RENEW Progress — Grace Presbyterian Church

September 2026 · Latest update

Grace on the Move this September

The newest news from 440 Ridge — this month’s progress on site, a word from Pastor Marshall, and new photos from every corner of the build.

Coming September 1st

August 2026

Grace on the Move this Summer — permit in hand and full steam ahead!

Construction season is in full swing at 440 Ridge. With our building permit in hand, crews have been on site through the summer and the project continues to move on schedule.

Thank you for your continued prayers and generosity — every week brings the building closer to welcoming every body.

Click through the reel below for a section-by-section look at where things stand — before, now, and the steps in between.

North Addition before-and-after collage: open ground along the north side of the building, now a poured concrete foundation, with progress photos of footings formed, plumbing in, rooms taking shape, waterproofing sealed up, and the wall opened through

South Addition before-and-after collage: yellow concrete forms going up beside the church, then the poured multipurpose-room walls

West side before-and-after collage: the old brick house, now cleared and graveled ground for the future green space, with photos of the demolition and grading in between

West Hall before-and-after collage: the carpeted hall, now stripped to studs and joists for the future Children’s Wing, with photos of carpet out, walls open, ceilings down, steel going in, and the new floor above

April 2026

Grace on the Move: A Dedication Gathering

Painted handprints and the words "Renew us, Oh Lord!" on the West Hall wall

A handwritten prayer beside a red painted handprint: "Lord, build this house and these people into a great possession for your name"

"Give the wall a hi-five!" sign surrounded by children’s colorful handprints

What an evening! On April 15, more than 100 of our church family gathered for Grace on the Move: A Dedication Gathering — a joyful send-off for 440 Ridge as we celebrated the beginning of our renovation and stepped together into a new season in the life of Grace.

Through a guided prayer walk, children’s painted handprints and written prayers in the West Hall, and plenty of pizza, ice cream, and fellowship, we sought the Lord together and consecrated this work in prayer. More than a construction milestone, it was a sweet evening of thanksgiving — and a fitting way to entrust the months ahead to Him.

April 2026

Groundbreaking ceremony

Shovels in the ground! Earlier that same morning, we celebrated our groundbreaking ceremony at 440 Ridge alongside village trustees, the Chamber of Commerce president, and our architects, contractors, and owner’s representative.

Together we gave thanks as we marked this significant milestone — years in the making — and the official start of construction on a building that will welcome every body.

April 2026

Moving out — thank you, volunteers!

From February through April, volunteers helped us pack up 440 Ridge — sorting decades of ministry into boxes and truckloads, with more than a few runs to the dump and the donation center along the way. Thanks to their faithful work, everything was out of the building in time for our move out on April 7.

For the next 12–14 months we gather at North Shore Country Day, 310 Green Bay Road in Winnetka — same church, same 10:00 am service, temporary address.

Where it began

The vision & renderings

RENEW is our generosity initiative to expand, renovate, and update 440 Ridge Avenue — making the building accessible to all with a step-free entrance on Ridge, adding 65% more ministry space, and creating dedicated, secure spaces for children and youth.

These renderings show where we’re headed — click through the reel below for a room-by-room look. Read more about the full vision on the RENEW page.

Grid of six architectural renderings of the renovated 440 Ridge Avenue — The vision at a glance

Rendering of the renovated sanctuary with curved pews, organ pipes, and a central cross — Sanctuary

Aerial rendering of the renovated 440 Ridge Avenue campus from the south — Aerial view

Aerial rendering of the renovated 440 Ridge Avenue campus from the north — Aerial view

Rendering of the new step-free West entry with two-story windows — West entry

Rendering of the new atrium with open staircase — Atrium

Rendering of the new multi-purpose room set for a banquet — Multi-purpose room