North Berkeley in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
North Berkeley Congregational (Grace North) Church
James W. Plachek, Architect, 1913
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, April 5, 2012
1. North Berkeley Congregational (Grace North) Church Marker
designated in 1999
Founded in 1892, the parish survived great social changes, renaming itself several times. It reincorporated as Grace North Church in 1995.
Erected 2008 by Berkeley Historical Plaque Project.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1999.
Location. 37° 52.714′ N, 122° 16.055′ W. Marker is in Berkeley, California, in Alameda County. It is in North Berkeley. Marker is on Cedar Street near Walnut Street, on the right when traveling east. The church building is location on the southeast corner of Walnut and Cedar Streets. The marker is mounted on the side of the building which faces Cedar Street. Touch for map.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Juice Bar Collective (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Peet’s Coffee & Tea (about 700 feet away); Hillside Club (approx. 0.2 miles away); Whittier School (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Poetry Garden (approx. ¼ mile away); Site of Hunrick Grocery Store (approx. ¼ mile away); The 1923 Berkeley Fire (approx. 0.3 miles away); Edward A. Brakenridge House (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berkeley.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, April 5, 2012
2. North Berkeley Congregational (Grace North) Church Marker
The marker is on the Cedar Street side of the church.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, April 5, 2012
3. North Berkeley Congregational (Grace North) Church
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, April 5, 2012
4. North Berkeley Congregational (Grace North) Church - Berkeley History Marker
[This marker was originally mounted on the church annex but is now in storage.]
In 1878 the Central Pacific Railroad was extended from downtown Berkeley to Berryman Station on nearby Shattuck Avenue. The surrounding neighborhood grew rapidly. In 1891 the Rev. Dr. Loyal Lincoln Wirt, an early graduate of the Pacific School of Religion, started a Sunday school near this site. A year later 24 adults covenanted themselves as a church and built north Berkeley’s first church on Oxford Street, south of Cedar.
In 1905 the original building was moved to face Cedar Street, remodeled, and enlarged. In 1914 the present sanctuary was completed on the corner of Cedar and Walnut, away from the noise of the streetcars on Oxford Street. The original church burned in 1944 and was later replaced by the current parish hall. In 1989 the parish became the home of the Grace Institute of Religious Learning.
Plaque funded by the parishioners of Grace North Church Berkeley Historical Plaque Project
2000
In 1878 the Central Pacific Railroad was extended from downtown Berkeley to Berryman Station on nearby Shattuck Avenue. The surrounding neighborhood grew rapidly. In 1891 the Rev. Dr. Loyal Lincoln Wirt, an early graduate of the Pacific School of Religion, started a Sunday school near this site. A year later 24 adults covenanted themselves as a church and built north Berkeley’s first church on Oxford Street, south of Cedar.
In 1905 the original building was moved to face Cedar Street, remodeled, and enlarged. In 1914 the present sanctuary was completed on the corner of Cedar and Walnut, away from the noise of the streetcars on Oxford Street. The original church burned in 1944 and was later replaced by the current parish hall. In 1989 the parish became the home of the Grace Institute of Religious Learning.
Plaque funded by the parishioners of Grace North Church Berkeley Historical Plaque Project
2000
April 26, 2009
5. North Berkeley Congregational (Grace North) Church Markers - wide view
Here both markers are visible - the current marker to the right of the door on the right-hand side of the picture, while the marker currently in storage is visible on the left side of the picture, at the top of the brick stairway. Also note that when this picture was taken in 2009 the building still had an awning.
April 26, 2009
6. North Berkeley Congregational (Grace North) Church
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 700 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 7, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 5, 6. submitted on April 11, 2012. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
