PLATTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA
GRACE CHURCH HISTORY

[The Platte Journal, May 25, 1870]

On the evening of October 19th 1868 a few persons met in the Town of Columbus among whom was the Rev. Samuel Goodale, who had performed Missionary labor here for some time previous. The result was the organization of a parish to be known as Grace Church, and the election of a vestry. Services were held in the Town Hall until the present edifice was completed.

On the evening of Jan. 4th 1869, the vestry decided to raise money for building a Church, which work was commenced early in June following, and completed in December. The building consists of four parts, the tower, six by six, the nave, twenty by forty feet, the chancel, eight by sixteen feet, and the vestry. The architecture is gothic, the windows of stained glass; inside, the body of the church is finished in imitation of oak, and the roof which forms the ceiling, is light blue. For the success of the enterprise we are mainly indebted to the energy of the Rector, Rev. Samuel Goodale, who devoted himself unceasingly to the work. The cost of the building was about $2,000.00 of which $1,000.00 was furnished by Bishop Clarkson. The church was furnished by Miss Ellen Watkinson of Hartford, and the Bible and Prayer Book presented by Mrs. Lewis of New London, Conn. While still in an unfinished state the funeral obsequies of the lamented Judge Whaley were held in it, thus as it were dedicating and consecrating the ediface, the erection of which he had so largely promoted. On the 19th of December 1869, the church was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. R.H. Clarkson, Bishop of Nebraska, according to the impressive form prescribed by the church, who pronounced it one of the most successful church building enterprises in Nebraska.

The number of communicants is fifteen, and a flourishing Sunday School is connected with the parish. A bell has been placed in the tower, and the lot enclosed with a beautiful fence, and the grounds ornamented with shade trees.

Recently the Rev. Mr. Goodale was transferred to Lincoln, where his talents are directed to the building of a church in the Capitol City, and he has been succeeded by the present Rector, Rev. Dr. Shaw, an accomplished scholar, and eloquent divine, by whom services are held every Sunday morning and it is scarcely possible to listen to his impressive rendering of the beautiful ritual of the church without feeling that the Lord is in his Holy Temple.