A North Fork History Series about Grace Community Church:
Grace Community Church in North Fork will celebrate its 80th anniversary on September 12, 2026. All are welcome, so mark your calendars and join the congregation for this joyous and fun-filled community event. Organizers say they especially hope those who grew up in the church, or are children of its founding members, will attend and share their memories.
As previously described in our SNO History Series, the church was moved piece by piece from a Central California Army base to its current location on Road 200 in North Fork during the 1940s. Last month’s history review concluded with the 1970s. According to the church’s anniversary committee, Grace Community Church was well established in North Fork by that time and had expanded its mission to help people in need beyond the local community.
Organizers shared several highlights from the church’s history during the 1980s.
According to church records, one of those highlights came in 1982, when the church held a Homecoming Sunday celebration featuring a full choir presentation followed by a luncheon with musical entertainment by Chuck Thrapp and Dave Novell. Organizers noted that the two local musicians continue to entertain audiences throughout the mountain area today. The event was planned and carried out by Pauline Sturm, Ruth Pettes, Cletha Hague, Jo Ann Royce, Elma Hays, Herb Kratzer, Rowena Kratzer, and Margery Schmitz.
Church records also show that in 1983, Grace Community Church became an ardent supporter of two charities it continues to support today—Heifer Project International, now known as Heifer International, and Habitat for Humanity. Organizers say the church has held numerous pancake breakfasts and car washes over the years to support those organizations, helping people raise their own food, share it with others, and build homes for families in need.
According to the anniversary committee, another significant milestone came in 1986, when the congregation celebrated joining the Fresno College Community Congregational Church, UCC, during a worship service and picnic at Bass Lake. Rev. V.F. Deditius was called as pastor, while the church’s active Sunday School, led by Judi Norby and Chris Messerschmitt, launched a recycling project with local youth and organized camping trips and visits to a Heifer Project farm in Ceres.
Organizers say many of the handcrafted features still found in the sanctuary today date back to this period. Rev. Deditius obtained a beautiful handcrafted communion table from Ogallala, Nebraska. The sanctuary was further enhanced with handmade antependia for the altar, pulpit, and lectern in colors representing each liturgical season, created by Win Deditius. Cliff Bailes contributed a handcrafted wooden baptismal font and adjustable music stand, Vivian Knepel created the communion cloths, and Elma Hays made the altar cloth with its intricate hand-crocheted border.
Organizers say these historic handmade items, along with many other artifacts and photo albums documenting the church’s history, will be on display during the 80th anniversary celebration on September 12 from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
To help plan for the event, organizers ask those attending to RSVP by September 1. Guests can text “I’ll be there” to (559) 905-8034 and include the number of people in their party.
