History, Library, and Archives

Our History

A newspaper clipping about the consecration of Reverend Francis Key Brooke as a missionary bishop of Oklahoma, featuring a sketch of Bishop Brooke and details of the ceremony held in Topeka, Kansas.

On February 23, 1883, Mary Morris invited Bishop Francis Key Brooke to Muskogee to read Evening Prayer and baptize four young children. Surprised at the number of Episcopal families that were welcomed to worship at the Methodist church in Muskogee. Soon after his visit he formally started a mission in Muskogee, which would grow and become Grace Episcopal Church.

Rev. Henry Tudor from Ferguson, MO arrived in Muskogee on May 1, 1884, as the first priest for Grace Church. That same year parishioner Robert L. Owen, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, donated property to construct our first church. The modest structure on South 4th Street opened the doors first service on Easter Sunday April 14, 1895.

In August of 1903, a new building site was purchased at the northwest corner of 6th St. and West Broadway. Within a year, Grace grew from 63 parishioners to 141. On February 1, 1904, parish status was formally requested and granted, making Grace the first fully self-supported Episcopal church in Indian Territory. On March 1, 1906, 231 parishioners attended the first service in the newly constructed building with a new priest, Rev. Hugh J. Llwyd, who would serve at Grace for 35 years.

By 1922 and with over 500 members, Grace was the third largest Episcopal church in Oklahoma. However, due to regular flooding and noisy streetcar traffic, another move was necessary. On April 25, 1922, a motion was introduced and carried to move the building to its current location at 6th and Court Street

Grace Church Complete History
100 Year Anniversary Service
Mary "Tag" Morris

Mary "Tag" Morris

Bishop Francis Key Brooke

Bishop Francis Key Brooke

A newspaper article titled "Bishop of Oklahoma" about Rev. Francis Key Brooke's consecration as a missionary bishop in Topeka, Kansas. The article includes a sketch of Rev. Brooke, showing a man with a mustache and wavy hair.

A newspaper article titled "Bishop of Oklahoma" about Rev. Francis Key Brooke's consecration as a missionary bishop in Topeka, Kansas. The article includes a sketch of Rev. Brooke, showing a man with a mustache and wavy hair.

A black and white photo of Grace's first small church on South Fourth Street, with a large tree in front. The church has wooden siding and a steep roof. The caption indicates the church opened for services on April 14, 1895.

A black and white photo of Grace's first small church on South Fourth Street, with a large tree in front. The church has wooden siding and a steep roof. The caption indicates the church opened for services on April 14, 1895.

Group of Grace members standing outdoors in front of a church, posing for a photo.

Group of Grace members standing outdoors in front of a church, posing for a photo.

Colored illustration of Grace Episcopal Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma, showing its Gothic Revival architecture with a tall tower, arched windows, and a steep gabled roof, set in a neighborhood with trees and residential buildings.

Colored illustration of Grace Episcopal Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma, showing its Gothic Revival architecture with a tall tower, arched windows, and a steep gabled roof, set in a neighborhood with trees and residential buildings.

The Library

Mission: To support lifelong learning by individual parishioners on their respective faith journeys by providing relevant resources (books, media, online resources, etc.) and to support the work of Grace’s programs in Worship, Christian Education, Outreach, the Arts, Parish Life, Youth and Family Ministry, and Caregiving.

Accessibility: This library serves as a lending library for the members of Grace Episcopal Church. All resources are catalogued using the Library of Congress classification system and is available online to research, review, and reserve available resources cataloged in our system.

~ At the end of 2025, began a new makeover for the Weaver Library. Using the Library of Congress Classification system, over 1,000 volumes of books and reference materials have been catalogued. Using the Librarika library management software, the entire collection is now available online.

Archive and Special Collections

Mission: To preserve, manage, and make accessible the institutional memory and historical records of Grace Episcopal Church, as a resource to educate our parish and local communities, and honoring our diverse history and traditions for future generations.

Preservation: Collect, preserve and make available the cultural and historical records that document the development and chronicle the works of Grace Episcopal Church.

Accessibility: Materials are assessed, processed, arranged, and described by collections into Finding Aids. Processed collections are accessible to the administration, staff and members of Grace Church as needed and to the general public as appropriate.

Storage & Protection: Provide collections and items with adequate and appropriate conditions for the storage, protection and preservation of archived materials.

Acquisitions: Materials acquired by Grace Episcopal Church Muskogee Archives shall become the permanent property of the Archives and, therefore, Grace Episcopal Church Muskogee, until such time as the Archivist deems it no longer relevant to the Archives. De-accessioning will not take place without proper notification and conferencing with the Rector and Senior Warden. All information pertaining to the de-accessioning and disposition of materials will be retained in the Archives’ records according to procedures outlined in the Grace Episcopal Church Muskogee Records Management Program – Policies and Procedures Manual.

~ As of June of 2026, Patrick Shea (M.A. MLIS) has been processing various collections of Grace’s records, images, artifacts, manuscripts, and rare books. Finding Aids (detailed indexes, catalogs, and inventories that navigate unpublished archival collections) will be made available once a collection has been processed. Several collections and items will be digitized and available online. Expected duration of this project is 5 to 7 months.

Grace Rectors Through the Years

  • Rev. Henry Tudor

    1894-1897

  • Rev. Arthur Francis

    1897-1902

  • Rev. A. Basil Perry

    1903-1906

  • Rev. Hugh J. Llwyd

    1906-1941

    A black and white portrait of an older man with glasses, short light-colored hair, and a serious expression, looking downward.

  • Rev. Paul R. Palmer

    1941-1958

  • Rev. James L.B. Williams

    1958-1961

    A black-and-white portrait of a young man with short hair, dressed in clerical attire, likely a priest.

  • Rev. F. Grover Fulkerson

    1961-1966

    Black and white portrait of a man with combed-back hair, wearing a clerical collar and suit, looking directly at the camera.

  • Rev. Daniel Leen

    1966-1971

    Black and white photo of a young man in a clerical shirt with a collar, sitting at a desk with open books in the background.

  • Rev. Sudduth R. Cummings

    1971-1972

    Black and white portrait of a young man in a suit and clerical collar, smiling at the camera.

  • Rev. Edwin L. Hoover

    1972-1986

    A person dressed as a priest, wearing glasses and a clerical collar, covering their face with one hand. The background appears to be a decorative or architectural element.

  • Rev. Richard C. Allen

    1986-1987

    A smiling elderly man dressed in religious robes, wearing glasses, with a white cloak and red ceremonial vestment featuring decorative trim.

  • Rev. Drew H. Wales

    1987-1990

    A woman with short hair smiling in front of leafy plants.

  • Rev. Max B. Berry

    1990-2005

    Black and white portrait of an older man with grey hair, glasses, and a mustache.

  • Rev. Kirk Woodliff

    2005-2008

    A man with dark hair, a goatee, and wearing a clerical shirt with a white collar, smiling outdoors with greenery in the background.

  • Pastor Jenny Pratt

    2008-2010

    A woman in religious attire, wearing a white robe with a purple stole, standing in front of stained glass windows.

  • Rev. Bob Wickizer

    2010-2021

  • Rev. Chris Cole

    2022-2024

  • Rev. Omar Cisneros

    2025-Present

    A man in religious robes holding a young toddler in a church with wooden altar in the background.