Grace Bible Church, Portland

Grace Bible Church occupies a historic church building completed around 1910. The congregation traces its origins to 1874, when it was founded as the First German Evangelical Reformed Church to serve German-speaking immigrants, many of them Volga Germans whose families had migrated from Russia to the Pacific Northwest. Early services were held in German. In 1955, the congregation became independent rather than join the merger that formed the United Church of Christ.

Built of masonry in a restrained early twentieth-century style with Romanesque influences, the church presents a solid, fortress-like appearance that contrasts with the nearby wooden Carpenter Gothic design of The Old Church. Unlike many historic churches in the city centre that have changed ownership or been converted to new uses,

Grace Bible Church has remained home to the same congregation since the building opened, making it an uncommon example of continuous religious use.
Today, Grace Bible Church continues its evangelical ministry through worship services, Bible studies, prayer meetings, and programmes for children, students, and families. Located near Portland State University, it welcomes local residents and visitors while preserving a congregation whose history spans more than 150 years.