By Jean Schlegel

Valley City Times-Record

Members of Grace Free Lutheran Church in Valley City held a ground-breaking ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 3, where they will occupy the building formerly known as the Antique Mall on the west side of the city.
The congregation has been working on a plan for some time to either build a new church or find a building that would be suitable for them.
A Facility Assessment committee was formed in 2003 to explore the idea of building a  new church building or explore the many options the committee presented. Grace Free Lutheran Church at 202 Third Street N.W., is more than 100 years old, and has its limitations for current and future ministry.
The growth of its congregation has presented several inhibiting factors, and the congregation agreed that a different building must be found. There are currently 300 members and friends in the congregation with an average weekly attendance of about 140 people.

To read more, see Monday's edition of the T-R.