Our History

Bible Grove is located in northern Clay County and was originally named Edinburg, then Georgetown. It is located in Bible Grove Township, which was named based on information passed down from early settlers in the area. The story goes that a Bible was found by hunters in a grove of trees near the sight of the present-day village. This occurred before there were any

permanent settlers in the township.

Georgetown (Bible Grove) was laid out in 1852 on the west bank of the Little Muddy (now called Georgetown Creek) by George Monical, with an E. Nixon doing the surveying. George (owner/operator of the first saw mill) insisted the town be called Edinburg and was recorded as such, but the people of the village later changed it to Georgetown. [It is interesting to note that the present-day town of Edinburg (formally Chapin) near Springfield wasn’t named until 1911. Moreover, Georgetown could never have been officially recorded and incorporated with the state due to the fact that the Georgetown near Danville had been established in 1826.]

The only business in Bible Grove today is Ed Lewis Trucking, but in the early days of its history there were many businesses in the village and around Bible Grove Township. The first was a general store. Over time, two more stores were opened along with a tobacco shop and grocery store. The town and surrounding community also included a hotel, a post office, a drug store, a blacksmith shop, a shoe shop, a tanning yard, a saw mill, a flour mill and a steam grist mill and carding machine (a machine used in brushing and aligning wool fibers in the milling process). The Georgetown (Bible Grove) community also had two physicians, a dentist, two blacksmiths, a hat and dress making lady, and 5 carpenters. Of the 5 carpenters, one was a wagon-maker, one a cabinet-maker and two were masons. The town also exported large amounts of wild game, poultry, eggs and butter every year.

Georgetown (Bible Grove) was home to two fraternal orders. One was an Oddfellows Lodge, which was called the Bible Grove Lodge, No. 273. It was established in 1859 and was part of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows – sometimes referred to as “Rebekah’s.” It was originally located in Flora, then Louisville and finally Georgetown. Their meetings were held every Saturday night at their Hall, which was above the post office. The other organization, formed in 1883, was called the Grand Army of the Republic. It was known as the Bible Grove Post, No. 360. They held their meetings in the Georgetown schoolhouse once a month,
on or before a full moon.

Of other interest, Major League Baseball player George Tony “Smooth” Lyons was born in Bible Grove in 1891. He played in 7 games for the 1920 St. Louis Cardinals and 26 games for the St. Louis Browns in 1924
The first church in Georgetown (Bible Grove) was the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was established in 1843 by Reverend Stafford before the town was officially laid out.

History of the Christian Church
On March 10th, 1876, Henry Brooks, Sr. and his wife, Susan, deeded lot 120 in Georgetown, later renamed Bible Grove, to Moses N. Lewis, Lewis Wolf and Thomas W. Kelpley, trustees for the Christian Church. Mark (Marston) Jordan helped cut and haul logs in the summer of 1876 for lumber to construct the church building. The Christian Church was organized in 1876 with 37 members. The first minister was Elder W. H. Krutzinger, who was succeeded by Elder Clifton. The first church Elders were Henry Brooks, Sr., William Brooks, Alexander Vickrey and T.W. Kelpley (owner of the first drug store in town). The Deacons were C. T. Kepley and L. P. Weaber, and the Deaconesses were Mary C. Kepley and Lydia E. Lewis. The first 3 persons to be united with Christ in baptism were Lydia E. Lewis and Thomas and Minnie Barnes.

In 1899 and 1900 a Mr. Smithson, the father of C. M. Smithson, ministered at the church. Around the year 1904, pews were purchased and tailor-made at a lumber yard and factory owned by Charles Williams, a son-in-law of Theoron Gould (who owned a general store in Bible Grove – known then as Georgetown). The pews cost $108.00.

An Elder Eton held a revival during the first part of 1904, and from December 1905 through January and February of 1906, Elder E. S. Thompson held a meeting with some one hundred thirty additions. He later pastored at the church for a time. An Elder Spurlin was with the congregation around the year 1911.

There is no record of names of the regular ministers for some time, but the following Elders held revivals during the following years: I. S. Rose, October 1914; John LeGrand and his wife Rosa, who was an accomplished musician, 1915; J. P. Childs, October 1920; C. M. Smithson, September 15th - October 11th, 1931; Paul Ewing, September 4th - 23rd, 1932; and C. L. Doty in 1937.

A Brother Hall preached regularly until 1934, and Samuel Tolson, who also preached at the Louisville Christian Church, pastored at Bible Grove during a part of 1934 until 1936. When he was unavailable to preach, his wife, who was a beautiful soloist, came and took his place in the pulpit. Brother Tolson also held a revival during those years. A Brother Bob Graham ministered at the church around this time, however, there is no reliable record of this account.

Thomas E. Wilson came in 1937 and stayed until 1941. He also ministered at Louisville, as well as being a funeral director for the area. In 1941, a Brother Mahon served only a few months. Turis Davis came in 1945 and stayed until 1947.
His was a very practical ministry.

Carl Gibson served as the minister from 1948 until 1950. In July 1949, the teenagers of the congregation, under the guidance of Percy McKnelly, organized the Christian Endeavor. The first officers were: Joe Fopay, President; Bill McKnelly, Vice-President; Noma Lee Stanley, Pianist; and Thelma Scurlock, Song Leader (Jane Ann Lewis was the first song leader). They published a paper called the “C. E. Bugler” for some time, which was of interest to the whole congregation. Also during this time period, a new hanging gas heater was installed which burned people up one minute and cooled off to freeze you out the next. New siding was also applied to the outside of the building.

Bruce Parmenter, a preacher just starting out and newly married, came in 1951 and stayed until May of 1953. The parking lot was chatted and wall board was put up on the inside of the building. In 1952, Paul and Lois Benjamin held a meeting the first two weeks of July, followed by a Homecoming and 75th Anniversary celebration of the Christian Church on Sunday, July 20th. Kenneth Rude served from June 1953 through 1954. Times were very good. He received $30.00 each first and third Sunday for both years.

Howard Merchant came in September 1955 to pastor for the church. In December, the Gospel Quartet from Minneapolis came to conduct a two week revival meeting. They did both the music and the preaching, which was a joy to all. Another two week meeting was held in October of 1956 led by Evangelist Ed Armstrong. Red Florence was the song leader and Janet Brose (later Mrs. Wayne Shaw) played piano. Afterwards, Howard Merchant resigned. That same fall, Mrs. Vida Richars and Thurman and Nelle Colborn presented the congregation with a new communion table.

Herbert Baines filled in from January until April, 1957. Arthur Wilkinson came in September, 1957 and stayed through November, 1958. P. W. Hayes came in May of 1959 and stayed until November. During that time, the church decided to expand the building, so a new addition was constructed. It included a fellowship area and a kitchen. A new gas furnace was added in the early summer of 1960 to heat the entire building and a new concrete porch and steps were also poured for each entry. Deane Stricklen filled in as the preacher that summer.

George Faull pastored from September 25th, 1960 to January, 1961. Carl Gibson returned that year and stayed for parts of 1962 through July 28th of 1963. In 1962, Mrs. Stella Dillman, in her will, left the church 20 acres east and north of town. A new piano was also purchased by the congregation.

Harvey Waddelow filled the pulpit beginning October 13th, 1963. He and his wife left in January of 1965 to pursue their goal of serving as missionaries in Africa.

Robert McFadden was the minister from May through December 26th, 1965. During this time period, a unique, special meeting was held. For five nights a different McFadden preached. Bob, his father and grandfather, and two uncles, each with different personalities and five different methods of delivery, made for a very interesting revival.

Turis Davis returned to minister from April 11th, 1966 until December 8th, 1969. He showed a great interest and admiration for the youth of the church as well as the older people. The Shumaker lots just south of the building were purchased from the Thurman Colburn heirs late in 1969.

Melvin Gresham was hired and began his ministry on January 18th, 1970. He resigned on February 7th, 1971 to pastor a larger congregation. Deane Stricklen once again came to the rescue the next week on February 14th. He resigned January 1st, 1973. During the summer of 1972, water was piped into the kitchen.

By Mother’s Day, 1973, the whole church building had seen some big changes. The main section was cleaned and repainted and the addition received a new ceiling. Paneling and carpet was added and new shades were installed on all of the windows. On June 3rd, Patrick Powers delivered his first sermon to the congregation and began a new ministry there the following Sunday, June 10th.

In 1974, a revival was held from April 28th through May 5th, with Professor Albert McGee of St. Louis Christian College preaching. Dan Mast led the singing and Ruth Stricklen played the piano. There were 12 new converts and 10 transfers of membership. A new trailor was brought to the lot south of the church building on July 26th. Pat moved in on August 21st.

In 1975, the long-awaited restrooms were begun and finished by mid-August. A revival was held from September 15th through the 25th. Phil Young preached and the Brant family led the music. On October 10th, Pat married Monica Groves. That same month the heat ducts were located in the restrooms and the kitchen.