First Grace United

First Grace United Methodist Church is the existing Protestant congregation formed from the merger of two
pre-Katrina churches, First United Methodist Church and Grace United Methodist Church . This merger is significant because it merged the historically white congregation of First Grace United Methodist and the historically black congregation of Grace United Methodist Church. During the interim period after Katrina

First Grace United Methodist Church

and before the merger, both churches struggled with maintaining their numbers as well several problems with attaining a proper worship space (Grace United had to host worship services in a school for a year before the merger). In the first year after the merger in 2007, the congregation size more than doubled from 60 members to 130 and is becoming increasingly diverse with the recent addition of a minister from the Hispanic/Latino ministries. Currently, the goals of the congregation are to promote Christ through worship and public services in charities which include but are not limited to; running a womens shelter called Hagar's House, serving free meals on Sundays and hosting free English and Spanish classes. Presently, the congregation worships in the First Grace United Methodist Church on Canal Street.