CHURCH BYLAWS

ARTICLE 1 — NAME
The name of this church is GRACE FELLOWSHIP CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. The church is a corporation formed in accordance with and abiding by the laws of the State of Florida and located in the City of Sanford, County of Seminole.

ARTICLE 2 — PURPOSE
The purpose of this church shall be to promulgate the Christian religion, the support of its missions and to unite followers of Jesus Christ for the purpose of sharing in the worship and work of God.

ARTICLE 3 — POLITY
This church acknowledges Jesus Christ as its supreme head, and finds its guide in matters of belief and discipline in the Holy Scriptures interpreted by the Holy Spirit through reason, faith and conscience. The government of this church is vested in its members who, subject to the Articles of Incorporation granted it by the State of Florida, shall exercise the right of control in all of its affairs. This church shall be amenable to no ecclesiastical control, but shall accept the obligations of mutual counsel, comity and cooperation in the free fellowship of other Congregational Christian churches.

CHURCH HISTORY

The Congregational Church of Sanford began on March 13, 1890 when a group of about fifty people met for the first time in the Sanford Opera House for a Sunday worship service. After this first service, the church was formally organized as the Peoples Congregational Church. During the following weeks seventy-one people were signed up as charter members. Shortly after being organized, a frame meeting house was erected at the corner of Park Avenue and 3rd Street. In 1912 a new Gothic style church with towers was built, and the old frame church was transformed into a parsonage. Because of its central location, the church was often used for interdenominational meetings.

As the church grew and prospered, a new parsonage was built at 811 Palmetto Avenue. The original meeting house became the parish house and Sunday School. In 1953 a hurricane severally damaged the church. After a number of attempts to make repairs became increasingly expensive, the decision was made to relocate the church and build a different type of structure, a cruciform Spanish Mission type edifice. A new site at Park Avenue and 24th Street was selected and purchased. Construction took over a year. During that time Sunday services were held at the parsonage.

In 1955 our present sanctuary was dedicated. In 1963 a mortgage burning service was held with all debts of the new sanctuary retired. In 1967 a committee was formed to plan an educational wing and Fellowship Hall. Also in 1967, the membership voted unanimously to join sister churches in free fellowship through the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches. In 1969 the new Fellowship Hall was dedicated. In 1997 the church name was changed to Grace Fellowship Congregational Church.