, and money to build a fellowship hall complete with a full kitchen and two bathrooms—no more outhouse. Rev. Victor McLane served as pastor from 1970 to 1976 and was also a skilled carpenter. He and other church members, including Mark Royce and Herb Kratzer, performed much of the work on the new hall and installed the colored glass cross windows in the sanctuary.
Rev. McLane’s tenure is remembered for a strong youth group featuring a bell choir, faithful prayer meetings, and special music programs, including a performance by a Chinese blind choir.
In the early 1980s, the sanctuary was remodeled to include three ceiling arches, the cross behind the altar, and an expanded entryway. Vivian Knepel, a church member and gifted artist, envisioned the changes and created the sketches. Clayton John, Larry Curtiss, and Curtiss Burns completed much of the construction work.
A framed church sign was also added to the front of the property. Judy Ahrens, Bob Hague, and Herb Kratzer created the beautiful rock formation surrounding the sign. That rock structure still stands today and supports a newer sign.