The roots of Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church (USA) are found within the histories and ministries of two of Chicago’s most prominent churches, Grace Presbyterian Church and Sixth United Presbyterian Church.
The ministry of Grace Presbyterian Church began on July 19, 1888 under the leadership of Moses H. Jackson. It had 19 members and emanated from the Presbyterian Club, which was organized by Black Presbyterians.
The ministry of Sixth United Presbyterian Church began as a Bible school organized by persons of Scottish-Irish descent. On September 24, 1895 the church was organized with 27 members when the Presbytery appointed a provisional session and an interim moderator. The first installed pastor was the Rev. Riley M. Little.
Sixth Grace came into being with the approval of the merger of these two churches by the Presbytery of Chicago on January 14, 1969. The newly formed congregation’s membership was 875. Dr. A.L. Reynolds, the pastor of Sixth, was installed as the first pastor of the merged church. With the help of the General Assembly, the Presbytery, and a host of generous members and friends, the new congregation constructed a new, single story totally accessible building. In 1973, the building was dedicated to the glory of God, and the service of God’s people.
Following the retirement of Dr. Reynolds, the Rev. Donald B. Register was installed as the second Pastor of the Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church on the fourth Sunday of February 1988. Under his seventeen years of leadership, the congregation continued to develop its spiritual, financial, and programmatic growth.
A little more than two years after Rev. Register’s retirement, the congregation elected the Rev. Patrick L. Daymond to become the third pastor of the Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church. He was installed on August 5, 2007. Pastor Daymond continues to lead the vital ministry of the church while seeking to lift up and empower all of humanity through preaching and teaching the life changing Word of God and living out the convincing and compelling gospel of Jesus Christ.
