From a Quaker Chapel to a Brick Church on Clintonville Street
Grace Episcopal Church of Whitestone has stood in the quiet residential blocks north of downtown Flushing since 1858, and the story of how it arrived there explains much about its character today. Before the parish existed, Episcopalians in the village worshipped at a chapel built by Samuel Leggett, a Quaker resident who opened his building to every denomination in the 1830s. Ministers from St. George's Church in Flushing, including the assistant curate William Shortt, traveled north to lead services there. In September 1858 the congregation was formally incorporated as the Parish of Grace Church, Whitestone, and Shortt was elected its first rector.
A brick church building was completed and opened for worship on November 8, 1860, at a cost of about $6,000. A parish house followed in 1866, a Sanctuary with choir room and sacristy was consecrated in 1904, and the parish acquired its own rectory in 1907. The interior was remodeled in 1923, the present parish house and cloister were built in 1937-1939, and a four-point building program in the late 1950s produced a new rectory, a roomy vestibule, and expanded Sunday School space. In 2003 the Queens Historical Society recognized the complex with a Historical and Architectural Merit Award. The bell tower came down in 2022, and ongoing work has kept the aging brick structure accessible and sound.
Sunday Worship at Nine
The congregation gathers for Holy Eucharist at 9:00 AM each Sunday in the church sanctuary. All baptized Christians, regardless of denomination, are invited to receive the sacrament. The service follows the Episcopal Church's Book of Common Prayer and moves with the Church calendar, marking saints' days, holy days, and the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and the long stretch of Ordinary Time that the parish numbers Pentecost 18, 19, 20, and so on through the bulletins. Morning Prayer is offered on Sundays when there is no Eucharist. Visitors enter from Clintonville Street or through the parking lot off 14th Road; hand sanitizer is provided.
For those at home, the service is livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel. Sunday bulletins are posted online in advance, and the church also maintains a Facebook page where announcements are shared.
The Seven Sacraments, One by One
Grace Church is at its heart a sacramental community. The parish celebrates all seven sacraments of the Episcopal Church, with particular attention to Holy Eucharist and Baptism.
- Holy Eucharist is the principal act of Christian worship and the centerpiece of Sunday morning. All baptized Christians are welcome at the table.
- Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ.
- Confirmation is the rite in which candidates make a mature commitment to Christ and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop.
- Pastoral Visitation brings Holy Communion to those who are ill, homebound, in nursing homes, or hospitalized. Families may contact the rector directly to arrange a visit.
- Weddings are celebrated as a sacramental rite in which two persons enter a lifelong union, make vows before God and the Church, and receive God's blessing.
The parish also marks Funerals as part of its sacramental life.
A Food Pantry That Grew from One Family to Forty
The most visible outreach of Grace Church in the wider Whitestone community is its food pantry, which opens every Friday from 10 AM to 12 PM. Started in 2009 with a single client, the pantry now serves about forty families each week. Maria Finley, who has been involved at every step of its growth, was honored with the 2019 DeWitt Clinton Masonic Award for her devoted service.
Donations of non-perishable food can be dropped off at the church office during weekday morning hours (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 AM to noon). Perishable items can be arranged by calling ahead. Suggested donations include cereal, rice, canned tuna, peanut butter, instant oatmeal, canned fruit, canned beans, canned vegetables, pasta sauce, and pasta. Fresh produce is welcomed just before the pantry opens. Food donations can also be placed in the offering baskets on Sunday mornings.
The Thrift Shop and Its Many Partners
Across the parking lot, the parish thrift shop is open on Saturdays from 10 AM to 2 PM, with occasional Friday openings announced in advance. The shop sells donated clothing and household items at deep discount, and now accepts credit cards for purchases of $10 or more.
The inventory depends entirely on donations of new or gently used clothing. Drop-offs must be scheduled by calling the office; nothing should be left on the sidewalk. Beyond its own customers, the thrift shop regularly passes on goods to a wide circle of community organizations, including Bridge to Life, Vietnam Veterans, the United War Veterans Council, the Lupus Foundation, the Whitestone Animal Hospital, New York Cares Coat Drive, Queens Common Cause, St. Mary's Church, We Love Whitestone Civic Association, Dress for Success, and Common Point.
Sunday School and Youth Group
Children are welcome at Grace Church and join the congregation for part of the Sunday service. Sunday School runs during the 9 AM service, with children brought into the sanctuary at the Exchange of the Peace and returning to their families after Communion. The nursery program is arts- and crafts-driven. Elementary and junior-high students work from a mixture of activities, while older junior-high and high school students gather mostly for discussion, team building, and occasional trips. The parish welcomes children and young people from age 3 through 20, and welcomes teachers and assistants who want to help. A separate youth group hosts community nights with art, movies, and games aimed at getting young people off their screens and into creative conversation.
Getting Involved in Parish Life
Beyond Sunday worship and the two major outreach ministries, the parish keeps a long list of smaller groups that newcomers can join. The Altar Guild prepares the sanctuary and cares for the pastor's vestments, with roles for crucifers, thurifers, acolytes, readers, ushers, and offertory and collection teams; Gretchen Brent coordinates this work. A coffee hour team sets up and cleans up after the 9 AM service once a month. A choir welcomes singers of any experience level, and a Bible study meets to ponder the stories of scripture. Buildings and Grounds volunteers handle maintenance and clean-up days, while a Technology and AV team keeps the livestream running and helps with online services. The Vestry, led by Senior Warden Fola Fadahunsi, oversees the life of the parish through committees for Buildings and Grounds, Stewardship, and Finance.
Opening the Doors to the Neighborhood
Grace Church rents its rooms and halls to community groups at well below market rates, and a number of small programs have taken root in the building. Liz Borst runs advanced art classes for students ages 6 to 13, working with small groups who eventually compile portfolios for entrance into New York City's specialized high schools. An Alcoholics Anonymous group meets on a schedule listed in the parish calendar. The Lower Hall, which seats about 200 people and includes a working kitchen with two stoves, a dishwasher, a prep table, and a microwave, is available for parties, classes, and film crews. Other rooms include the Upper Hall with stage and basketball hoop, a library meeting room for ten, and several classrooms. Most spaces have parking lot access, and several offer handicap-accessible entrances.
Clergy and Continuity
The Rev. Karen F. Sherrill serves as rector. She is available around the clock for pastoral emergencies and keeps regular office hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 9 AM to noon, and on Sundays from 8 AM to noon. The parish's roster of former rectors stretches back to 1858, with names like William Shortt, B. H. Abbott, William Jenkins, Archie Buchanan (who served for twenty-five years), Jack W. Reeves (seventeen years), and more recent interims and rectors. The parish belongs to the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island and is part of the wider Anglican Communion.
What the Church Believes
Grace Church describes itself as rooted in the Church of England, understanding itself as a Catholic church with Anglican traditions. The congregation remembers saints, marks holy days, follows the Church calendar, and celebrates the grace of the seven sacraments, especially Holy Communion and Baptism. Its members call themselves modern people drawing on ancient traditions, turning to their roots in order to look forward to where God is calling them today.
Supporting the Work
The Vestry sets its annual operating budget on the basis of pledges from parishioners, along with donations and fundraising. A pledge, the parish explains, is an intentional decision about giving that lets the church plan its ministries for the year ahead. The thrift shop and food pantry, the Sunday School, the choir, the livestream, and the upkeep of a 165-year-old building all depend on that support. Donations can be directed to specific ministries, and AmazonSmile shoppers can choose Grace Church as their charity to contribute a portion of eligible purchases.
Visitors who want to learn more, ask for prayers, or arrange a pastoral visit can reach the church office at (718) 767-6305 or gracechurchwhitestone@gmail.com, or stop in during weekday morning hours at 14-15 Clintonville Street.