About Grace Baptist Church
Grace Baptist Church is located on the east side of the square in Middlebury, VT. You can find us just under the shadow of the Monument at 52 Merchants Row, within easy walking distance from Middlebury College and with ample parking right in front of the church.
Our services begin at 10:00am on Sundays, with Sunday School classes for our children during the preaching service. In addition to our Sunday service we meet at the church on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 for prayer. Everyone is welcome.
A little history
Under the teaching and organization of lay leaders Bob and Theresa Lovins, Grace Baptist Church began as a Bible study in the home of Jack and Sandy Burkholder. In November 1979 we moved to our first rented facility in the lower level of the Knights of Columbus.
In the fall of 1984, Middlebury Baptist Fellowship officially changed our name to Grace Baptist Church when we constituted as a church and moved into our own building. Because of the generosity of businessman Bill Shafer and the help of many friends and coworkers, we acquired the previous Grange Hall and returned it to its former use as a Baptist Church. Originally built in 1887 as the first home for Memorial Baptist Church, we were happy that once again Baptists are utilizing the building.
1980 – 2024
Pastor Robert "Bob" Henley
Six months after the church began, contact was made with Robert Henley in Hornsby, Tennessee. After several months of letter writing and a visit from the Henleys, a call was issued for him to become our first Pastor. Robert and his wife Linda arrived on the Church field in September 1980 with two children and a dog.
A graduate of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee, Pastor Henley served Grace Baptist Church for forty-four years, until his final sermon in April 2024.
Our pastor today
Hello, my name is Ryan Reed.
"I have always sensed the call to preach even though for many years I ran from the Lord. God brought our family through many difficult trials and tribulations. One of the trials was the death of my precious son Caden which was heartbreaking. I finally surrendered to the Lord to preach, and in 2026 God called me and my wife Shannon here to Middlebury to serve as pastor of Grace Baptist Church. We are not perfect people; me and my wife are real people with a real need. And that need is the Lord Jesus Christ. Come let us seek him and grow together.
I hope you can join us soon!"
