Grace Community Church’s first official public worship service was held on October 6, 1997. Prior to that time, families from Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville began meeting and praying about a new church in the area north of the city. Trinity Church’s elders endorsed the church plant, and encouraged meetings on Sunday mornings on location at Trinity to build the team.

Don Ward moved from his church in Dayton, Ohio in September 1997 to become our pastor. Since those early days, the Lord has blessed us and added to our community. Exciting things are happening here at Grace!

The church has been blessed with excellent ministry staff support. Associate Pastor Dave Saville came on board at the church in 2002, and leads our youth and small group ministries. Kristin Baltes came on staff as Worship Director in 2003, after serving as a volunteer for several years. Carol Hill joined our staff as Children's Ministry Director in the summer of 2006.

In 2001, GCC became an “organized” church, electing her first elders and deacons. That same year, the church acquired 19 acres of beautiful, fully forested land just off of Highway 29 in Northern Albemarle county. The congregation is in the process of erecting a church building on that site.

Grace Community Church exists to bring God’s love through the Gospel to families and individuals in northern Albemarle and surrounding communities.

Vision Statement

Grace Community Church belongs to Jesus Christ. We aspire to serve Him faithfully and prayerfully. Our teaching is grounded in God’s word and our worship celebrates His Grace. We seek to be an outward focused church that brings the Gospel’s life changing message of hope to our neighbors, community, and the world. We remind one another constantly of the Gospel’s promises. We encourage small group involvement to foster Christian growth and authentic relationships. We understand that ministry and service can take a variety of forms and encourage one another to find creative outlets for expressing God's Grace.