Several hundred members of Grace Family Church gathered for a garden party on the afternoon of Sunday, June 29, at the church’s scenic property at 4 Covered Bridge Road to celebrate of the church’s 30th anniversary.

The church formerly was known as Grace Christian Fellowship.

Those attending the party viewed with interest some recently prepared architectural drawings indicating plans for the group’s new church planned for the area near the intersection of Covered Bridge Road and Hawleyville Road (Route 25). A sign posted on a slope alongside southbound Hawleyville Road indicates the site to passing motorists.

The church currently is located at 174 Mt Pleasant Road (Route 6), which is about one mile away from 4 Covered Bridge Road.

In May 2007, the church gained a wetlands permit from the Inland Wetlands Commission for the church construction project. In November 2007, the group received a construction approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Gaining those approvals to develop the site was complicated by the environmental sensitivity of the property.