Grace Episcopal Church in Port Orange has a new historic marker for its 1893 chapel, thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Sugar Mill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The Rev. Chris Gray and The Rev. Rick Burhans with historic Tiffany stained-glass windows

Built in 1893 in the Florida Gothic style using native cypress and heart pine, the chapel contains two historic stained-glass windows crafted by the Tiffany Studios and has remained in continuous use for 128 years.

The marker was installed on Nov. 3, 2021, after a dedication ceremony attended by representatives of state and local governments and officiated by two former rectors, The Rev. Chris Gray and The Rev. Rick Burhans.

Gray was the first official rector of Grace Church in 1982 when Grace was granted full parish status after 92 years as a mission church. He is also the great-grandson of The Rt. Rev. William Crane Gray, the first bishop of The Episcopal Church’s Missionary Jurisdiction of Southern Florida, appointed in 1892. Bishop Gray consecrated the new Port Orange chapel in 1894.

Burhans, who recently retired as rector, shared his memories of the chapel as a rector and as a parishioner of Grace for 45 years. He and his wife, Carolyn, were married in the chapel by Gray in 1985. They enjoyed their reunion and offered their shared thanks and blessings to have been part of Grace’s continual, welcoming presence of God in the Port Orange community.