MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SHARING GOD'S LOVE
First United Methodist Church was founded as a Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in 1895, in Grove,
Indian Territory. Rev. Orlando Shay was appointed as the first pastor and a building program was begun
in 1899 on Main Street in downtown Grove Springs.
The members went to the woods, cut down logs which were taken to the saw mill and cut into
dimensional lumber for the church. Labor and construction of the white frame building, for the most part,
were donated by the members of the church. The building faced east and had a 6' x 8' entrance hall in
front. A tall steeple and bell tower were prominent features.
The church rostrum was at the west, with two rows of seats for the choir. Later it was enlarged, hardwood
floors laid, and carpeting installed. There were two pot-bellied stoves for heating--one on each side. The
church seated around 150 people and was used for the town's community center for years, until the red
brick school building was erected.
Several years later, another building about 20' x 40' was built on the north edge of the church lot and was
known as "The Annex." The Annex had a big pot-bellied stove in the center, with no flue. Until electricity
came to Grove, colored pull-down lamps were used for lighting. Nevertheless, with just a coal-oil stove,
huge parties were held in the Annex. The Annex became the social center of the community, including the
holding of elections.
The old church was some 50 years old when the members felt a definite need for a new building. The
building committee included Dr. C. F. Walker, Al Perrine, H. E. Worley, Sr., Dennis Beauchamp, Harley
Graham and Al Wansel. H. H. Neiman of Muskogee was the architect and Paul Eggers the contractor. The
old building was demolished and work on the new one begun on September 10, 1949. The cash fund was
approximately $2,000, so people were asked to give windows, bricks, bundles of shingles, hardwood
flooring, etc. Within a year the new building was occupied. The organ was donated by the Dick Sellers'
family, the altar given by Mrs. Houston, and the altar ware by relatives of Susan Carr. The indebtedness of
$75,000, with faith and effort, was paid off by November, 1957. On November 24th of that year, Dr. Robert
Smith, District Superintendent, dedicated the new building to the Glory of God and the Service of Men. In
1958, the Fellowship Sunday School Class carpeted the sanctuary. In 1959, the building was air
conditioned.
By the late 1970's the church family again faced a decision to expand or relocate. Choosing the later, they
sold the brick structure on Main Street and erected a new structure which eventually came to be known
as "The Church on the Hill". Completed and consecrated November 13, 1982, the membership continued
to grow and within the next ten years two new wings were added to accommodate the needs for
additional classrooms.
At this time, over 100 years from its beginning, the Lord continues to bless our First United Methodist
Church in Grove with a strong and enthusiastic vision for the future.
Pastors of First United Methodist Church
Grove, Oklahoma
Orlando Shay, 1895
M. L. Wheeler, 1896 - 1897
J. L. Brown, 1897 - 1899
T. M. Jackson, 1900-1092
John L. Williams, 1902 - 1903
M. B. McKinney, 1903 - 1904
J. M. Gaul, 1904 - 1905
J. H. Calloway, 1905 - 1906
G. L. Crow, 1906 - 1908
James Lambert, 1908 - 1909
E. C. Wallace, 1909 - 1910
G. M. Byers, 1910 - 1912
A. M. Dupree, 1912 - 1914
J. C. Hooks, 1914 - 1915
D. M. Geddie, 1915 - 1916
T. L. Porter, 1916 - 1918
J. L. Hagler, 1918 - 1921
W. B. Wolfe, 1921 - 1922
C. P. Broome, 1922 - 1923
Dwight Hunt, 8/1923 - 11/1923
J. A. Parks, 1923 - 1925
Alva Williams, 1925 - 1926
H. E. Darrow, 1926 - 1928
G. W. Martin, 1928 - 1929
N. T. Peak, 1929 - 1933
W. G. Beasley, 1933 - 1936
Phil Wahl, 1936 - 1939
C. E. Nisbett, 1939 - 1942
Orville Parham, 1942 - 1946
E. L. Butler, 1946 - 1948
Theo Krumery, 1948 - 1949
A. W. O'Bryant, 1949 - 1952
Robert L. Jones, 1952 - 1954
R. J. Palmer, 6/1954 - 7/1954
Harold Leveridge, 9/1954 - 1958
Ken Howard, 1958 - 1969
Earl D. Burris, 6/1959 - 3/1960
Wilbur Henderson, 3/1960 - 6/1960
Clyde Chesnutt, 1960 - 1962
Delbert Carter, 1962 - 1967
Austin Bizzell, 1967 - 1970
Bill Benton, 1970 - 1972
Bob Mash, 1972 - 1977
Gary Graham, 1977 - 1978
Larry Eisenberg, 1978 - 1981
Oscar I. Wilkie, 1981 - 1985
William W. Story, Jr., 1985 - 1988
Bob R. Pixley, 1988 - 1993
Bill J. Moss, 1/1994 - 6/1994
Kerney F. Graham, Jr., 6/1994 - 1996
C. Nicky Blackford, 1996 - 2000
Randall Hamill, 2000 - Present
