Grace Church is celebrating

85 Years in the Old Brooklyn Community!

Thank you for celebrating with us! View this video from our celebration weekend.

View photos from our celebration weekend.

View more photos here.

THE HISTORY OF GRACE CHURCH OF OLD BROOKLYN & THE CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE

It all began In the late 1920’s, with a group called the Shaw Evangelistic Party which was used by the Lord to bring the message of Christ in the Old Brooklyn area (a Cleveland neighborhood)  through the mid-1930’s. During this time a group came into being who aligned themselves with the “Christian and Missionary Alliance,” and they would eventually become known as “Brooklyn Alliance Church”. Like many new church plants, they would move from building to building in the community until finally landed at 2503 Broadview Rd.

They first gathered and worshiped in a Presbyterian Church on Pearl Road, then in a tabernacle at at State and Pearl, and would later land in a large building known as the Glory Barn. From there into Odd Fellows Hall and the Old Carnegie Library which is now Deaconess Hospital.  And finally, enough money was saved to purchase a lot on the corner of Broadview Road and West 28th Street.  In 1948 the first sanctuary was constructed and as the church grew a new sanctuary was added in 1964.  Today the original sanctuary is used as gym as a space for outreach and events.

That is the physical history of the Brooklyn Christian and Missionary Alliance Church.

There is another story to be told and that is of its spiritual history. From the very beginning, the people making up the Brooklyn Alliance Church proposed to tell their community that Jesus Christ is Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King. They have been doing that for over 50 years. This message has gone out over the radio waves, by the blue church bus, neighborhood newsletter, Saturday’s “Hobby Club,” AWANA, youth ministries, and of course, the preaching and teaching of the Word of God on Sundays.  

In 1958 a group of 50 people from the Brooklyn Alliance Church began meeting to plant a new church known today as Grace Church in Middleburg Hts, Oh. They began meeting near Tri-City Senior Center and where the soccer fields are now on Bagley Road.

However, as the community of Old Brooklyn began to change, Brooklyn Alliance Church fell on difficult times, causing it to close its doors.  Yet, God was not finished with Old Brooklyn, nor was the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and through the help of the church that was planted in 1958 a new church emerged In 2003, Grace Church. For several years the church operated as a separate campus of Grace Church in Middleburg Hts but today is fully autonomous and still a “Christian and Missionary Alliance” church.

Although the names have changed over the years, the “Christian and Missionary Alliance” has remained deeply rooted in the Old Brooklyn community of Cleveland for 85 years. And by God’s grace and mercy, may we remain faithful for many more until He returns!

Today, as Grace Church of Old Brooklyn, we continue to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around us by meeting the needs of people through “word and deed” We offer a food pantry and clothing closet, AA meetings, and in 2022 purchased a house adjacent to the church property to open a Sober Minded House where men who are battling addiction can live and experience the love of Jesus.  In addition, we have Sunday morning Adult Bible classes, Men’s and Women’s groups, Grace Youth Disciples, and of course Sunday morning Worship with Kids Church.  God is still on the move, and we are thankful for his goodness.

Pastors who served under Brooklyn Alliance Church:

Rev. John Nussbaum 1938-45, Rev. Wm. F. Bryan 1946-54, Rev. R.F. Haggerty 1954-60, Rev. Robert Smith 1960-67, Rev. WM W. Lampher 1967-70, Rev. Robert W. Sawders 1970-77, Rev. Fred Yearsley 1977-86, Rev. Toby Thomas 1986-2002

Pastors who served under Grace Church of Old Brooklyn

Rev. Jeff Doeringer 2003 – 2011, Rev. Charlie Collier 2007-2018

Rev. Thomas Csora Lead Pastor 2018 – Present & Rev. Julio Rivas Associate Pastor 2016 – Present

Testimonials