Grace Chapel

In 1913 the Chapel Car Grace came to Lancaster and was parked on a side track of the Southern Pacific Railroad, just north of the old depot, which was on the south side of Lancaster Boulevard. Evangelistic meetings were held in this Chapel Car for several nights. From this meeting the First Baptist Church of Lancaster was later formed. As they had no building, they met in the brick building just east of the Williams Energy Company on west Lancaster Boulevard. Charles E. Seates, our first historian, reports our early history:

“There was no street running either way, but there was a horse and wagon track through the sand where Lancaster Boulevard presently runs east and west. There was a path from what is now Yucca Avenue that went east to what is now Trevor Avenue, and from Trevor on there were 2” x 12” planks laid end to end for a walk to the church building. The water pipe that supplied water to the parsonage and the baptistry was laid alongside of this plank walk; and the water was purchased from J. W. Jeal, a saloon keeper, for $2 per month.”

In September of 1913, a strong request was made to the Southern California Baptist Convention for assistance in establishing a Baptist congregation in Lancaster.

The result of that request and many subsequent meetings was a loan granted on February 16, 1914 from the American Baptist Home Mission Society for the amount of $250.

In March of 1914, J. W. and Jessie Jeal, the friendly saloon keeper, donated two lots: one to the congregation and one to the Southern California Baptist Convention. You will find these lots directly east of Spearman on Lancaster Boulevard. Several years later, a third lot adjacent to the first two was purchased for $200. This is where the parsonage was built, later to be dismantled and replaced by Pickett Chapel.

Mr. J. C. Jordan was the founding pastor and in 1917 the first ordained man was called to be pastor, the Reverend J. A. Kinsman.

In 1920, Carl Bassett, “The Whirlwind Evangelist” held a very successful three week evangelistic crusade. He was called as pastor and served for nine months. Between the years of 1921 through 1953 there were at least nine other pastors who served the struggling congregation.

The year of 1953 proved to be a new beginning for the Baptists in Lancaster. Reverend Norvall Pickett was called as pastor and successfully led the congregation in building Pickett Chapel.

In September of 1956, Reverend Neil Hudson was called from Phoenix, Arizona. Under the inspired leadership of Pastor Hudson the congregation grew and the need for ministerial staff became evident. In those years of Pastor Hudson’s ministry the valley grew from 5,000 to 30,000, and the congregation experienced its greatest growth to that date. A building accomplishment under Neil Hudson’s ministry was the completion of the old educational buildings on Lancaster Boulevard.

After Neil Hudson accepted a call to the First Baptist Church of Redondo Beach, Reverend Kenneth A. Dalton was called to be pastor on January 1, 1963. During his five years as pastor he directed the completion of the third major sanctuary, which had been started during Pastor Hudson’s final days.

The Dalton years were marked by stabilization and the introduction of a music ministry. Don Swanson was called in 1965 as our first Minister of Music. Mr. Swanson’s ten years with the congregation proved to be most significant.

On August 25, 1968, Pastor Dan Myers began his ministry. (Our current pastor was born one month later in September of 1968!) Under Pastor Myers’ eighteen years of leadership the church outgrew its facilities, which prompted the move to 15th St. West in 1977. For many of these years the church was called “The Kings Place”.

It was also in 1977 that George Runner, Jr. was commissioned by the Church to start the Family Learning Center. Today, known as Desert Christian Schools, the ministry has grown to include over 1,800 students and has self-incorporated.

In 1987 Dan Jackson was called to be the Senior Pastor and was followed by Glen Layne in 1996.

In December of 1999 our current Pastor Chris Johnson was called from within the congregation to shepherd the First Baptist Church flock. In 2003 a daughter church was planted in Littlerock, CA under the direction of Pastor Jim DeVore. In February 2004, First Baptist Church received a DBA (doing business as) of Grace Chapel. In November 2004, we expanded our facilities to include a new church office, a chapel and a fellowship hall. Another daughter church was planted in Neenach, CA opening its doors for their first worship service as Grace Chapel Neenach October 7, 2007 under the leadership of Pastor Mike Rice.

God has shown Himself strong and faithful in the life and ministry of Grace Chapel. Jesus promised He would build His Church; He has done that and gets all the Glory.