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South Pleasant Grove dates back to 1834, when James Harvey Ellis, and his wife Sarah Crockett Ellis, donated a piece of land from their homestead to establish a church and cemetery. And it was later that year, when a one-room log structure was built to become the first church building. Pleasant Grove ("South" was added to the name in 1923 or 1924) became part of the Wadesboro Circuit in the Paris District of the Ohio Annual Conference. The Memphis Annual Conference, where the church belongs now, was not formed until 1840. The church was moved from the Wadesboro Circuit to the Crossland Circuit in 1884, and joined the Hazel Circuit in 1904. Then in 1954, South Pleasant Grove became a station church (a church who doesn't share a pastor with another church) with Rev. Herschel P. Blankenship serving as pastor. Currently, we are in the Paris District of the Memphis Annual Conference. Our building has taken on several additions and changes over the years. In 1840, a second log structure was erected, but it was 1885 before the first frame structure was built. In 1924, the third building was built, and part of that building is in use today. An educational annex was added in 1951, and the church office, nursery, and another Sunday School room was added in 1957. The church structure was completely remodeled in 1964, and two more Sunday School rooms were added at the front of the church. And in 1993, the entire roof and ceiling of the sanctuary was replaced. More recently, we have completed several renovation and repair projects on our facility, including remodeling the nursery and fellowship hall. South Pleasant Grove has been a congregation of distinction over the years. Several of our pastors have gone on to become District Superintendents, and at one time the congregation was known as the "largest open-country church in the Memphis Annual Conference." That means that South Pleasant Grove was the largest country church in the conference--only city churches were larger. Several members of our congregation have served with distinction. Cordelia Erwin was one of many missionaries who brought the Gospel into southeast Asia. South Pleasant Grove's Sanctuary Choir is one of the few area choral groups to record their own album. Former pastor Dr. William P. Mullins has written a definitive history of the congregation. For more information, contact the church offices.
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