April 1955

Four students from Belmont College asked Bro. Harold Gregory for

some work to do for the Lord. Bro. Gregory sent them to College Grove to visit and see if any

interest could be found. The students were John Carter, Ed Minor, Charlie and John Davis.

After visiting in some homes, they found some Baptist families and others interested in the

Lord’s work. Bro. Hawley Wilson, who was not a Baptist, but loved the Lord, asked for them to

pray about meeting in his home. After prayer meetings in several homes and a tent revival on

the school’s grounds, a work for the Lord was started by a small group of Baptists. The first

Sunday School being July 24, 1955, at the road-side park in College Grove Period; with an

attendance of eleven. Because there was not a building, Mr. Robert Davis asked us to meet in

his yard. That afternoon Bro. Charlie Davis and Mr. Robert Davis visited Mr. Marvin Scales to

see if he could get the front of the old grainery to have a meeting place. He gave his permission,

also donated materials to fix it up. The building was completed in December and the Christmas

program was the first service. We were without a sponsor during this time.

January 1956

In January 1956, Bro. John Davis took a vote to see if we wanted Concord Association for a sponsor. Concord Association accepted us as a mission. Bro. A.M. Nickerson came to help us organize our Sunday School training union. Concord was our sponsor until July 14 th , 1957, when Grandview Baptist Church was asked to

sponsor us; they did. In October of 1957, a lot was purchased by the mission to erect a building.

The lot was on highway 31, south of College Grove. January 1 st , 1958, the lot was paid for, then

plans were in the making for a building. Groundbreaking service was held June 22 nd , 1958, with

the following taking part: Bro. Bill Taylor (Pastor of the Mission), Bro. James Harris (Pastor of

Grandview the mother church), Mr. Harry Parks, Bro. Harold Gregory, and Mrs. Allie Ivery.

The following week the work was started. The building was completed and dedicated to God

November 9th , 1958. Those on the program:

• Welcome – Bro. James Harris, Pastor of Grandview

• Report on the work – Bro. William Taylor, Pastor of the mission

• Dedication Sermon – Bro. Harold Gregory

• Dedication Prayer – A.M. Nickerson

• Thanks to people – Mr. Harry Parks, Chairman of the Missions Committee

October 1 st , 1961, there was a note burning service, as the note had been paid. Those on the

program:

• Welcome – Bro. William Taylor, Pastor College Grove Chapel

• Devotion – Bro. James Harris of Grandview

• Special Song – College Grove Choir

• Special Song – Grandview Choir

• Note burning service – Mr. Harry Parks, Mission Chairman of the mother church, Mr.

Hawley Wilson (oldest member of the mission) holding the note. Mrs. Allie Ivery

representing the mission and lighting the fire.

July 1973

The College Grove Baptist Chapel organized into First Baptist of College Grove on July

15 th , 1973, at 2:30pm, with forty-eight charter members, with R.W. Lashbrook as interim pastor.

This information was documented by Mrs. Allie E. Ivery

This is how we became College Grove Baptist Church