Pleasant Grove United Brethren Church

What is now known as the Pleasant Grove church had its beginning in the late eighties. In 1888, a class of eighty-one members was organized at the Vansickle school house which was then situated one mile east and one-half mile south f the present site of the Pleasant Grove church. This class was organized by Rev. G. M. Beltz and was the fruit of a four weeks meeting held by Rev. Beltz and Rev. G. P. White. Rev. Beltz also organized a Sunday school at the Victor school house. He held a successful meeting at the Lawson school house and enlarged the class there.

The first church building was constructed during the fall and winter of 1891-1892. It was a one room structure and cost approximately $2500, we believe, if one counted donated labor at a reasonable figure. The outlay in cash was very much reduced by the liberal donation of labor. It was dedicated by Dr. J. A. Weller, president of Central college, Enterprise, Kansas. The erection of the edifice was considered a great victory for the local church and insured its future.

The parsonage was purchased by the church and moved to its present location in the fall of 1895.

The first trustees were V. Priddle, Chas. Seedle, George Smith, T. Dyson and J. M. Miller.

The present church building was built in 1916 and was dedicated on September 10 of that year. The cost of the building was approximately $5500.

The present parsonage was erected in 1926 and was dedicated on May 23 by Bishop Statton assisted by the pastor C. L. Miller and C. V. Priddle, the district superintendent. The building was valued at $5000. The trustees were B. W. Kncaid, Guy Matlack, George Carmichael, and Frank DeWater.

(photo of Rev. & Mrs. W. S. Luper, Present Pastor & wife and a photo of Pleasant Grove Church)

(Haven Journal, Haven, Reno County, Kansas Haven's 50th Birthday edition May 27, 1936 page - 6 *** columns 1, 2, 3, & 4 submitted by Rose Stout)