[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 182 (Friday, October 31, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1019]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 31, 2025

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Grace 
Episcopal Church for the organization's 150 years of dedicated service 
and commitment to the people of our community.
  Grace Episcopal Church was founded in 1875 in St. Helena and remains 
the oldest stone church in Napa County. Episcopal worship in St. Helena 
began in 1871, when a small group of parishioners gathered as a 
fledgling congregation. Their efforts culminated on December 12, 1875, 
when Bishop A.W.D. Wingfield consecrated the newly built church and 
confirmed fourteen founding members. In 1882, the congregation 
constructed the stone sanctuary at the corner of Oak and Spring 
Streets, where the church continues to stand today. What began as a 
small congregation without a permanent home grew into a mission and, in 
1954, achieved full parish status. For nearly a century and a half, 
generations of families have sustained Grace Episcopal Church as a 
place of worship, service, and community life in our town.
  Grace Episcopal Church's deep commitment to our community is 
reflected in its long history of service and outreach. For more than a 
century, the church has been a place of refuge and fellowship for the 
people of our St. Helena. Since 1975, Grace Church has hosted ``Joe's 
Group,'' the oldest Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in St. Helena, 
continuing its tradition of providing support in times of need. Grace 
Church's ``Common Table'' program provides free community meals twice a 
month, offering nourishment and connection to all who attend. The 
church's community involvement also extends to youth development, with 
the Reverend Irving Baxter founding Troop One St. Helena Boy Scouts at 
Grace Church in 1920, just twelve years after the scouting movement 
began in the United Kingdom.
  Grace Church has been recognized for its steadfast response to 
community needs during times of crisis. It serves as the Red Cross hub 
for our northern Napa County community, offering disaster relief and 
shelter when disaster strikes. During recent wildfires, the church 
distributed more than $10,000 in assistance to low-income families who 
were displaced. During the pandemic, the Napa Valley New Deal was 
founded at Grace Church to provide free food, supplies, and prepared 
meals to vulnerable residents throughout our region. The church 
continues to partner with faith-based organizations to provide 
essential goods, collecting and distributing food staples to families 
in need.
  Grace Church's dedication to service also extends to affordable 
housing advocacy and spiritual wellness. Its participation in the 
Adopt-a-Family program for more than 20 years has brought comfort and 
stability to families during the holidays. Its ongoing advocacy for 
affordable housing has helped secure homes for more than 30 low-income 
families. In 1997, the parish committed to tithing 10 percent of its 
income to support work beyond its walls, producing a lasting impact 
locally and around the globe. In 2015, the church built and dedicated a 
community labyrinth modeled after the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth to 
serve as a public space for meditation and spiritual reflection. 
Periodic Taize services continue this spirit of inclusion, offering 
ecumenical worship dedicated to Christian unity.
  Mr. Speaker, we thank Grace Episcopal Church for its dedication and 
service to our community. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we 
honor them here today on their 150th anniversary.

                          ____________________