A century’s whispers echo from these weathered walls. Welcome to Pleasant Grove Church a place where history breathes. Established in 1895 by descendants of freed slaves this little white church on Lewinsville Road stands as a testament to resilience and faith. It wasn’t just a house of worship it was a community hub. Imagine Sundays filled with hymns and laughter. Picnics and weddings celebrated life. Even funerals were powerful gatherings. One account speaks of a funeral in 1949 so many mourners attended that the floorboards groaned under the weight of grief and love.
Pleasant Grove’s story began long before its construction. It all started in 1882 when Samuel Sharper a freed man appealed for funds to build a church. He wrote We are few and very poor. We humbly appeal to our friends. It took nearly a decade to raise the $144 needed an exorbitant sum at the time. Sharper’s son Lewis Henry a master craftsman spearheaded the construction. The result is a beautiful example of Carpenter Gothic architecture. Ornate gables arched windows and pitched roofs are hallmarks of the style. Sadly Samuel Sharper died before the first service held in July 1896. He is now buried in the church cemetery a quiet resting place for the founders and their families.
During the Jim Crow era Pleasant Grove was more than just a church. It was a sanctuary a refuge. Joan Lewis who grew up nearby remembers the inequality. She recalls attending a three-room school with outside toilets. She remembers hand-me-down books and buses. Pleasant Grove she says offered solace a place where the community found strength and unity. Sadly the last Sunday service was held in the spring of 1969. Declining membership led to its closure.
The story doesn’t end there. In the 1980s concerned neighbors Garry and Joan Jewett formed Friends of Pleasant Grove. They dedicated themselves to preserving this piece of history. They restored it for public gatherings. Today the church hosts Christmas concerts Black History celebrations and family reunions. A small museum on the lower level houses artifacts donated by the Sharper family. These artifacts tell the enduring story of Pleasant Grove Church its people and their faith. It’s a reminder of the struggles overcome and the community built within these walls. This is more than a church. It’s a living legacy. A vibrant testament to the enduring spirit of a community.