History

A New Church Building

In 1951 plans were made to build a new church. The congregation decided to cut logs, have lumber sawed, and to do the actual construction. Those who donated logs, cut and delivered logs and lumber for the project were Elmer Caldwell, Fate Cleek, Pat Gallager, Joe Hanger, Eskrin Sanders, Clyde Poe, Earl Withers, Everett Henley, and Joe D. Hasty. 

During 1950 thru 1952, Agnes Gallager served as Sunday School teacher to the youth. She and husband Pat conducted the Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) on Sunday evenings. Youth from Pleasant Grove and several from the community met with the MYF. In addition to the Sunday evening fellowship, the group also enjoyed trips to Nashville and to the Grand Ole Opry.

In 1952 construction was begun on a 32 x 60 foot brick veneer building with a full basement.  Members and friends who gave of their time were Joe Hanger, S. J. Shasteen, Harold Burton, Earl Withers, Everett Henley, Willie Abbott, Cecil Caldwell, Clofton Caldwell, Robert Cleek, Clarence Caldwell, Clyde Caldwell, James Perry, Donald Shasteen, Edwin Turner, Bill Cleek, Clyde Poe, Leslie Jacobs, Claude Castell, John W. Parks, Bill Cyree, Earl Cyree, Charles Ruch, Jack Statum, Auburn Tucker, Frank Lynch, Clarence Farris, Fate Cleek, Elmer Caldwell, Pat Gallager, Austin Northcutt, Charles Abbott, Walter Cartwright, Will Conwell, Jim Collins, Eugene Lawson, James Hale, and Dwight Hale. 

The women of the church quilted and sewed baseballs to help raise money for the construction. They prepared meals for the working men and delivered them to the church. Our women were very much a part of this project.

A few children were present to assist in handling lumber and daily cleanup, including  Cecil Wayne Caldwell, Bill Hanger, Jerry Hanger, Eugene Cleek, Jimmy Abbott, Ronald Abbott, and Johnny Shasteen.

After two years of hard work and much faith in God, the church was completed. In May 1954 the first service was held in the new building. Pleasant Grove was a part of the Marble Plains Circuit, but the Singleton Methodist Church was no longer a part of the circuit. A FIVE CHURCH CIRCUIT.

The only money borrowed for a building program was 1n 1954. Mrs. Lena Burrow, sick and dying, had requested for her funeral to be held in the new church. She died in May 1954 and to keep a promise, the church borrowed $1000.00 from a local bank and completed the sanctuary for her funeral.

The New Church Flourishes

So many of the men and women who in 1952 thru 1954 built the sanctuary continued their loyalty to the church for years to come. Many of those families are still represented in the church congregation today. 

Their dedication to this church and this community is the driving force to the great success this church has experienced. 

With a new church and several teenagers attending church and several in the community, Mrs. Glyndon Shasteen organized the group for Sunday School and outside activities. They participated in cook outs at Mrs. Shasteen's home and made several trips to Beersheba Springs.

Much of the furniture and pews from the old church was used in the new building. During 1963, the church sanctuary received new furniture and carpet. A pew fund was established in March thru July of 1963. The third Sunday collection was added to the pew fund instead of the building fund. At the end of July 1963, the money for the pews had been raised. In September 1963, $42.00 was returned to the building fund from the closed out pew fund. The pulpit area furniture, alter rail, and pews are still in use today.

The Pleasant Grove Quilters have been producing quality quilts since the building of the first church in 1912. In 1958, Mrs. Nettie Oliphant joined the Pleasant Grove Church and introduced the quilters to a new craft. Her large stuffed rabbits, frogs, and ducks as well as her bean bag animals and yard stick holders became a big part of Pleasant Grove's craft fund raisers at the annual White Elephant sales. The children not only loved the animals, but Mrs. Nettie and Mr. Woodrow as well.

On April 7, 1963, Miss Doris Hanger and Mr. Tony Buchanan exchanged wedding vows at Pleasant Grove Methodist Church, the first formal wedding held in the new church sanctuary. Rev. Henry Neal and student minister Ronnie Abbott conducted the ceremony.

The Methodist Church Merges

In 1968, the Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to become the United Methodist Church.

In 1968, the Tims Ford Lake was created and had a great impact on the Marble Plains Circuit. The Circuit lost the Awalt and Marble Plains churches. As a result, Pleasant Grove had the honor of three new families joining them in regular worship. They were the Charles Smith family, the Edwin Turner family and Mrs. Verna Mae Parks, a lady who had in excess of fifty years in teaching Christ's word in Sunday School.

A new parsonage was purchased on Highway 130 with the money received from the TVA for the church and parsonage at Awalt, TN, which was flooded by the Tims Ford Lake. The Harris Chapel, Turkey Creek and Pleasant Grove Churches still were known as the Marble Plains Circuit. A THREE CHURCH CIRCUIT.

October 12, 1969 was a very proud day for Pleasant Grove. The Ordination Service for Herbert Ronald Abbott was conducted at Pleasant Grove. One of our own to position of Elder in the United Methodist Church was a very important day. Elder Abbott is the son of William and Elizabeth Abbott. Ministers participating in the service were Bishop H. Ellis Finger, Jr., Rev. John Corry, Rev. John Norvelle, Rev. Edwin Beard, Rev. Mitchell Sawyer, Rev. Virgil Tipps, and Rev. Roy Wampler.

The Marble Plains church was not destroyed and its doors are always open. Pastors from several denominations have used the building from time to time.

or Mr. Robert Cunningham, both of Winchester, TN. The church is

located inside the main gate to Tims Ford State Park.

In 1973, the Turkey Creek United Methodist Church was removed from the Marble Plains Circuit. The church was to be served by the Tullahoma, TN. Methodist Churches. The Harris Chapel and Pleasant Grove Churches were to be served by a full time minister with preaching services each Sunday. The Rev. James C. Clardy Jr. was assigned to the new charge. In 1974 the Pleasant Grove Church officially became part of the Harris Chapel-Pleasant Grove Charge. A TWO CHURCH CHARGE.

During the pastorate of Rev. Clardy. the administration of th~ church was placed under the Administrative Board and Committee concept. Also during this period, an energetic youth program was created. Mrs. Glyndon Shasteen and Mrs. Mae Pearl Caldwell assisted Rev. Clardy with these activities and programs. Age level coordinators working with the children and youth were Mrs Ruby , Perry, Mrs. Nelle Caldwell, Kay and Jim Wiseman, and Joyce Phipps.

Kay and Jerry Hanger were also instrumental in providing activities for the teenagers of the church. The programs were a great success and laid the foundation for the programs and commitment we enjoy today.

The Franklin County Church Softball League was formed during the 1973-1974 church year and Pleasant Grove fielded a women's and men's team. The teams were very successful with the high point coming in 1985 when the men's team won the State Recreation Softball Championship. The tournament included independent teams as well as church league teams. A note of interest, the final win came at 7:30 A.M. on a Sunday morning after playing ball all night in the mud. Edwin Turner, Bob Cleek, Billy Hanger, Bill Cleek, Kent Turner, and Clyde Caldwell served as coaches for the teams.

Early in 1974, a floor plan was presented and approved for a Sunday School addition. The addition included six Sunday School rooms, a kitchen, a fellowship hall. rest rooms. and storage. The new addition also had central heat and air. Rev. J. D. Spencer came to serve at Pleasant Grove in 1975 and spent many hours working on the construction of this addition. With the help of all members and several friends from the community, the addition was completed in 1976.

The music program of Pleasant Grove has always been a very important part of the worship service and special events. In the days of the old church, 1934 thru 1954, Thelma Ray played the organ and Agnes Gallagher played the piano. Joyce Shasteen assisted during 1950 thru 1954.

Upon moving to the new church in 1954, Joyce Shasteen, at age 16, served the church as music director until taking a teaching position in Atlanta, GA. in 1968. Elaine Turner, Lucille Caldwell, and Betty Amacher assisted Joyce and filled the music position until 1972.

In 1972, Joyce Shasteen Phipps returned to the Pleasant Grove Church. Her musical talents have given Pleasant Grove music and musical programs second to none. Children's Day and Christmas programs have been the highlight of our music ministry. Since 1984 she has directed children and youth musicals using children from our community as well as Pleasant Grove children and youth. Joyce made a gift of her personal organ to the church in 1973. She and Elaine Turner played organ and piano for worship services until Elaine took a teaching position in Centerville, TN. Since 1982, Janet Shasteen Robinson has played the organ for the worship services.

Lucille Caldwell has served as an assistant to our music directors since 1954. Elaine Turner Cagle during her college years and teaching positions in Huntsville, Al. and Tullahoma, TN remained a faithful participant in the music program of Pleasant Grove. She was at Pleasant Grove almost every Sunday during the above period. On visits today she does not hesitate to assist if called upon.

Cecil Wayne Caldwell was Song leader at Pleasant Grove from 1954- 1968. Jerry Hanger served as an assistant song leader until 1986.

Roger Caldwell, at age 16, took over the duties of song leader in 1969. His super voice and love for God and church, his testimony both in word and song gave Pleasant Grove something to be proud of. Roger assisted the pastor in the Sunday Worship Services from 1980 until ##. 

In 1985 Rev. Thad Collier was assigned to the Harris Chapel-Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church Charge. Rev. Collier is a Spirit filled energetic and skillful minister. His deeply rooted faith in Christ is evident from the pulpit, committee meetings, and construction site. Rev. Collier has had and continues to have a very positive influence on the lives of the people of Pleasant Grove.

Due to the work of Rev. J. W. Graham, minister of Pleasant Grove prior to Rev. Collier, and the success of Rev. Collier, 1985 was a record year for new members received. Fourteen new members were added to the church register.

Rev. Collier was instrumental in establishing the United Methodist Men at Pleasant Grove. The first meeting was in 1986. The Rev. Virgil Tipps was guest speaker for that first meeting. The men meet the fourth Saturday of the month. Breakfast is served and guest speakers are from all areas of society as well as religious leaders.

The group reinforces many of the decisions from other committees and recommends activities and programs to the Administrative Council and church committees. The group is one of fellowship and action.

The examples of Christ's work and love has always been evident at Pleasant Grove. This is not only true for adults, but good examples have carried over to the children of the church. The Super Book Kids, later know as The Super Gang, have been very active in the last few years. In addition to lots of fun and fellowship, this group has had lots of projects. Some of these included fund raisers for a handicapped child and another child who was in need of a bone morrow transplant. In 1990, the children also headed a drive for the entire church to help support a group of Haitian children who had been adopted by missionaries in Indiana.

In 1988 a plan to renovate the basement was approved. Extensive work was necessary. Upon completion the church had two Sunday School rooms, a nursery, a library, and a storage area. With a new stairwell from the sanctuary, the area was a welcomed addition to the church.

An outside pavilion was completed during early 1989 and first used for the church's annual fish fry that started in October 1989.

On September 23, 1990 eighteen members of Pleasant Grove were baptized by the Rev. Thad Collier and the Rev. Charles C. Baxter at the Frank Phipps property on Tims Ford Lake. This was the largest number baptized on the same day in Pleasant Grove's history.·

Early in 1991, a floor plan was presented and approved for a 30 x 40 foot addition to the fellowship hall with a full second story for Sunday School rooms and storage. A new kitchen and serving area were to be included in the fellowship hall addition. Construction for this addition was completed in ##. 

During all the building and remodeling projects since 1951 to the present, Mr. William (Willie) Abbott has always been in the forefront. Willie oversaw the Building Fund and he did an outstanding job for more than 30 years of service to this community.