A History of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church (1879-2006)
By Russell Tedder
(Revised November 1, 2006)
Life was very difficult in the area of Taylor County, Florida that became known as Pleasant Grove in 1879. Only 14 years had passed since General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House. President Rutherford B. Hayes, who had taken office in 1877, had fulfilled his campaign promise to remove Federal troops and thus end Reconstruction and the rule of the despised Carpetbaggers.
In this part of Florida, it was not unusual to see large herds of deer grazing in the woods while the wild cat, panther and black bear roamed at will. The settlers would clear a few acres and plant corn, sweet potatoes, sugar cane and other staple crops. These, plus venison and meat from the long horned cattle and razorback hogs, were sufficient to load the family dinner table and stock the cribs, smokehouses, and pantries of the pioneers.
The Augustine Road connected Tallahassee and St. Augustine, and the Government Road ran from the Georgia Line to Tampa Bay. Tampa was a fishing village of only 500 people. The Jacksonville, Pensacola & Mobile Railroad line was a few miles to the north and connected its namesake towns. Trails marked by blazes on the trees and a few three-rut rough wagon roads were the only other ways of travel. Rivers, streams, and creeks were crossed at fords since there were no bridges.
Some insights into the difficulty of travel are found in the diary of Robert M. Barnett, a Methodist Circuit-rider on the Taylor and Lafayette mission during this period:
“Feb. 16. Went to Brother McDaniel’s. Had quite a time losing and finding the blazes on the nine miles woods trip. Jumped a turkey.
“Feb. 24. Went to Uncle Bob Hendry’s. Swam the Econfina, preached at 7 o’clock at Friendship from Heb. XII:1.
“Feb. 25. Left Uncle Bob’s next morning at sunrise. Swam the creek and came through to Wright’s by 1 o’clock p.m.
“Mar. 12. Ceased raining at 12 o’clock, and started for my appointment at Brother Savage’s. Got lost in the afternoon, went four or five miles out of my way. Reached Monticello at dusk.
“Apr. 23. Came to Cook’s Hammock. Got lost and went way down to the Meadows. Arrived at the Hammock at 1 p.m.”
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church started the 21st century by constructing a new building.
It was in this primitive setting that a few pioneers gathered on April 13, 1879, to organize the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Like Abraham on his journey from Ur of the Chaldees to Canaan, they moved out by faith. Just as Abraham and his descendants always erected an altar wherever they sojourned, these pioneers established a church wherever they settled.
It is likely that the organizational meeting was held in the open or under a brush arbor. It could have been at the close of a “protracted” meeting.
The first pastor, Elder W. F. Harvard, preached the dedication sermon, probably at a morning service followed by “dinner on the ground,” since at 2:00 p.m., Elder S. D. Waller preached from a proof text to Brother Harvard’s from 2 Peter 3:9. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promises, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish but that all would come to repentance.”
There were nine constituent members and Georgia Grantham was the first member to be received upon profession of faith for baptism. She was baptized on the fourth Sunday in May 1879 near Mr. Dice’s.
The exact location of this first baptism is unclear. However, in August 1900, S. M. Maddox and Dixey Dice were baptized at 9:00 a.m. at the creek in front of the Church. This was followed by prayer meeting at 10:00 a.m., led by Johnny Grantham and services at 11:00 a.m., opened by W. S. Kelley and closed by J. E. Vann. In the memory of the present generation, baptism has been conducted at locations on the Econfina River such as Cruce Ford, Donaldson Bridge, and the Big Log.
The first building was constructed with split logs and a puncheon floor. It was built shortly after the Church was organized. This building served as a meeting house for the first 23 years in the life of the Church.
On April 30, 1904, a building committee, consisting of Neil Campbell, J. W. Horn, J. A. W. Grantham, G. W. Lewis, and S. B. Sapp, was appointed for the purpose of having a new Church house built. Evidently, this new building was moved into later in the same year, although it was apparently unfinished. This was the familiar frame building, which many still remember, that was located east of
In this circa 1919 scene, Annie Belle Tedder (Reams) is shown in front of a partial view of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church that was built in 1904. Photograph courtesy Brenda Reams Carter
and across what is now County Road 14 (Alton Wentworth Road) from the cemetery. The building was finished in later years and served as a place of worship for 52 years.
Available records do no mention music in the early years of the Church. However, it can be safely assumed that song services were typical of that day. Singing Schools, Singing Conventions, and shaped note music are all part of the music tradition of the Church. The Christian Harmony songbook was probably used during the early years and Sacred Harp, or fa-sol-la, four-note music was not unfamiliar to the worshipper’s ears. Songbooks by A. J. Showalter simplified and arranged the music for organ or piano accompaniment. Music by other publishers such as James D. Vaughn and Stamps-Baxter was used in the first half of his century. The Broadman, Baptist, and other hymnals published by Broadman were also used quite extensively throughout the last 30 to 35 years.
For the first 46 years, the Church did not have a musical instrument. In October 1925, the Church appointed a committee, consisting of J. A. Tedder, W. H. Lewis, Elma Tedder, and Rosa Lewis to get a reed pedal organ. The Church bought a new Estey reed pedal organ in December 1925. Young people would stand around the organ as they sang. Elma Tedder was the organist until 1950 when the Church traded the organ in on used upright piano.
The church bought a new piano in 1961. For many years, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church met only once a month, with services being held on Saturday, Saturday evening, and Sunday. In 1935, influenced by improving travel conditions, meeting times were changed to Saturday night, Sunday, and Sunday night. In October 1946, the congregation voted to have morning and evening services twice a month on the first and third Sundays. Fifth Sunday meetings, also called Union meetings, were also held quarterly at different churches throughout the Middle Florida Baptist Association. The Church went to full-time services in October 1953, while Rev. Colon J. Lewis was pastor.
There were efforts to hold Sunday School throughout the early years. The first recorded minutes pertaining to Sunday School was in 1934, when it was decided to hold Sunday School at 4:00 p.m. In November 1948, the Church voted to organize a Sunday School starting on the first Sunday of January 1949. This was the first continuous Sunday School. The Training Union was organized on January 22, 1950, under the leadership of Rev. and Mrs. Alva Horton.
When the Church was organized, it became a member of the Florida Baptist Association, where it remained until 1900, when it affiliated with newly formed Middle Florida Baptist Association. Pleasant Grove was the only church in Taylor County to stay in the Middle Florida Baptist Association when the Taylor County Baptist Association was organized in the 1950s.
Pleasant Grove has supported missions throughout its existence. However, in the early years it may have often thought of itself as an object of missions. For example, in April 1896, a card was read from Brother A. M. Manning on foreign missions. In response to the card, a sum of 20 cents was received from Brother Joshua Blanton to be turned over to the pastor, John Hampton, to be sent for foreign missions.
Around 1950, when the State Highway Department designated the dirt road by the church as State Road 14 and paved it, the building had to be moved back at the expense of the State. In the process of relocating, the Church decided to remodel the old building by lowering the roof and replacing the rived wood shingles with metal. Also, the two entrance doors on each side of the front were combined into one double door in the center, with a concrete porch and steps as shown above. Photo courtesy Wilma Rowell Tedder
The also demonstrated an interest in taking care of its own. In 1909, the record states that “Owing to Brother G. W. Dice’s sickness, the Church appointed Brothers B. W. Tedder, J. A. W. Granthum, and J. A. Tedder, as a committee to look after him and his affairs during his sickness.”
The Church’s interest in education was also evident in its early years. At the Florida Baptist Association, which met at Harmony Baptist Church in 1897, a collection was taken for ministerial education. Among the churches making pledges were Tallahassee, $2.00, Pleasant Grove, $2.00, Madison, $2.00, and Perry, $2.00. The same associational meeting adopted the following resolution: Resolved, that the Executive Committee be authorized to select a suitable candidate for the Baptist ministry, to be educated during the coming year at the John B. Stetson University, who shall receive the benefit of the pledges just made by and behalf of the churches in the Association.
A July 1882 progress report of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church showed that from the original nine members in 1879, in the three years following 20 new members were baptized into the fellowship of the church, 13 were received and two were dismissed by letter, resulting in a present membership of 37. A notation on the Church record, without explanation, indicates problems in the 1890s. The note reads, “From December A. D. 1891, to June 92, was quite a sad time for this Church. We pass from this to May A. D. 1894, almost without preaching.”
The minutes of the Florida Baptist Association reveals that Pleasant Grove Baptist Church had a total of 17 members in 1897, and no gains or losses were reported during the year. The contribution from Pleasant Grove that year was 25 cents to the Minute Fund and 35 cents to the Associational Fund.
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church has experienced peaks and valleys throughout its existence. The following records are representative of progress in the first half of the 20th century:
“Protracted meeting commenced with Pleasant Grove Church August 5th, 1899. Preaching Sunday and Sunday night. Received by letter, Sister Nancy Pridgeon and Sister Sofia Mims. Preaching Monday and Monday night. Received for baptism, Brother Lum Aman. Preaching Tuesday and Tuesday night. Received for baptism Sister Flora Morgan, Sister Florida Knowles, and Sister Ada Arnold. Preaching Wednesday and Wednesday night. Received for baptism Brother Neal Campbell. Preaching Thursday with W. S. Kelley, J. L. Rutherford and J. E. Van present. After preaching, the meeting was dismissed.
“Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, July 31st, 1932. Revival meeting commenced with Brother A. H. Townsend assisting in the meeting. Preaching Sunday night, Monday and Monday night, Tuesday and Tuesday night, Wednesday and Wednesday night, Thursday and Thursday night. Received Sister Nellie Holton by letter. Preaching Friday and Friday night, received for baptism Talmadge Sessions, Virginia Tedder, Marie Blue, Louvenia Goodman, Clarence Goodman, Roy Goodman, Laura Jane Lewis, and Mary Nell Holton. Preaching Saturday and Saturday night, Sunday after preaching received Sister Nannie Lewis for baptism, Sister Lizzie Slaughter by restoration. Baptism Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock. Preaching Sunday night, the meeting continued Monday night. Brothers E. W. Knowles, Valter Lewis, Hughey Lewis, E. P. Sessions received for baptism. Preaching Tuesday night. Received Eldon Knowles, J. C. Knowles, Ivey Hartsfield, Nannie Linson for baptism. Preaching Wednesday and Wednesday night. Received Shellie Deal and Minnie Mae Sheffield for baptism. Preaching Thursday and Thursday night. Received Eunice Timmons by statement in full fellowship and Archie Bee Lewis by letter. Baptizing to be at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Preaching at 11:00 o’clock on Friday. Received Ines Lewis for baptism. Sister Clara Tedder was received in full fellowship. Preaching Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night. Received Brother Paul Hendry for baptism. The meeting closed. T. A. Goodman, Pastor, J. A. Tedder, Church Clerk.”
Like most Baptist churches of that day, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church disciplined its members for various wrongdoings. At nearly every monthly conference from 1879 until the beginning of World War II, one or more members would come before the Church and acknowledge their wrongdoings. Often another member would make a statement for a delinquent member in his absence. Charges were made for a variety of offenses, such as drinking, dancing, “walking disorderly,” and the like. Many members, rather than acknowledge their sins, would merely send word that they would like to have their names removed from the Church rolls. And this was done frequently, the terms like “expelled,” “dismissed,” or “withdrawn from fellowship,” being used to describe the action. It was not uncommon for the very ones making charges to fall into the same temptation and be charged for the same offense a few months later.
Even the pastors were not immune from the discipline of the Church. Oftentimes the pastor could not be present due to the hardships of travel. At other times, some were apparently absent for other reasons. One pastor acknowledged that he had been delinquent in attendance. Whenever a pastor was not present, the record simply stated the fact. For example, “The pastor not being present, the Church held prayer meeting,” or, “There wasn’t any preaching as the preacher did not come.”
This colorful artist’s rendition of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church that was built in 1904 accurately depicts the building and surrounding grove of large and colorful oak and pine trees from which the church got its name. However, based on the author’s recollection, the building appears slightly smaller in proportion to its surroundings. From a photo of a painting commissioned by the author in 2003
Finances were often meager throughout the Church’s history. In 1895, the amount raised for the pastor was G. H. Tedder, six and two-thirds bushels of corn, G. W. Dice, five bushels, J. A. W. Grantham, five bushels, and others promising to help later on. In 1907, the Church agreed, without explanation, to pay the deacon and the clerk 50 cents each. In 1938, the pastor’s salary was discussed and the Church agreed to pay at least $12.00 per year and probably more. A record of expenditures in the 1930s illustrates the financial status of the Church during the Depression.
$ .83 to finish paying for the Church lamp
.75 for tickets
.15 for kerosene
2.20 for parts for the lamp
1.30 for a table cloth
1.00 for the preacher
.10 for a pump valve
.03 for a letter
.45 for a lock to the Church door
1.24 for parts for the Church lamp
8.00 for a lamp
2.00 for a pump pitcher
3.00 to fix the organ
.35 for kerosene and Gold Dust powder
Despite its hardships and difficulties, the Church has been actively involved in association and denominational work throughout its history. It has supported the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention since its inception in 1925. Other mission causes, at home and abroad, have been recipients of the Church’s generosity “as God hath prospered.” Perhaps on occasion, the gift was the “widow’s mite.” All the while, the Church was carrying out its mission of “keeping the lower lights burning” on its own field.
The Church hosted annual meetings of the Middle Florida Baptist Association in 1902, 1904, and 1957. The first Homecoming Day was observed on June 6, 1948, while the late Rev. J. W. Johnson was pastor. The sermon was preached by the late Rev. Felix A. Parker, and since that time, Homecoming Day has been an annual observance.
In 1953, after several years of discussion, the Church decided to erect a new building. On October 2 of that year, Mrs. Nannie (Cleve) Lewis deeded the land for the present site, which is west of the cemetery, between the Pleasant Grove Church Road and the Alton Wentworth Road (County Road 14).
The Church began planning the new building at once. Concrete block construction was used, and many people donated much time, labor, and material. The first service in the new building was held on Sunday evening, July 22, 1956, with preaching by the pastor, Rev. Colon J. Lewis. Many improvements have been made since that time.
The first service in this concrete block building was conducted on Sunday evening, July 22, 1956, when Rev. Colon J. Lewis was pastor. Although it was already in use, in this early circa 1957 scene the building and grounds appear not to have been finished. Photo courtesy J. B. Tedder
The sanctuary walls were paneled and the floor carpeted in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Sunday School rooms were completed and improved over the years. A sheltered table for “dinner on the ground,” Church picnics, and other fellowship meals was also built during this time. The grounds were landscaped in 1982 and 1983.
In 1979, Mrs. Marilyn Lunberg gave an electric organ in memory of her mother, Mrs. Ethyleen Sheffield. The sanctuary was completely refurnished with new pews and pulpit furniture in 1980. Mizell and Clara White gave the pulpit furniture in memory of their son, Edward White, and donations were given in memory of many others for purchase of the pews. By 1985, the Church had a very fine heated and air conditioned building, completed with functional Sunday School rooms and an attractive sanctuary.
At the close of the 1983-84 church year, total membership of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church was 117. An uncounted number have passed on since the nine original members began the work in 1879.
As part of its centennial celebration, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church hosted the Middle Florida Baptist Association’s annual meeting in 1979. To commemorate its centennial, the Church placed a granite marker at the northwest corner of the outside front of the building. The marker was inscribed with the words:
PLEASANT GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH 1879-1979.
After the celebration of its centennial, the Church changed its affiliation from the Middle Florida Baptist Association to the Taylor County Baptist Association.
As the Church entered its third century, the Church began to consider a larger building for its ministry. In 2002, the congregation moved into a well-designed, functional and esthetically-pleasing facility that seats about 300 people. Former member Russell Tedder and his wife Carolyn contributed a new Baby Grand Piano when the Church started using the new sanctuary. Concurrent with the move into the new facility, the Church adopted its mission statement, “God’s Family Caring for Your Family.”
The facility also includes ample rooms for Sunday School classes, nursery, pastor’s office, and choir room. The former building was converted into a spacious fellowship hall with a kitchen.
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church moved into this beautiful new building in 2002. Photo courtesy Patricia Rowell
In John’s gospel, we read where Jesus passed through Samaria one day and stopped at Sychar to rest. According to the gospel account, “And Jacob’s well was there,” it was the place where the woman met Jesus at the well. Jacob had dug the well during his sojourn there and for over 4,000 years the wall has been a blessing to weary travelers who partook of its refreshing waters. Perhaps there is a parallel in the pioneer settlers who established and carried on the work at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, in that each one who had a part in the endeavor figuratively “dug a well beside the road,” for future generations.
The promise spoken by the prophet Haggai, “I am with you, saith the Lord,” is still before us. The challenge to each successive generation must be that the house not be permitted to “lie in waste” as did the Temple in Jerusalem. Then the prophet will not again have to ask, “Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? And how do you see it now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?” (Haggai 2:3)
Published by
ERIDU PRESS
302 Fork River Road
Sherwood, AR 72120-5800
Copyright © 2006 by Russell Tedder
APPENDIX A
Minutes of the Organization of
PLEASANT GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH
STATE OF FLORIDA:
TAYLOR COUNTY:
We, the undersigned Baptists met on the 13th day of April, A. D., 1879, at Pleasant Grove in the State and County above named and W. F. Harvard and S. D. Waller being present to act in the capacity of Presbytery, proceeded to constitute us into a church under the twelve Articles of Faith known as the Old Philadelphia. After which, the Church entered into Conference, went into the choice of a Clerk, which resulted in the election of W. B. Tedder. The Church then being prepared for business, next made choice of a Deacon, which lot fell upon E. S. Lee, who being willing to fulfill the Command, “Whatsoever thy hands find to do, that do with all thy might,” yielded obedience and was ordained by W. F. Harvard and S. D. Waller.
The dedication sermon was preached by Elder W. F. Harvard from Haggai 1:13, where God had promised, “I will be with you.” At 2:00 o’clock P.M., Elder S. D. Waller preached from a proof text to Brother Harvard’s from 2nd Peter 3rd Chapter 9th Verse. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promises, as some men count slackness, but is long suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish but that all would come to repentance.” After the sermon, the Church opened her doors for the reception of members. Received by experience for Baptism, Georgia Grantham, who is to be baptized the 4th Sunday in May near Mr. Dice’s.
No other business, the Conference adjourned.
W. F. Harvard, Moderator
W. B. Tedder, Church Clerk
Constituent members:
George C. Williams Martha E. Williams
William B. Tedder Elizabeth J. Tedder
E. S. Lee Melvina Kemp
Martha Kemp
Callie B. Tedder
Nancy Eakin
APPENDIX B
The Twelve Articles of Faith
Known as the Old Philadelphia
- We believe in one only true and living God and that there are three persons in the Godhead; Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
- We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God and the only rule of Faith and Practice.
- We believe in the Doctrine of Election.
- We believe in the Doctrine of Original Sin.
- We believe in man’s impotency, of his own free will and ability, to recover himself from the state he is in, by nature.
- We believe that sinners are justified in the sight of God, only by the imputed righteousness of Christ.
- We believe that God’s elect shall be called, renewed and sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
- We believe that the saints shall persevere in grace and never finally fall away.
- We believe that Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances of Jesus imposed upon his churches, that nothing is Baptism except immersion, that none but believers are entitled to partake of the Lord’s Supper.
- We believe in the Resurrection of the dead and the General Judgment.
- We believe that the punishment of the wicked will be everlasting and that the joy of the righteous will be eternal.
- We believe that no minister has the right to administer the ordinances, only such as are called and come under the hands of the presbytery.
APPENDIX C
PASTORS
of
PLEASANT GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH
(1879-1985)
W. F. Harvard 1879-1880 A. B. Franklin 1935-1938
J. H. Wentworth 1880-1882 Paul Hendry 1938-1939
(No records available) 1881-1888 Russell Williams 1939-1940
J. G. Connell 1888 John Vann 1940-1941
J. E. Vann 1888-1891 M. J. Fowler 1941-1942
Benjamin Barber 1891-1892 Colon J. Lewis 1942-1946
J. M. Hampton 1894-1896 William Ranew 1946-1947
W. S. Kelley 1896-1903 J. W. Johnson 1947-1948
J. E. Vann 1903-1908 Colon J. Lewis 1948-1950
W. S. Kelley 1908-1909 Clarence Bailey 1950-1951
J. E. Vann 1910 Dorman Gay 1951-1952
T. A. Evans 1910-1912 Colon J. Lewis 1952-1956
J. E. Vann 1913-1916 R. W. Calhoun 1956-1957
C. E. McClellan 1917 M. J. Fowler 1957-1958
J. E. Vann 1917 C. B. Goodwin 1959-1960
A. N. Woodard 1917-1919 J. W. Alford 1960-1961
J. E. Vann 1919-1920 C. B. Goodwin 1961-1965
W. S. Kelley 1920-1922 R. C. Cannon 1965
J. E. Vann 1922-1923 W. H. Woodard 1965-1967
J. O. Wilcox 1923 J. Wesley Johnson 1967-1969
A. M. Rowe 1923-1928 D. Paul Hendry 1969-1971
M. J. Howell 1928-1930 Danny Lundy 1971-1976
J. E. Vann 1930-1931 Jimmy Coulliette 1977-1978
T. A. Goodman 1932-1933 Fred Harrison 1979-1984
Quincy Kirkland 1933-1934 Rodney Watts 1984
Eugene Stokes 1985-
Earl L. Mixon
Danny Lundy
APPENDIX D
DEACONS ORDAINED BY
PLEASANT GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH
(1879-1985)
Name Year Ordained
E. S. Lee 1879
G. W. Eakin (no record)
W. B. Tedder (no record)
T. H. Dice 1890
J. A. W. Grantham 1896
S. B. Sapp 1902
B. W. Tedder 1908
Colon Lewis 1911
S. W. Tedder 1925
A. B. Lewis 1925
T. A. Goodman 1926
G. C. Lewis 1932
W. S. Blue 1933
A. H. Rowell 1933
Rudolph Knowles 1946
Talmadge Sessions 1946
Allen Woods 1946
Paul Blue 1960
Walter Rowell 1974
Franklin Aman 1974
Horace Knowles 1974
Church Clerks of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church
(1879-1985)
(Incomplete Record)
W. B. Tedder 1879-
K. M. Tedder 1882-
B. W. Tedder 1908-
J. A. Tedder 1919-1935
D. P. Hendry 1935-1936
Nannie P. Lewis 1936-1945
Ernest Tedder 1945-1951
C. A. Lewis 1951-1953
Virginia Rowell 1953-1957
Horace Knowles 1957-1960
Russell Tedder 1960-1964
J. W. Cruce 1964-1967
Sue Ann Yates 1967-1968
Russell Tedder 1968
Linda Blanton 1968-1969
Virginia Rowell 1969-1972
Mable Knowles 1973-1984
Gerry Ann Rowell 1984-