Holt-Delhi Historical Society

Established 2014

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History of Grovenburg 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