The History of Shady Grove United Methodist Church
The LOUD program was started by Shady Grove United Methodist Church.
The story of Shady Grove United Methodist Church began in the late 19th century. At that time St. Mark United Methodist Church was the nearest place for African Americans living in the area of Indian Field to worship. Very anxious to serve God, they walked the eight to nine miles to St. Mark to worship.
While on their way to worship one Sunday morning, many were caught in a rain storm and stopped under a shade tree for shelter. It was here they decided to pray on that morning. Observing them, the owner of this land approached them and said, "If you help me gather my rice, I will give you this spot of land to establish a place of worship." The tree under which they prayed that rainy morning was located at the spot where historic Shady Grove Campground is today.
Immediately the women tucked their skirts, the men rolled up their pants and they began to work. In a short while the rice was cut and shucked and the spot of land was given to them with the understanding that it would be used for worship.
Soon the group had built a "Bush Harbor" and held services there for a long time, eventually deciding to name the land Shady Grove Campground at the shade tree under which they were sheltered and prayed. God blessed their determination to serve Him. In 1880 the land was officially deeded to them and they continued to meet at the Campground. But soon they saw the need to organize and build a church, and an African American landowner, Mr. Jim Smith, gave them three acres near the Campground on which to build. Shady Grove United Methodist Church now stands on those three acres. So, Shady Grove UMC became the product of Shady Grove Campground. The Campground remains and is now the location for a celebrated Annual Community Camp Meeting observance each October.
Trustees of the church they build were Mr. James "Jim" Smith, Mr. John Smith, Mr. Jake Smith, Mr. Joe Davis, Mr. Jack Kitt (father of Addie Kitt), Mr. Jeff McCants, Mr. Peter Dessasaw, Mr. Robert Summers, Mr. Jack Breaker, and Mr. Steven Johnson. These men were not only trustees of the new church, but among them were carpenters who furnished the lumber from their farms and willing workers who built the church. Worship services were held at this original church for many years.
The church became a center of the community and was also used for public school classes, Church Conferences, concerts, and school closing exercises. Many souls were brought to Christ as a result of the wonderful prayer services, class meetings, and revival meetings that were held there. In 1917, Reverend D.J. Sanders was appointed to the charge. On his arrival, he and the congregation immediately decided that it was time to build a new church. Their first efforts to raise the needed capital for the project resulted in $1,275 and the building of the new church became a reality. Three years later, in 1920, the corner stone was laid in the new, modern structure.
Trustees named for the new church were Mr. Samuel McCord, Mr. Julius Walker, Mr. John Conner, Mr. John Jones, Mr. Jake Boyd, Mr. Jenus Dessasaw, among others. Over the years since then God has blessed the congregation of Shady Grove United Methodist Church with a stream of pastors who have served the church and God well. They are the Reverends S.S. Lawton, J.H. Henderson, A.G. Kennedy, J.B. Taylor, A.E. Quick, J.A. Brown, N.T. Bowen, Jr., O. Blessengame, G.W. Covington, D.J. Sanders, A.S. Newman, T.J. Robinson, Rev. Marks, J.W. Robinson, J. Amerson, S.A. Gadson, C.J. Johnson, and the current pastor, the Reverend John H. Elliott.
The above history of Shady Grove Church is limited and offers only a few of the highlights associated with its beginning and growth. It is hoped that the congregation's remembrance and appreciation of our forefathers may be renewed and that their religious sincerity was to leave for their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren a pattern of life centered on Christ and His Church.
Although most of them have joined the Heavenly Hosts, we are blessed with their footprints that lead the way to the blessed Christ and to God's eternal home. The older members of Shady Grove United Methodist Church and Community who gladly and freely passed this information on to Mrs. Canady include Mrs. Annie Johnson, Mrs. Addie Kitt and verified by Mr. Sam Knight and children, Mr. Rob Knight, among others.
NOTE: Unfortunately, the early records of the church, which were kept by Mr. John M. Smith, who was secretary, chairman of the steward board, and the trustee board superintendent of the Sunday school, were burned when his home was consumed by fire in 1919.