Grovenburg Methodist Church
Shortly after 1840, Henry Grovenburg and sons Jerome, Harry, and Frank, came from New York to Delhi Township, where they settled in the west end of the Township. The settlement took the name "Grovenburg" after the family, which it is still known as today. As the community grew, many residents were anxious for a Sunday School, so "Aunt" Jane Grovenburg was an instrumental force in its founding.
At first, preaching services were conducted by traveling preachers, or circuit riders. Everyone around went to hear them. "Uncle" Jerome Grovenburg was noted as the gracious host to nearly every visiting preacher. Per an early Church Register, the Grovenburg Sunday School Class was organized in March 1862 with 18 charter members. The first minister was Rev. Andrews who stayed for four years.
On October 24, 1885, the Grovenburg Church found a home on a half acre of land at the northwest corner of Wallace Fisher's farm. There, a 24' x 36' church building was constructed of "good wood and on a good stone wall." Steven Pratt and son Henry built the original church. "Uncle" Jerome Grovenburg was another of the builders. He made the seats and the pulpit. "Aunt" Jane Grovenburg gave a cupboard.
On April 19, 1886, the building committee developed an entrance for the church building, with a set of doors and a tower, 6' x 8' in size with two jogs. In January 1890, posts were set around the church. A church bell was acquired from Lansing. Also at that time a janitor was employed for $12 per year.
New horse sheds, including one for the minister, were built in the 1890s on both the north and east sides of the church building. Not every family had a shed. A horse hitching post was built in 1899.
For a period, Grovenburg and Alaiedon constituted a Circuit. The class was grouped with Maple Grove, Dimondale, and Holt, but was joined with Robbins in Aurelius for 34 years. Grovenburg became a single point church in 1981.
Church Additions
October 1911 -- The floor was raised, windows were raised, a basement dug, a one register furnace was installed and a kitchen built in the south west corner.
April-August 1937 -- Annex Constructed; E. Clement Jarvis gave $1,000 to the church for remodeling in December 1936. The annex was constructed beginning in April 1937. The original donation was increased several times. On August 14, 1937, a Homecoming was held, and on August 15, 1937, a dedication was held for the new addition. In November 1938, there was a fire in the annex which was covered by insurance and repaired.
August-October 1953 -- Sunday School Rooms Constructed; The church board voted on August 13, 1953, to build the addition. On October 24, 1953, the new Sunday School space was dedicated with Bishop Reed giving remarks.
1956-1960 -- In February 1956, Mrs. Lily Jarvis donated $10,000 for future remodeling of the church. These funds were used for a major and final addition on the church. Built off the west end, the addition included a chancel area, office, and foyer space. The new church was consecrated on September 25, 1960. Albion-Lansing District Superintendent Howard Lyman gave the consecration address.
1981 -- With a $50,000 gift from Mrs. Lily Jarvis, paired with the sale of half of the Grovenburg-Robbins Parsonage to the Robbins United Methodist Church, and the gift of one acre of land north of the church from Ralph and Bettie Hart, Grovenburg built a parsonage of its own in 1981 when it became a single point charge.
GROVENBURG METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH PASTORS
Rev. Andrews, 1861-1864
Rev. J.C. Gibson, 1864-1865
Rev. Edmonds, 1865-1866
Rev. Jesse Prior, 1867-1868
Rev. Lafayette Hutt, 1868-1870, 1873-1874
Rev. W. Nichols, 1870-1871, 1874-1875
Rev. A.H. Shepherdson, 1871-1872
Rev. E. Hough, 1872-1873
Rev. J. Braggins, 1875-1876
Rev. S.P. May, 1876-1877
Rev. James Latham, 1877-1879
Rev. James Riley, 1879-1880
Rev. A.L. Thurston, 1880-1881
Rev. J. McPhail, 1881-1884
Rev. B. Worden, 1884-1886
Rev. L.D. Abbott, 1886-1888
Rev. S.P. May, 1888-1889
Rev. C.L. Ellis, 1889-1891
Rev. F.H. Perry, 1891-1893
Rev. C.D. Paxon, 1893-1895
Rev. Mark Daniels, 1895-1896
Rev. Charles Perry, 1896-1897
Rev. J.A. Morey, 1897-1898
Rev. William Bradley, 1898-1900
Rev. O. Carlyle, 1900-1901
Rev. Charles Quinn, 1901-1904
Rev. Archie Soule, 1904-1906
Rev. R.C. Powell, 1906-1907
Rev. J.H. Reilly, 1907-1908
Rev. Mical R. Saigeon, 1908-1910
Rev. Archie Bragg, 1910-1911
Rev. William Prouse, 1911-1912
Rev. J.C. Searles, 1912-1913
Rev. John McCue, 1913-1914
Rev. Thompson, 1914-1915
Rev. Archie Scott, 1915-1920
Rev. George Bedell, 1920-1922
Rev. William Prouse, 1922-1924
Rev. Richard Terwilligar, 1924-1930
Rev. A.M. Bostwick, 1930-1932
Rev. Harry L. Watkins, 1932-1934
Rev. Earl J. Plumb, 1934-1941
GROVENBURG METHODIST CHURCH PASTORS
Rev. Wilson M. Tennent, 1941-1946
Rev. Lloyd Meade, 1946-1947
Rev. Paul Merginer, 1947-1951
Rev. Merton Jacobs, June 1951-September 1951
Rev. Russell Waldron, September 1951-November 1951
Rev. Malon Jones, December 1951
Rev. Floyd Wallace, 1951-1954
Rev. James Moores, 1954-1955
Rev. Francis Johannides, 1955-1959
Rev. G. Robert Webber, 1959-1962
Rev. Jerold Salisbury, 1962-1966
Rev. Maurice Glasgow, 1966-1978
Assoc. Rev. Paul Merginer, 1966-1978
GROVENBURG UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PASTORS
Rev. Joseph Huston, 1978-1981; 2009-2017
Rev. Paul J. Wehner, 1981-1986
Rev. Martin DeBow, 1986-1990
Rev. Kyewoon Choi, 1991-1997
Rev. Melanie Young, 1997-1998
Rev. Richard Duffey, 1998-2005