Chapters in the GracePoint Story
Important Dates in Chapter One
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1875 |
Christian Education classes were held each Sunday in the round house of the Chicago, Dubuque, and Minnesota railroad (later the Milwaukee). |
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1876 |
Sunday School out grew the Round House space, so the YMCA built a chapel on the corner of Garfield and Stafford Avenues. Classes were held Sunday mornings, and Sunday afternoon worship was conducted by students from the German Theological School of the Northeast (now the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary). |
Important Dates in Chapter Two
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1890 |
The first protestant church in the Eagle Point area was incorporated as Third Presbyterian Church on January 26. The charter membership of 40 people grew quickly and a new building was built the next year. This mission church received an average of $400 a year support from the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church. |
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1907 |
The mission church reached a substantial condition thanks to the busy Milwaukee Shops, which provided good employment for many of the members. However, without the support from the Presbytery, years of struggle lay ahead. |
Women have played a significant, supportive role in the life of this church from the earliest beginnings. During the financially challenging years of the church’s first two decades, women raised money to support the ministers and the ministries of the congregation; so much so that when the suggestion came in 1986 to appoint a woman to the Board of Trustees, it was received positively. Since there were no term limits in the early years, no trustee position was open. The first woman trustee was elected in 1944. The first woman elder was elected in 1969.
Important Dates in Chapter Three
| 1963 Moved to 3100 Windsor Avenue |
The growing congregation needed more space. A Christian Education building and fellowship hall was built on the highest hill of Windsor Avenue. The first worship service in the new building was held November 17. |
|
1968 |
The sanctuary was added. |
| 1974 Bus Ministry Began |
Nearly all members of Third Pres were involved in some way with transporting and nurturing children whose parents could not bring them to Sunday School. |
| 1981 Expansion |
The Sisters of Mount Saint Francis provided rooms each Sunday morning for Christian Education. The overflow situation and a growing youth ministry pointed out the need for more space at 3100 Windsor. The new addition included offices for the pastor and secretary and seven classrooms. |
| 1990 Another Addition |
A Conference Room and Sitting Area were added to the main level. Two classrooms were added to the lower level. |
2003 – Church-wide Leadership Retreat
A mission statement and set of ministry goals were written and adopted by the congregation.
——– —– A New Era Begins — ——–
Important Dates in Chapter Four
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October 2005 |
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May 15, 2006 First Vote |
The congregation of Third Presbyterian Church received details of the dismissal/transfer proposal from the Session and the JKP Task Force. Members approved the proposal for dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (USA) to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church by a vote of 76 “yes” and 7 “no.” |
| May 16, 2006
Second Vote |
At the regularly scheduled JKP Meeting hosted by the University of Dubuque, David King presented the same proposal, which overwhelmingly passed the Presbytery with a vote of 57 “yes” and 7 “no.” |
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December 5, 2006 Archived for Posterity |
The official records of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Third Presbyterian Church were officially archived at the Charles Myers Library on the University of Dubuque campus. |
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February 2008 – New Name |
The congregation, with more than a century of commited faithful service to the community and world, transitioned from being known as Third Presbyterian Church to the new name of “GracePoint.” |
