As early as 1847, Episcopalians were meeting in Monroe. This first group of communicants was held together by the Reverend Chaplin S. Hedges, who conducted services in the courthouse on alternate Sundays. The families of Mrs. Warfield and Mrs. Sharpe, the wife of Judge C.C. Sharpe, were the only confirmed Episcopal believers. The mission was organized into an ecclesiastical parish in 1848.

In 1925 after a fire destroyed the original Grace church building on the south side of Monroe, the vestry purchased the lot at North Fourth and Glenmar where the church stands today. A young and energetic priest, Fr. Edward Farren Hayward, had been called as rector in 1921. Under his leadership at its new location, Grace Episcopal Church thrived and grew.

The Episcopal Church in the United States has always shown interest in education. In this tradition, St. Christopher’s day school opened under the auspices of Grace Church in the fall of 1954. The school has taken several forms in adapting to changing demographics over the years and continues today as Grace Episcopal Day School & Nursery, serving infants and children from 6 weeks old to 5 years old with daycare and pre-school classes.

Under the energetic leadership of the Fr. John Allin, Grace Church began establishing missions in other parts of the community. St. Alban’s and St. Thomas’ in Monroe and St. Patrick’s in West Monroe all were planted by Grace in 1955, each with a handful of parishioners willing to expand the work of the church. All three missions continue today as independent parishes of the Diocese.

Four of Grace’s rectors, one curate and one assistant rector all went on to become Bishops after leaving Grace. Perhaps the most notable of these was the Rev. John Allin, who went all the way to becoming Presiding Bishop of the United States.