Pleasant Grove Baptist Church

As in many communities, the history of the area is closely aligned with her churches. The Pleasant Grove area between Mount Washington and Shepherdsville, was no exception. In this case, it is also a history of my family. One will notice many familar names in the minutes. The families that populated the area North of Salt River find their way into the recorded proceedings time and again. The land where the church was located was originally surrounded by Brashears, Stallings, Whitledge, and Ridgway land. Later the Armstrongs, Smiths and Proctors became important landownders in the area. The area was originally shown on county maps as the Needmore area.

The following is mainly derived from the 1967 history composed by Mrs. Clara Barton Simmons along with a historical committee created to aid in the task. The history was a part of the dedication of the new church building in 1967.

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Brief History of the Founding of this Church

The Pleasant Grove Baptist Church was started near a log cabin on the Spencer farm, surrounded by beech woods. Here in these woods the members worshipped God. This place is currently owned by Mr. Jake Bridwell (1967). Later on the church held its meeting in a log school house located on the Harley Proctor farm. The school was known as the Pleasant Grove School. It was located near an old quarry.

After this the Baptists and the Methodists built a one room building in the front of a graveyard. there were two front doors on the building. The Methodists used the left door and the Baptists used the right door. Each group had their own key fopr their respective doors. The Methodists had their services in the morning and the Baptists had theirs in the afternoon. The key to the Baptist door is still on display in the current church.

One day the Baptists had trouble getting into their door and a disagreement resulted. The Baptists then came to a one room log house which was located on the old Smith farm. They worshipped there until the building became too small. Then they moved out into the woods to worship. They used rough boards place on blocks of wood for seats. In 1894 J. T. Ridgway donated land to build a church building. A building was completed in late 1897.

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The following is a year by year historical account of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Star Route , Shepherdsville, Kentucky 40165. This history was recorded in the Long Run Associational Minutes. These minutes are located on the third floor of the James P. Boyce Centennial Library of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2825 Lexington Road, Louisville, Kentucky 40206. It should be noted that some of the errors and conflicting dates were recognized in the reading of the minutes, however, the committee, through study and research, has compiled this account as nearly accurate as possible,

In 1863, before there was any mention of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in the minutes, a report on the destitution of Bullitt County was recorded; "In the County of Bullitt there is but one Baptist preacher and three churches that have regular preaching". This report indicates that Pleasant Grove began in a pioneering atmosphere and that it was instituted to meet the needs of the times.

The first mention of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church is found in the minutes of 1864; "A letter was received from the church at Pleasant Grove, Bullitt Co , Ky , asking admission into this association which on motion, was received when the moderator gave the delegates the hand of fellowship". In the statistical report under the column of Pastors and Messengers , R. Bogard and O.K. Whitledge are listed. It is believed that the church did not have a pastor in the very beginning. Mr. Bogard and Mr. Whitledge were both messengers however this is the supposition by the committee. Evidently the church was a growing and zealous body, because the statistical table lists five baptisms and six received by letter in the first year of its existence. One wonders what church or churches these six were received from, since there were only three churches in the county and few others in the surrounding area. The following statements taken from the Associational Missionary's report holds much interest as well as information.

Bro. J.H. Spencer was elected missionary of the Long Run Association. He was employed full-time for $600.00 per year. In his annual report he writes, " There is considerable territory on our Southern border, lying on both sides of Salt River, in which there is very little Baptist preaching, I hope to be able to hold meetings at one or two points in this region during the fall". In this same report Bro. Spencer makes mention of the poor condition of the country because of the Civil War, and of the lack of young men in the community ,

It is believed that the church was meeting in a home at this time; however, in 1865 Elder J.T. Hoke was pastoring this "small but zealous" congregation as their first pastor. Rowen Bogard was listed along with pastor Hoke, as a messenger to the association. During that year two baptisms were recorded and three were restored, making a total of seventeen members. This report leads us to wonder if the church began with only four members, because in 1864, five were baptized, six were added by letter and two were restored, making a total of thirteen added to the church since it began. Seventeen minus thirteen leaves a total of four. This seems unlikely!

No letter or messenger was received by the association in 1866; however, the following is taken from a report that is recorded in the minutes; "There is still destitution in the counties of Bullitt and Jefferson. . . and we have 4-5 very weak churches that demand our attention, and would ask the passage of the following resolution: "To send someone for the purpose to hold meetings with West Point, Knob Creek, and Pleasant Grove. The following year no letter was received from the church, but we find Rev. A. Jackson is listed as pastor. Later records show that the pastor's name was Andrew Jackson.

From 1866 to 1873 no letter was received from the church, and no messengers were present. In some of the minutes Pleasant Grove is not even mentioned and much of this time we were without a pastor. A later report (1884) says that the church. was disorganized, the people cold and scattered. According to the report of 1873 we did contribute $1.00 to the printing fund. Even though the membership was small and times were trying and difficult, this faithful band of good disciples remained faithful to our Lord and thus secured Bro. L.T. Hardy of Simpsonville, Ky. as pastor in 1874. That same year, S. Gentry, along with the pastor served as messenger to the association. God's blessings continued to be realized as seven more were added to the church. by experience and baptism. Two were dismissed which made a total membership of thirty three. According to the minutes Pleasant Grove still had preaching services once a month.

In 1875 we failed to send a letter or messenger to the Association. During the associational meeting a committee was chosen to visit those churches that failed to report by letter, Pleasant Grove, of course, was mentioned as one of the churches to visit. Even though this action was taken, the church failed to send messengers the following two years.

In 1877 Pleasant Grove was not even listed in the minutes. Perhaps we should point out th,at the meetings were held as far away as Shelbyville, and considering the means of transportation , this was a great distance away; not to mention the difficult times the folk had in earning a living.

Even though the times were difficult, the church was found to be faithful in their stewardship of money. They gave $10.00 for orphans $5.00 for Foreign Missions, $12.35 for Home Missions, and $1.00 for the printing fund. Twenty Sunday School members were listed with a Sunday School expense of $3.00.

1878 was a year of revival for the church. Rev. J.B. Wood was called as pastor. Eighteen baptisms and one addition by letter were recorded, making a total of 37 church members and 40 enrolled in Sunday School. J.T. Jackson was elected clerk and thus became the first clerk for the church. J.T. Jackson and James E. Wise served as messengers to the Association that year.

The following year (1879) pastor J.B. Wood, J.T. Jackson and W.T. Stallings served as messengers. The home expenses were listed as $5.00. There are conflicting records for the years 1880-1881, in that some show Charles Ridgway as Sunday School Superintendent and others show Harriet Bobbitt as Superintendent. In any case this is the first record of a Sunday School Superintendent for the church. J.W. Whitledge, A. Wise, W. Stallings and J.T. Jackson served as messengers.

Pleasant Grove was not represented at the Association in 1882. Some interesting information concorning the church and the Association was recorded. J.T. Jackson was appointed to take a collection during the year. An Associational speaker, Bro. E.L. Shouse, said, "we murdered the Sunday School at Fisherville to keep it from dying". Dr. Eaton thought they should have administered wholesome remedies. Bro, Van Arsdale said,"A partnership with another denomination was the ailment".

Again in 1883 we were not represented at the Annual meeting. We do find more interesting information concerning Bullitt County and the Association. Bro. Goss reported , "Knob Creek and Mt. Carmel churches are weak and the destitution around them is dark and wide. Twenty miles square with but three churches...they plead for help... because the skum of Louisville floats out into this County (Bullitt) every Sunday", A Professor Simmons (believed, to have been Negro) from The Normal and theological Seminary for Colored said,, "There are only two avenues for elevating the colored, they are; the school and the pulpit". A Bro. A.B. Cabaniss also said, "Colored people need education and morals, we should help them as a Christian duty."

The Associational Missionary, Rev, J.A. Bell, reports in 1884 that Pleasant Grove has been without a pastor for more than two years. It was disorganized and the members were scattered and cold, "I preached here for three weeks and two days. This resulted in 25 baptisms , 4 restorations, the membership is fully organized and the Sunday School is doing good." A collection of $4,10 for missions was taken and more than $100.00 was pledged for a pastor for the ensuing year. That same year J. T. Jackson, A. Wise, Beamous Wise, Lewis Barrell, W. Jackson and Jas. Boll served as messengers.

In 1885 Bro. J.R. Harrington was called as pastor. J.T. Jackson was church clerk. J.T. Jackson, Lewis Barrell, William Stallings and Noah Jackson were messengers. One addition by baptism and three by letter made a total membership of thirty four. This is fewer than had been reported in previous years, but we need to remember that sometimes members were EXCLUDED when they failed to live up to what the church expected.

An interesting note in the minutes of 1885 reports that The Church of Christ at Salem, Bullitt County, Ky , was admitted as a member of the Long Run Association. A speaker from Georgetown College made an interesting comment when he said, "People claim to be too poor to educate their sons and daughters, but yet they dress them fine.. live in good houses and drive fast horses." The speaker went on to say that "colleges do not give men conceit - it is innate; school is a good place to eradicate it."

No messengers from Pleasant Grove were listed in the minutes from 1886 through 1890.

Rev. J.R. Harrington remained as pastor through 1891, and, according to the minutes, received the extravagant sum of $100. 00 per year salary . In 1888 $5.00 was spent for the Western Recorder. In 1889 L.M. Barrell from River View became church clerk. He held this job until 1891 when F.M. Honnaker, of Mt. Washington became church clerk. That same year Allen Wise, W.M. Stallings and John Harris served as messengers, $2.50 went to Foreign Missions and 50 vents to the printing fund.

There was no significant information recorded in 1892.

In 1893 O.W. Chadwick came as pastor. F.M. Honnaker served as clerk and messenger , along with W.T. Stallings. A total of 52 members were listed, 4 were excluded andthe church property was valued at $200.00. It is believed that this was the year Pleasant Grove sold its interest in the Bethel Methodist Church building to the Methodists for $200,00. An executive board roports this information, as recorded in the associational minutes,, "Pleasant Grove for some time has been in a dying condition, but at last the fallow ground has been broken up and is now bringing forth a rich harvest. We (Long Run Association) have been assisting her, $3.35 per month. Bro. C.W. Chadwick, full of zeal and good works has charge of the church now. They have recently had a good revival and 14 were baptized at its close. During the incoming year they will build a new house of worship. This work is indeed promising."

Rev. E.M. Wood became pastor in 1894. Robert Smith served as clerk and J.W. Whitledge as messengers. There were a total of 74 members this year.

In 1895 J.C. Mitchell became pastor with a salary of $78.29. J.W. Lloyd was clerk, Robert Smith. was messenger and J.W. Bell was Sunday School Superintendent.

In 1896 J.C. Mitchell was still pastor and Robert Smith was clerk. These two men along with K.S. Simmons and Jesse Ridgway served as messengers. The following is an interesting note from the minutes. "During the year an effort was made to secure a house of worship for Pleasant Grove Church, that being the only congregation in Long Run Association without a meeting house. A lot was secured and your Board gave $25.00 to start the work, and also promised to pay the last $25.00 due on completion of the new building. The church letter to the Association reports that the house is ready for the roof."

The following year (1897) the Executive Board Report gave the following account, "...Two Mission churches aided by the board, Pleasant Grove, Bullitt Co, and 36th St, have no houses of worship, but are building and hope to have meeting houses completed in a few months." A memoranda from the church letter reads, "hope soon to complete a $1,000.00 church building." During 1897, Rev. J. M. Hunt took up the pastoral duties for $60.00 per year. J.A. Trigg was clerk. J.W. Whitledge and Jas, A. Ridgway served as messengers. During that year we had 15 baptisms, 2 by letter and one relation making a. total of 59 members.

The following year (1898) Rev. W.B. Wooten of Louisville became pastor at a.salary of $73.22. J.A. Trigg continued as clerk. Jas. A. Ridgway and H.C. Stallings served as messengers and W.T. Bell, of Zoneton, was Sunday School Superintendent. During the year the Executive Board held its meeting at Pleasant Grove (we assume this was in the new building). From about 1894 to 1898 the church was listed on some reports as having a missionary and also pastors. This may be confusing, but the association did help support the church and this could be why the pastors were referred to as missionaries. Verbal reports indicate that during the course of the year Mrs. Lola Clark presented the church with two pulpit chairs. A Mr. John Carter, of Louisville, presented a large Bible to the church through Mr.Bobbitts who at this time was a member of the church and a printing employee of Mr. Carter. It is reported by Mrs. Clara Simmons that Mrs. Harriett Bobbitt embroidered a silk spread for the Bible to rest upon, This same Bible has been placed in the church again by Mrs. Roxie Clark.

Following the completion of the building, a great Revival was experienced in 1899, Thirty five were baptized, thirteen added by letter and one was restored. This made a total membership of 103. The membership lacked only 15 in doubling in one year! Rev. W.B. Wooten remained as pastor, J.A. Trigg was clerk. Arch Simmons, J.W. Whitledge, and J.A. Ridgway served as messengers and Greenup Owen was Sunday School Superintendent.

In 1900 Rev. B.F. Canada became the 11th pastor of the church. J.A. Trigg remained clerk through 1904 and Greenup Owen remained as Superintendent through 1903. During 1900 there were 25 Sunday School members with an average attendance of 20. The Sunday School expense was listed as $1.15 and $18.00 was given to Foreign Missions.

In 1901 George C. Bell, George Peacock, Elmer Weller and Kirby Simmons served as messengers to the Association. The following is an interesting note recorded in the associational minutes that year; "The only unpleasant feature connected with the meeting occurred after the body adjourned...C.K. Hogland and Miss Lulie Thomas missed their train. This caused much merriment and no doubt the lovers also rejoiced in their peculiar situation." C.K. Hoagland later became pastor of Pleasant Grove in 1911.

The annual meeting of the Long Run Association brought much excitement and joy to our church on September 7 and 8, 1904. This was the first time the Associational meeting had been held at our church. Mrs. Cordelia Grant gives an eye witness account of much preaching, praying and singing. She reports that there was a large tent raised near the church, and that preaching services were held there about twice each day. The minutes record the following; "Bro. R.A. Barnes made a motion that at 11 o'clock the association adjourn to the tent to hear a sermon from moderator, W.E. Powers ... The congregation went to the tent to hear a sermon from Bro. W.E. Powers who preached to the edification and gratification of all on, "A better Country! taking as his text Hebrews 11:16, "They desire a better country."
A.F. Armstrong reports that two horse wagons and buggies were dispatched to the depot at Shepherdsville to transport the many people who came from Louisville by train to attend the meeting at Pleasant Grove. Another statement taken from the minutes says, "A motion was made to extend hardy thanks to the community for their generous hospitality, which was of supreme quality."

During 1905 C.D. Spillman became pastor. Jesse Ridgway served as Sunday School Superintendent during 1904- 1905. In 1905 S.O. Armstrong was clerk, W.S. Gentry, John Lloyd, A. Heiser and J.A. Ridgway served as messengers. The following quote was taken from the associational Sermon..."There is no Baptist belief not found in the Bible. If there is, give up. There is a Chapter and a Verse for everything we do... let us tighten our grip on Baptist belief. All other denominations are changing their creeds toward Baptist position. There were none but Baptist Churches in the New Testament time."In order to understand why this strong statement was made, one should remember that Landmarkism, as propounded by J.R. Graves was at its peak at this time.

In 1906 J.R. Eldridge became pastor with a salary of $199.00 per year. The messengers were A. Heiser, Mary Heiser and George Bell. According to the records S.O. Armstrong was elected Church Clerk and Sunday School Superintendent that year, and served in these offices through 1925.

In 1907 A.H. Mayhaffey came as pastor for a salary of $200.00 per year. George C. Bell, Jesse Ridgway, John Lloyd, Albert Armstrong served as messengers. A collection was taken to help Cedar Creek Bapt. Church. A member of Pleasant Grove, Mary Long, gave $25.00.

J.C. Burkett came as pastor in 1908 at a reduction in salary. He drew $182.00. James Armstrong was the only messenger that year, According to Associational Minutes Pleasant Grove organized a Woman's Missionary Society in 1908 with Mrs. Nannie Smith as President. However, the W.M.U. record book, the church states that the W.M.S. was organized October 15, 1915.

In 1909 J.C. Burkett was still pastor with a salary of $112.00 year, J.O. Ridgway and Albert Armstrong served as messengers, This must have been a trying time in our church. 20 members were excluded from the church fellowship. It seemed, to almost fall apart.

In 1910 C.E. Sheets became rastor for $150.00 per year. He and J.0. Ridgway served as messengers. Church membership totaled 108.

In 1911 C.K. Hoagland became pastor and remained through 1914. Lewis Whitledge and Albert Armstrong served as messengers in 1911.

The following year (1912) J.O. Ridgeway and Marvin Stallings served as messengers, The remainder of this account will be mostly of statistical nature since little else is found in the records.

1913... S.O. Armstrong messenger.

1914 ... J.W. Lloyd messenger; 131 church membership.

1915 ...W.G. Potts was pastor. Salary was $200.00. There were 12 baptisms and a total membership of 140. J.C. Deckey and T.V. Long were messengers. A W.M.U. record book states that the W.M.S. was organized on Thursday afternoon October 27, 1915. The record book states in the December 1915 minutes, "A piece read by Mrs, Hallie Armstrong about the Walnut Street Baptist Church (the mother of our church). Several of the older members say that it was generally believed that Walnut Street was the Mother Church, however, the above quotation is the only mention of Walnut Street in all of the records.

In 1916 W.G. Potts was still pastor. His salary was $200.00. Seventeen members were dismissed and the church membership was 124. Roy Stallings, A.F. Armstrong and J.G. Armstrong were messengers. The Sunday School had a membership of 60.
1917 B.J, Skaggs was pastor with a salary of $240.00. Marvin Stallings, J,B. Armstrong and J.C. Dickey were messengers.

1918 H.D. Burns was pastor with a salary of $360.00. J.A. Ridgway and S.O. Armstrong were messengers.

1919 H.D. Burns still pastor. There were 31 baptisms that year and a total membership of 146. J. O. Ridgway, S.O. Armstrong and A.F. Armstrong were messengers.

1920 H.D. Burns still pastor and salary was $600.000. Bro Burns remained pastor with this salary until 1925. In 1920 there were 16 baptisms, 2 by letter and a church membership of 162. Elbert Bass, Geo. Armstrong, Ollie Hardin and J.W. Lloyd were messengers.

1921 One report says the church started having services 4 Sundays a month, Another report says that in 1928 the church was still having services on the lst and 2nd Sundays.

1922 J. O. Ridgway and S.O. Armstrong were messengers. There were 22 baptisms, 14 by letter and total membership of 193.

1923 Charlie Nelson and Geneva Stallings were messengers. 16 baptisms were reported and total membership of 214. The Sunday School had 111 enrolled and an average attendance of 73. The W.M.S. record of May 17, 1923 says that ten members agreed to give one egg a day to the societys.

1924 The only record shows that we were still having 2nd & 4th Sunday Services.

1925 In this year J.W. Lloyd, R.L. Bridwell, A.F. Armstrong and S.O. Armstrong were messengers. There was an active membership of 285. This was a great year in,the life of the church. The present old building was constructed. It was dedicated on August 9. It is reported that Mr. Bill King served as contractor with much of the labor being donated by the members. The basement was dug with horse drawn scrappers. Gravel for the cement was hauled by horse and wagon from Beech Fork near High Grove. The building cost $6,100.00.

1926 R.B. Cundiff, who presently resides at Shepherdsville, was called as pastor. A.F. Armstrong was messenger. The record says that 10 members were found to be faithful in stewardship and were counted as tithers.

1927 Bro. Cundiff remained as pastor for the next two years, The messengers were S.O. Armstrong, James E. Bass, R.L. Bridwell, C.S. Moore, H,N. Proctor.

1928 Hugh Hall, Floyd Stallings, J.W. Lloyd and A.F. Armstrong served as messengers. The membership was 316.

1929 Clifford Walker became pastor. No other information available.

1930 Bro. Walker, Harley Proctor, J. O. Ridgway, and A.F. Armstrong were messengers. S.O. Armstrong was church clerk.

1931 Bro. Walker and J.O. Ridgway were messengers. Theodore Nelson was B.Y.P.U . Director. The membership was 331, Sunday School enrollment was 112 and the average attendance was 75.

1932 Jack Bridges became pastor. The salary dropped from $600.00 to $480.00- S.O. Armstrong was S.S. Sup't. Mattie Ridgway was W.M.U. President and Harley Proctor was B.Y.P.U. Director 12 baptisms were recorded making a total membership of 336. Sunday School enrollment was 130 and averaged attendance of 75 .

1933 Bro. Bridges still pastor. 13 baptisms recorded and Sunday School enrollment of 149 ... average attendance of 80. Waldo Gentry and Geneva Stallings served as messengers.

1934 Services on 2nd & 4th Sundays. S.O. Armstrong was messenger and Sunday School Supt .. Mrs. J. O. Ridgway was W.M.U. President and Mrs. Russell Stallings was B.T.U. Director.
1935 T.E. Mason became pastor with a salary of $360.00, Virgie Jones, Paul Owen and Mrs. E.H. Vardiman served as messengers. S.O. Armstrong was S.S. Superintendent, and Paul Owen was B.T.U. Director. Evelyn Stallings was W.M.U President, There were 368 members of the church, 146 enrolled in Sunday school and an average attendance of 90. Total income was 660.00.

1936 The church went from half-time to full-time services. Bro. Mason remained. as pastor at a salary of $207.00 The records show that the pastorts salary steadily decreased from $600.00 in 1929 to $207.00 in 1936. We wonder if this is correct because next year the salary was back up to $636.00, We need to remember this was during the depression and the decline was in line with the failing economy. Messengers were Waldo Gentry, J.O. Ridgway, Mrs. Russell Stallings and Mrs. Waldo Gentry.

1937 R.K. Bamburg became pastor. Mrs. Theodore Nelson, Mrs. R. L. Wade, R.L Wade, J.O. Ridgway were messengers, J.B. Proctor was S. S. Supt. and May Bell Owen was W.M.U. President. Total church income was $l,197.59. Let us note that from this point on church minutes are available. All the church minutes prior to 1938 were burned. Most of the remaining information came from the minutes.

1938 Rev. R.K. Bamburg, Harley Proctor, R.L. Wade, Mrs, R.L Wade were messengers. J.B. Proctor was S.S. Sup't,, Ted Gentry was Choir Director and May Bell Owen was W.M.U. President. We were having mid-week services and the pastor's salary was $824.01. Former pastor H.D. Burns held a revival with two professions of faith. Bro. Bamberg resigned on Dec. 18th

1939 Bro. L.W. Knight was called as pastor. He became the 28th pastor with a salary of $780.00. The church voted to build a fence around the graveyard. Messengers were Harley Proctor, Rev. Knight, Mrs. Roland Jones and J.O. Ridgway. Bro. Knight remained as pastor until 1941.

The minutes for April 1940 to Oct. 29, 1944 are missing. The only information we have during this time was from the Long Run Associational Minutes.

1941 Ben Seitz was ordained at Pleasant Grove July 20, 1941 and became our pastor. He was the first minister to be ordained in our church. He remained as pastor until 1942.

1943 W.W. Reese became pastor and remained through 1945. Messengers were S.O. Armstrong, Allard Armstrong, C.E. Smith, Waldo Gentry, R.L. Wade, J.O. Ridgway and Harley Proctor. Waldo Gentry was clerk, Allard Armstrong was S.S. Sup't , Virginia Nelson was W.M.U. President. Bro. Southerland preached a revival and there were 13 professions of faith. During this year Allard Armstrong gave the church an acre of land in return for a roadway through the church property. This was the beginning of talk for a pastor's home. On Nov. 25, 1945 Bro. Reese preached his final sermon.

1946 With a unanimous vote, Bro. Ben Lawton was called as pastor April 19, 1946. In July we voted to send $500.00 to the European Relief. During August, Bro. Alden Puckett led a Revival in which there were 44 additions by baptism and 10 by letter. (My father, Dayton Foster was saved in this revival- baptised in White's Run near the church on August 25). The meeting was closed on Aug. 25 with an all day meeting & dinner on the ground. The revival offering was $550.00. At the Sept. business meeting the church voted to build two rooms at the rear of the building. Bro. Lawton asked that the church reduce his salary because he was spending so much time at teaching in the Seminary and at a Negro University. He resigned on Nov. 3, 1946.

In 1947, Brother J.K. Lawton became pastor. The church held its first Vacation Bible School with an enrollment of 82. In 1948 Brother Jessie M. Hill became pastor and Brother William Taylor Gardner became pastor in 1950 and served until his death in 1957. During Brother Gardner's pastorate the parsonage burned and the churchs' records through 1938 were destroyed along with most of the Gardners' family possessions. A new parsonage was built and dedicated in 1955.

In 1957 the church called Brother Noah Benningfield as pastor. From 1957 to 1963 the church made many improvements on the church building and continued to grow.

In 1963 Brother Owen Risk was called as pastor. The by-laws for the church were written and an option to buy three more acres was taken. On November 1. 1964, at the resignation of Brother Risk, Brother Roy Boatwright became interim pastor. In 1965 Brother James Spaulding was called as pastor. A Survey showed a population of about 1300 on the church field. A building committee was appointed. On March 12. 1967, a ground breaking ceremony for a new building, with a seating capacity of over 500. was held. The large meeting room in the basement was named "Gardner Hall" in memory of Brother William Gardner, a former pastor who died during his pastorate.

Brother Cecil Laster was called as pastor in 1969 and served until his retirement in December 1976.

In 1969 Steve Fegenbush was called as the first minister of music and education.

On February 6, 1977, Brother Dowling Running became pastor and remained until his resignation in 1985. In May 1985 the church called Brother Dillard Lykins who served until July 1986. In 1986 Dr. David Q. Byrd became interim pastor and served until May 1987, when the church called the present pastor, Mark S. Ross.

The Pleasant Grove Baptist Church has grown under the leadership of Mark Ross. In April 1990 a new building program was embarked upon. A large addition, including a gym, was built. This building added new Sunday School rooms. offices, a chapel, and a new kitchen.

The present membership is 732 members with an average worship attendance of 303 for the year 1995. The church supports a Minister of Proclamation and Counseling, Mark S. Ross: a Minister of Education and Youth, Stan Lowery~ a Minster of Music, Kevin Brannon-, organist, Cindy Ross; Pianist, Libby Thomas, and a full time secretary, Roberta Thomas.

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church ... C ar i n g For People!

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