Cherry Grove Missionary Baptist Church History
The Cherry Grove Baptist Church is the greatest influence in the community. It is one of the oldest established institutions throughout the world. Although it has been known as names such as a Temple or Cathedral, it still remains a House of Worship That Welcomes All.
In 1888 God laid on the heart of Rev. Lacy, a white minister, to organize a church in the negro community. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, under a grove of cherry trees, Sis. Carrie Bell Crisp suggested the name Cherry Grove Baptist Church. Rev. Lacy and all the members present agreed. It was then that the Cherry Grove Baptist Church was organized. The first church was a log cabin that held services for 4 years.
In 1892 another church was built but on May 6, 1907, after 15 years and 5 months, a great storm came and destroyed the building. School was held in the church at the time and Mr. Scott Panell, a teacher, helped save the lives of many children due to this storm. With the demolishing of the structure, church was held under Brush Arbor from May 1907 to 1908. In 1908 another church was built. It stood until 1937 with renovations taking place in 1917. During this time Mrs. Dovie Harrison started the first Missionary Society in 1935. Since modern day transportation did not exist as it does today, many of the faithful members and warriors walked or rode in wagons pulled by horses. Some even rode horses to church each Sunday and for special programs. All these activities that happened during the early history of the church was for children and grandchildren to come. These warriors were leaving footprints in the sand for others to follow.
In 1958 another church was built by Bro. Dewy Harrison and the men of the community. The church was built with used lumber from a house that was purchased from Mr. Joe Palmer. The men of the community tore the house down and moved the lumber to the church grounds. Services would be held in this church until 1994. Important additions that were added to the church during this time included: restroom and lounging room additions, carpeting, septic tank, water meters, PA system, baptistery, classrooms, Pastor’s Study, and many other small upgrades.
In 1993, the then pastor of the Cherry Grove Baptist Church Elder Curtis Rose, had a dream to build a new church. On November 23, 1993, the dream started to become a reality when the current church was moved to the spot where the Community Center had once stood and been torn down in preparation to build the new church. On June 9, 1994, God sent a group of angels (The Texas Baptist Ministry) to start constructing the new church. They worked on the church until June 25, 1994. The church was complete by November of 1994 and on November 20, 1994, the members of the church walked from the old building to the new building for a dedications service for the new church.
On October 9, 2015, under the pastoral leadership of Pastor C.L. Moore the metal framework was put up to start construction on the new fellowship hall. The church was again blessed by the aid of the Texas Baptist Ministry to build the fellowship hall and on June 26, 2016, the first fellowship took place in the new building. Cherry Grove has been blessed beyond measure over the years as anyone can tell by the history it holds. Today, under the pastoral leadership of Pastor Philip Harrison, the church strives to add to this history and do all that is needed to keep it going.