In 1881, just 33 years after the founding of Georgetown, a small group of Episcopalians began gathering at the little white church just off the Square at Main and Eighth streets. That historic building, which now houses Grace Heritage Center, became one of the earliest places where Grace Episcopal worshipped, anchoring its presence in the city’s early years. As Georgetown grew, Grace Episcopal expanded with it, moving across town to meet the needs of a rapidly growing city with a diverse demographic. Today, its campuses—one off University Avenue across from Southwestern University and another at DB Woods and Williams Drive—serve different corners of the community, from families and students at its central campus to residents across Georgetown’s expanding western corridor. A new building planned for the west campus will continue that reach, replacing the current location and allowing the church to better serve a growing part of the city.

It’s this story of growth and faith that drew Father Neal McGowan to both Georgetown and Grace Episcopal Church. He and his wife had been living in Houston but have always loved Georgetown’s close-knit community and deep-rooted faith traditions. “I was really excited about the spiritual vision of a group of people who have been in Georgetown since the founding of the city,” Father Neal says. That vision—one of a church growing with its city—ultimately led him to step into the role of Grace Episcopal’s new rector and begin leading the church in the next chapter of its enduring story in Georgetown.

COMMUNITY ANCHOR

Grace Episcopal’s next phase is already taking shape through the expansion of its west campus located along the Ronald Reagan corridor—one of the fastest-growing areas in Georgetown. The new building—planned near Highway 245 and Ronald Reagan Boulevard—will replace the current west location and serve a part of the city where new neighborhoods are expanding quickly but churches and civic gathering spaces remain limited. “Northwest Georgetown is exploding,” Father Neal says. “There just aren’t a lot of Episcopal churches out there, or even many churches along that corridor. It’s a real mission opportunity.” The church has submitted its site plan to the city, with construction expected to begin late this year or early next year, and an anticipated opening in 2028.

But for church leadership, the project is not only about geographic expansion—it is about how the church fits into the fabric of a rapidly developing suburban landscape. “In a lot of these neighborhoods, you have schools, HEBs, gas stations, car washes. But not many civic spaces where people actually gather. We see part of our ministry as helping provide that.” That idea is shaping the design of the new building, which will include flexible space intended for community use, everything from large-scale gatherings to recurring community events like weekend farmer’s markets.

The expansion builds on work already underway across Georgetown. Grace Episcopal partners with organizations such as The Caring Place and other local nonprofits, and regularly organizes food drives like “Stuff the Truck” that collects supplies for area food banks. One of its most consistent points of connection is also one of its simplest: shared meals. Three times each semester, the church hosts Southwestern University students for dinner, often serving close to a hundred students at a time.

Alongside these outward efforts, the church is also reworking internal ministries, particularly for children and youth. A newly appointed children’s minister, Emily Barton-Spinks, has introduced programs such as StoryMakers, which uses creative storytelling to help children engage with scripture in more interactive ways.

With the west campus expansion in the works, that focus is expected to deepen, especially as more young families move into that part of the city. “There are so many new homes out there,” Father Neal says. “It’s growing quickly. We’re hopeful about things like StoryMakers and ways we can make services more engaging for children and youth.”

ONE CHURCH, TWO ALTARS

Unlike most Episcopalian churches that operate from a single site, Grace Episcopal has grown into a church that makes its home across two campuses—“one church, two altars,” as Father Neal describes it. Despite its geographic spread, Grace maintains a consistent Episcopal identity, rooted in the Book of Common Prayer, weekly communion, and scripture readings. Both locations offer traditional services at 8am, as well as a 10am service at the west campus with a blend of traditional and contemporary hymns, and a 10:30am service at its central location that features a full choir and organ music.

The congregation itself reflects that same balance of unity and diversity. Grace Episcopal draws people from a wide range of backgrounds, including Republicans and Democrats, LGBTQ and straight members. “It’s a welcoming church. People come from all different backgrounds, and they’re part of the same community,” Father Neal says.

More than a century after its beginning in a small white church near the Square, Grace Episcopal continues to grow alongside Georgetown, now across two campuses, with a new building planned for its west campus. “We’ve been here a long time,” he says. “And we’re committed to being here for the next 150 years.”

Central Campus: Services at 8am and 10:30am at 1314 E University Ave 
West Campus: Services at 8am and 10am at 4402 DB Wood Rd, Ste 150

georgetowngrace.com • hello@georgetowngrace.org  ∙  512-863-2068