‘Everybody welcome’ at historic Grace Episcopal Church

At Grace Episcopal Church, parishioners believe “the Gospel is to be lived more so than preached,” according to the church’s rector, the Rev. Robyn Arnold.

“It’s a way to share God’s love in the world,” she said.

Grace, founded in 1889, shares that Christian love in Woodlawn, which has many low-income people, through outreach programs like a food pantry, emergency clothes closet, ESL classes and community kitchen.

“I inherited a parish that has such a heart for outreach, and it’s so much a part of who the people are,” Arnold said. She’s served Grace since 2012.

The red church doors are open to anyone. “Everybody is welcome at Grace,” Arnold said.

The congregation is about one-quarter black and one-quarter Hispanic, according to Arnold. “We’re straight and gay,” she said. “We’re economically diverse. We’re probably the most diverse parish in the diocese.”

That love of diversity at Grace is rooted in belief, according to Arnold.

“The world God created is incredibly diverse,” she said. “We love each other because of our differences, not in spite of them.”

A Kentucky native, Arnold attended graduate school at UAB and seminary in California before returning to Birmingham to lead Grace.

Some of the church’s outreach programs were started by the Rev. Maurice Branscomb, Arnold said. Branscomb retired in 1997, according to the diocese website.

This summer, the church will again host its seven-week youth program, Grace Works, in which neighborhood kids ages 10-14 learn vocational and life skills, enjoy adventurous day trips and build such projects as organic garden beds and rainwater systems. 

For applications, go to gracechurchwoodlawn.org.