1912 The Rev. Clarence C. Damschroeder was installed as pastor of the English Lutheran Mission, San Diego, California, the only English-speaking Lutheran Church in the area.
1913 The name, “Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church” was officially adopted and the first permanent church building at Park Blvd. and Lincoln Ave. was dedicated.
1930 The present Grace Lutheran Church was dedicated, designed along the lines of the Santa Maria Cathedral in Burgos, Spain, a Spanish Gothic style.
1930’s & 40’s In true missionary spirit Grace Lutheran became the mother church to five congregations:
1940’s Faith, Bethany, Pilgrim, Peace and Christ Lutheran.
1947 A Christian Day School opened with 43 pupils in six grades with two teachers, two years later the enrollment was passing the 100 mark with a waiting list.
1957 Upon Pastor Damschroeder’s retirement in 1957, the Rev. John C. Jacobsen was installed as the pastor of a 750 communicate member congregation. The present multi-purpose educational complex was dedicated.
1962 The Sunday School kept pace with the growth of the church with 290 children enrolled.
1962 During these years three senior citizen towers, Grace Tower, Cathedral Arms and Trinity
1980 Manor were decicated, built by U.S. Housing and Urban Development and sponsored by Grace Lutheran Developments, Inc. and Grace Lutheran Church.
1977 Upon the retirement of Pastor Jabcobsen, the Rev. Richard W. Widmann was installed as pastor with 654 communicate members.
1982 Grace Lutheran Church and School open it’s first preschool.
1988 Grace Church was a group of some 390 communicates and a Christian Day School of 145 children from preschool to 8th grade.
1990 The San Diego Historical Site Board designated Grace Lutheran Church a historical site.
1994 There was the dedication of a major renovation of our church building.
1997 Upon Pastor Widmann’s retirement the Rev. Thomas T. Bunnett was installed as Interim Pastor, and later was called to serve Grace Church for three more years.
2002 Grace Church was privileged to celebrate it’s 90th Anniversary with thanksgiving for Pastor Bunnett’s ministry and joy at the installation of the Rev. Stephen C. Krueger.
2005 Grace congregation became an ABLAZE congregation. This LCMS world mission has as it’s goal to reach 100 million unreached and uncommitted people with the Gospel by 2017, which is the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. Upon the resignation of Pastor Krueger, Pastors Dr. Wally Turner and Dr. Alan Wyneken contracted to serve Grace as “Intentional Interim Pastors” for one year.
2006 Grace congregation sadly voted to close Grace School due to low enrollment. Later in 2006 the preschool was reopened.
2007 Rev. John J. Bombaro, Ph.D. became the sixth shepherd of Grace Church in a beautiful, inspirational ordination and installation service. Pastor Bombaro began a huge revolution, improving and transforming our church; and reforming our preschool into a Child Development Center, opening a library and an art center for the children.
2008 Grace Lutheran Child Development Center remains a vibrant program. Grace Church presents “Equipping to Share”, a workshop for everyday evangelism from Lutheran Hour Ministries. In July of 2008 Grace opened an infant room as a part of the Child Development Center.
