The history of Grace finds its source in the Scandinavian pioneer residents of Sandstone who came here at the turn of the century. The need for a Lutheran church was soon realized and the first group organized meetings in approximately 1900. In 1901, Elim Swedish Church was incorporated and was received into the Minnesota Conference of the Augustana Lutheran synod at the 1903 annual convention hel
d in Duluth. It was listed a year later in the church statistical reports with a church property evaluation of $1,000 and a debt of $150. The baptized membership was 75 with 30 pupils in Sunday School with five teachers. In 1924, the Sandstone quarries were closed down, and it was agreed that Elim should be moved to Gronigen as that was a thriving community with a promising future. In May 1945, an organization meeting of Grace Church was held and in July, Elim decided they would unite with Grace with trustees signing papers transferring the property to Grace. The first structure was a basement completed in November with the cornerstone set in July 1946. A new building addition was completed in 1994 with the dedication held on June 25, 1995. Currently Grace is in partnership with nearby Dell Grove Emmanuel Lutheran Church as a committed two point parish. Together in God's mission, each church is uniquely different but committed to working together in proclaiming the Word of God to all they encounter.
