Wofford College

Lewiedale Circuit

Lewiedale Circuit Register 1879 Book 1

Reidville Road United Methodist Church, Spartanburg

Wofford College 
Digital Commons @ Wofford 
Methodist Local Church Records Methodist Collection 
8-23-2024 
Reidville Road UMC Charge Conference 2019-2022 
Reidville Road United Methodist Church, Spartanburg 
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 Part of the History of Christianity Commons 
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Reidville Road United Methodist Church, Spartanburg, "Reidville Road UMC Charge Conference 
2019-2022" (2024). Methodist Local Church Records. 328. 
https://digitalcommons.wofford.edu/churchrecords/328 
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has been accepted for inclusion in Methodist Local Church Records by an authorized administrator of Digital 
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Reidville Road UMC Charge Conference 2019-2022

Bethel United Methodist Church, Ruffin

Bethel Ruffin Charge Conference minutes

Bethel United Methodist Church, Jackson

Wofford College 
Digital Commons @ Wofford 
Methodist Local Church Records Methodist Collection 
9-20-2024 
History of Bethel United Methodist Church-Jackson -The First 50 
Years 
Bethel United Methodist Church, Jackson 
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 Part of the History of Christianity Commons 
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Bethel United Methodist Church, Jackson, "History of Bethel United Methodist Church-Jackson -The First 
50 Years" (2024). Methodist Local Church Records. 436. 
https://digitalcommons.wofford.edu/churchrecords/436 
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has been accepted for inclusion in Methodist Local Church Records by an authorized administrator of Digital 
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History of Bethel United Methodist Church-Jackson -The First 50 Years

Beulah United Methodist Church, Gilbert

Beulah Gilbert Membership Records 2024

Edgefield United Methodist Church

Wofford College 
Digital Commons @ Wofford 
Methodist Local Church Records Methodist Collection 
10-5-2024 
Edgefield Membership Records 
Edgefield United Methodist Church 
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 Part of the History of Christianity Commons 
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Edgefield United Methodist Church, "Edgefield Membership Records" (2024). Methodist Local Church 
Records. 478. 
https://digitalcommons.wofford.edu/churchrecords/478 
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has been accepted for inclusion in Methodist Local Church Records by an authorized administrator of Digital 
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Edgefield Membership Records

Elim United Methodist Church, Lamar

Wofford College 
Digital Commons @ Wofford 
Methodist Local Church Records Methodist Collection 
10-5-2024 
Elim Lamar Church Register 
Elim United Methodist Church, Lamar 
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 Part of the History of Christianity Commons 
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Elim United Methodist Church, Lamar, "Elim Lamar Church Register" (2024). Methodist Local Church 
Records. 482. 
https://digitalcommons.wofford.edu/churchrecords/482 
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has been accepted for inclusion in Methodist Local Church Records by an authorized administrator of Digital 
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Elim Lamar Church Register

Harleyville First United Methodist Church

Wofford College 
Digital Commons @ Wofford 
Methodist Local Church Records Methodist Collection 
10-5-2024 
Harleyville First Property Records 
Harleyville First United Methodist Church 
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 Part of the History of Christianity Commons 
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Harleyville First United Methodist Church, "Harleyville First Property Records" (2024). Methodist Local 
Church Records. 512. 
https://digitalcommons.wofford.edu/churchrecords/512 
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Harleyville First Property Records

Grover United Methodist Church, St. George

Wofford College 
Digital Commons @ Wofford 
Methodist Local Church Records Methodist Collection 
10-5-2024 
History of the Grover United Methodist Church 
Grover United Methodist Church, St. George 
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 Part of the History of Christianity Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Grover United Methodist Church, St. George, "History of the Grover United Methodist Church" (2024). 
Methodist Local Church Records. 521. 
https://digitalcommons.wofford.edu/churchrecords/521 
This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Methodist Collection at Digital Commons @ Wofford. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in Methodist Local Church Records by an authorized administrator of Digital 
Commons @ Wofford. For more information, please contact stonerp@wofford.edu. 
HISTORY 
OFTHE 
GROVER UNITED 
METHODIST 
CHURCH 
Original Written by 
Mrs. Kate W. Murray 
and 
Oliver Murray 
Updated by 
Peggy M. Phalen 
November 23, 1997 
Grover United Methodist Church is located at the intersection of U S. Highway 15 
and what was known as the Charleston to Augusta Road in Dorchester County, South 
Carolina This intersection was on one of the important East-West expansion routes of 
the 1800's. The prominence of U.S. Highway IS did not come about until the l 900's, as 
this road became one of the major highway arteries for North-South traffic from New 
York to Florida (Lander, 213). 
Grover was first known as Murray's Crossroads, named for one of the first families 
of early settlers in this area. The name was changed from Murray's Crossroads to Grover 
after the United Postal Service wanted to establish a post office in the community. There 
was already a Murray's on the service, so the name was changed to Grover. 
The Grover United Methodist Church was founded as Murray's Church in the early 
1800's. It is believed that the land was donated by the William Murray family, one of the 
early settlers in the area. No actual records can be found to accurately date the 
establishment but old family histories indicate that this information is accurate. Most of 
the legal paperwork from the early to mid 1800's was destroyed by General Sherman as 
the Colleton County records were being transported to Columbia for safekeeping during 
the Civil War. The church appears on the Mills Atlas map of 1820. The property on 
which the church sits was officially sold to the trustees by James C.W. Canaday for $1.00 
on December 4, 1874. A deed was recorded October IS, 1930, in the Dorchester County 
Courthouse for this property. It is believed that the church property was untitled until the 
time that Mr. Canaday sold it. Mr. Canaday was a relative of William Murray. 
The first church was located here around 1800 and was named Murray's Church. 
This church did not have a full time pastor and relied upon the circuit riders to bring the 
message. Bishop Francis Asbury noted in his diary December 26, 1799, that he traveled 
down the Edisto River twenty-five miles and dined at Murray's. Also, there is a circuit 
rider, Tristram Stackhouse who was assigned to the Cypress Circuit in 1831 , buried in the 
Utsey Cemetery. Not any information can be found about his death. The Wofford 
College Library could only give information about his parents, siblings, and his 
appointment to the circuit. It is noted in several church historical records that he died 
while appointed to the Cypress Circuit. In memory of this circuit rider, a special 
ministerial marker was dedicated by the Bishop J. Lawrence McCleskey, on October 26, 
I 997. There are also several mentions of Murray's Church in David Gavin's diary which 
was written between 1840 and 1870. The first church was built around 1800 and served 
until 1890 when construction ofa new church began. 
The year of 1878 was a very dry year. Dr. Pierce, who was a medical doctor and 
layman from Cottageville, South Carolina, directed a prayer service for rain. That same 
afternoon a big storm came up and along with six inches of rain, a tornado blew Murray's 
Church off it foundation. The church was also used as a schoolhouse. Around 1890, the 
church was in such disrepair that the members decided they would tear down this church 
and construct a new building. Philip and Jim Liston of Colleton County, South Carolina, 
were hired to build this church and labored seven years on this project. This new church 
was also known as Murray's Church but the name was changed in 1905 to Grover as the 
Page I 
community had been incorporated into a town and the new church was a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. From the early records dated 1897, a total of 351 members 
were on the roll of the church. 
On December 18, 1897, William Thompson Patrick was the first minister of the 
new church. According to the conference journal, he was paid a salary of $64.00 per year. 
ln addition, bartering was very popular and the minister was paid often in produce and 
goods from the fanns of the members. Grover was an agricultural community and the sale 
of crops was seasonal and during certain times of the year the pastor would be paid solely 
with farm products. 
The original church register from the church of l 897 is still in existence and is 
stored in the church archives. Founders of the church included names such as: Ackerman, 
Byrd, Canaday, Creel, Dukes, Harberson, Infinger, Jackson, Murray, Patrick, Proctor, 
Rumph, Shieder, Shuler, Spell, Utsey, Weeks, Westbury and many other names which are 
too numerous to record. There are many other names that are no longer synonymous with 
names of the community today. 
The new church was of wood construction from long-leaf, heart of pine with clap 
board siding painted white. The windows were beautifully arched with stained glass 
windows, and a tall steeple. The original pews were handmade from very wide boards 
which were especially cut for the purpose, some as wide as 24" in width. The pulpit and 
pulpit furnishings were also hand made. The original pews were sold to the members after 
a remodeling occurred. The original pulpit is used weekly in the Ladies Bible Class and 
the chairs are stored in the church. 
ln 1912, a huge bell was installed in the steeple of the church and was used to call 
people to services, special events and emergencies until the mid I 960's. At this time the 
bell was relocated in a bell tower in the center of the circular drive of the church. The 
lowering of the bell from the steeple of the church to the tower reduces the effectiveness 
of the bell as a call to worship, thus diminishing its use. 
This bell was purchased with money raised by the Parsonage Aid Society of the 
church, by making squares for quilt patches. Each woman who made a square for the 
quilt solicited names of people for ten cents each and embroidered these names on the 
square. The bell was ordered by Mrs. Mamie W. Shuler at a cost of about $100.00. Th.is 
quilt was found some years ago and is now on display in the church archives cabinet in the 
Fellowship Hall. 
There are three other quilts that have been made by church women and are 
displayed in the archives cabinet. The oldest of the four, made in 1902, is a similar 
patchwork pattern. No one can give an account of why it was made. Many of the names 
are from the Reevesville area and some think that it may have been made by that church's 
women and given to the pastor who left it witl1 the church charge. The third quilt was 
made and donated to the church by the Home Demonstration Club in the 1950's. Many 
names embroidered on the quilt are still living and members of the church today. 
Page2 
j 
The newest quilt was made to commemorate the centennial year 1997 of the church It is 
made in the Dresden plate pattern and embroidered with members and their families 
names The quilt was designed and made by Mrs. Elise Westbury and her daughter, Mrs. 
Netta W. Wagers. It was embroidered and quilted by several women in the church. The 
quilt project in 1997 raised over $300 to help defray costs of the Centennial Year 
celebration. 
Grover Church was originally on a charge with Indian Fields, St. George, 
Reevesville, Appleby's and Prospect Churches. The Parsonage for the charge was located 
in St. George, S.C. Grover United Methodist Church is now on a Charge with 
Providence United Methodist Church in Colleton County, which is just across the Edisto 
River, south of Grover. The original parsonage site was sold to the trustees of Grover 
Church by S.A.E. Westbury for $3S.00 on January IS, 1900. The first time a parsonage 
was listed as church property was in 1901 . 
The first Sunday School rooms in Grover Church were made by installing pipes 
and rods over and around the pews in the sanctuary and draping each area with curtains. 
These rooms were used until 1948, when they were replaced by Sunday School rooms 
which were built on the back of the church. The church did not own enough property on 
which to build these rooms and the trustees of School District Number 28 sold a piece of 
land for this purpose to the trustees of the church for $ 10.00 on March 3, 1948. Rev. 
Granville Lee Ingram was the pastor at this time and gave a great deal of his time in 
helping plan and carry out the building program. 
The community school house, next door to the church, closed after the I 9S3 
school year and the trustees of Grover Church purchased this property for $700.00 This 
building was built in the early l900's and remodeled recently. It is now known as the 
Fellowship Hall. For years it housed Sunday School rooms, a kitchen and dining hall and 
an auditorium for community events. It is primarily used for church social functions and 
community events today. The building now has central heat and air conditioning. 
1n 1964, the Official Board discussed the need for more and larger Sunday School 
rooms to meet the need of the community and the renovation of the church. After much 
discussion the project was not started. However, the minister, Harold P. Lewis initiated a 
plan called "Penny-A-Day" whereby he asked those who attended the Sunday night service 
to contribute 7 cents a week to a fund for a new church. After a year, this plan was so 
successful the board decided to undertake the project in 196S. 
Ernest L. (Pete) Jackson served as chairman of this project. He contributed many 
hours and gave very generously of his money to see this project through. Harold Lewis 
was pastor at the beginning of the project and the Rev. H.M. Cox was the pastor at the 
time of completion The total cost of the project was $35,000. $10,000 was raised by the 
members and $25,000 was borrowed from the First National Bank in St. George and was 
repaid in installments of$300.00 per month. 
On October I 0, 1971, during the ministry of Louis D. Jamison, dedication services 
were held and a copy of the satisfied deed was burned. The District Superintendent, 
Page3 
George Whitaker, performed the act of dedication and the Rev. Harold P. Lewis delivered 
the morning message. In August of 1976, during the ministry of Rev. A.L Griffis the 
Administrative Board of Grover United Methodist Church made a decision to replace the 
parsonage and began a new Parsonage fund. After Rev. Griffis, Rev. Philip R. Howell 
was assigned to Grover and he placed a roster in the vestibule of the church for members 
to sign and pledge an amount of money they would give toward the parsonage over the 
next two years. This plan was very successful and the fund grew faster than expected. In 
addition, our sister church, Providence, decided they would like to help with the project, 
as the minister serving their church would be living in this parsonage, too. 
By June 30, 1979, Grover Church had raised $24,857.19. At this time it was 
decided to have plans and specifications drawn for a new parsonage. The members of the 
building committee were: Jimmy Lusk (Chainnan), Henry Murray, Ralph W. Bridge, Sue 
Byrd Deloris Jackson, Beverly Craven, Vernon Robinson and Herman Guess. As 
chairman of the committee, Jimmy Lusk obtained the plans and specifications for the 
parsonage. He resigned as chairman of the committee and Henry Murray was elected 
chairman. After going through all procedures required by the Methodist Conference for 
building a parsonage, the ground breaking was held on Monday, October 22, 1979. Rev. 
Washington Belangia was the pastor at this time. The following members were present 
for the ground breaking: Rev. Wash Belangia, Furman Harbeson, W. Fairey Utsey, Henry 
Murray, Gladys Murray and Ralph W. Bridge. The contractors, Franklin Peters and 
Henry Crawford were also present. 
Franklin Peters and Henry Crawford were hired to do the drying in of the 
parsonage. Other construction was performed by other construction crews hired in their 
area of expertise. In addition, many members of the church donated their time doing jobs 
around the work site. The cost of construction was $49,777.14. Providence United 
Methodist Church paid $8,200.00 of this amount and Grover United Methodist Church 
members paid the balance. This project was completed without a loan and was free and 
clear of any expenses at completion. 
Dedication services were held on May 25, 1980. The district superintendent, Rev. 
Peden Gene Curry, performed the dedication and asked: "By what name shall this 
parsonage be known?" Rev. Belangia answered: "It shall be called the Grover Charge 
United Methodist parsonage." 
Grover United Methodist Church now has an enrollment of approximately 200 
members. Over the years Grover, like many other communities, has been making a 
transition from a strictly rural, agricultural center to that of a service oriented community. 
The diminishing enrollment threatens the existence of the church, as the members of the 
community have to make a decision of making a long drive to their jobs or to move closer 
to their work. Looking over the 1897 names of Grover members, it is obvious that many 
former members have moved to other churches through marriage and job changes, and 
became founders and pillars of other churches, both Methodist and Baptist . 
Page4 
Iii 
ln April, 1982, Oliver Murray became the first member of this church to volunteer 
for two week's mission to Costa Rica to assist in the building of a warehouse for long-time 
missionary, Miss Eulalia Cook's mission ALFALIT. After this project, Betty and Oliver 
Murray then volunteered for three years mission work in the Solomon Islands with the 
United Methodist Church General Board of Global Ministries. After one year, they were 
unable to return due to an injury to Mr. Murray's back. 
A new piano was dedicated to the glory of God and service to the church in 
memory of Ernest L. Jackson, Sr. on November 30, 1980. The piano was given by his 
family. In 1992, Mr. and Mrs. Roland Traxler of Mt. Pleasant donated a new organ to 
replace the one in the sanctuary that had been there since the early l 950's. Mr. Traxler 
was the son of the late Mrs. Blanche Westbury Traxler who was the daughter of the late 
Mr. James L. and Mrs. Mattie P. Westbury. The organ was delivered in February and was 
dedicated on March 29, 1992, at Homecoming. The Rev. Jim Harmon, a former pastor 
was the Homecoming speaker. 
Grover Church has always been a close-knit church, helping those in need, 
regardless of who they are and taking care of its own. Over the years youth ministries 
have been a very important part of the church life and the quality of young people speak 
very well for the church. It appears that the youth of Grover UMC comes in "spurts", as 
every few years there is a large and enthusiast group of youths at work in the church. 
During the World War 11 era in the mid 1940's, the youth group (Epworth League), 
regularly published newsletters for the men of our church and community who were in 
service. In the l 950's, on Friday nights there were "Fun Nights" held to provide a social 
outlet in a Christian atmosphere for the youth. In the l 960's, a large youth group was 
involved in giving swimming lessons and working with youth camps. This group 
generated its own revenue by have a Bar-B-Que supper. In the late 70's and early 80's, a 
youth group named SPIKES was very active with a singing ministry in the church. They 
financed their own ministry with suppers and various other fund raising projects. During 
this groups active participation, they arranged for the Oral Roberts University Choir to 
sing in Grover. Another group, TACKS was organized at this time to meet the needs of 
the younger children. Today the ministry is oriented toward the elderly as more that 75% 
of the church members are middle-aged or older. The present youth group consists mostly 
of young children that meet monthly. 
The year 1997 has been a busy one for the Grover United Methodist Church 
congregation. The Centennial Celebration of the present sanctuary began with a special 
message brought to the congregation by Ralph W. Bridge in January. The year proceeded 
with other events geared toward celebrating aspects of the church history. An old 
fashioned Fourth of July ice cream and watermelon festival was the highlight of the 
summer. Rev. Fred Davis volunteered to sit in a clown dunk booth to raise money for the 
Epworth Childrens Home. Jeff Sweatman enjoyed watching so much that he also 
volunteered to sit in the booth. The two of them were dunked many times and over $ I 00 
was raised for the Home. The church was honored to have the Bishop of the South 
Carolina Conference, J. Lawrence McCleskey, speak.at the October 26, 1997, service. 
The final service in celebration of I 00 years was held 
Page 5 
• 
on November 23 with a large crowd on hand to enjoy the worship service and a dinner 
afterwards A new cabinet was constructed by Russell Westbury and Noah Westbury for 
the church to store its historical artifacts that were collected during the years celebration. 
Members of the Centennial Committee were Peggy Phalen, Lylverna Jackson, Vernette 
Westbury, Dorothy Dukes, Mevelyn Shieder, Donnie Baker, Rev. Davis, and Marilyn 
Davis. 
Truly, the Grover United Methodist Church has a wonderful history of loving 
people. People who care about their community, not just their church members. As we 
close this year of celebration, the members have high expectations for the future growth 
and continuation of the church. 
Page 6 


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