“Did you know that Emory Grove United Methodist Church stands as a beacon of faith and resilience? It is a testament to the enduring spirit of a community founded by freed African Americans. This church is not just a building. It’s a living piece of history.
Emory Grove United Methodist Church has its roots in the period after the Civil War. Freed slaves from Redland and Goshen bought land here. They established the Emory Grove community. Early services were held in the home of John Dorsey. He was a Civil War veteran. Dorsey won souls for Christ after gaining his freedom. His home was located on the Codwise farm. This is now the Montgomery County Airpark.
Around the 1870s, the congregants formed a choir. John Ennis, Jeffrey Maccabee, Perry Tyler, and Henrietta Johnson led it. Emory Grove became part of the Washington Conference in 1871. Worshippers gathered in the home of Robert Taylor at that time.
In 1874, the community built its first church. It cost around $500 to $600. Rev. N.M. Carroll dedicated the church. It featured a small balcony and no-back benches. The land was formally deeded on March 16, 1878 for $25.
The original structure was demolished in 1900. In 1903, the new Emory Grove Methodist Episcopal Church was completed. It cost about $3,000. John W. Dorsey laid the cornerstone. The first parsonage construction began in 1910. Rev. T.P. Thomas started it. Rev. C.E. Hodges completed it in 1911.
The Emory Grove United Methodist Church hosted a well-known camp meeting. It started in 1877. It was one of the best in Maryland. These meetings stopped in the 1960s. They resumed in the 1990s.
Anna Taylor organized the Ladies Aid Society in 1920. Rev. N.C. Barnes started a Junior choir in the 1930s. Church organizations included the Rosebuds and Busy Bee’s clubs. James Henry Braxton led the men’s quartet. They won first place in a county-wide contest. He later directed the Men’s Chorus. It formed in 1945 and performed its first program in 1946.
The Methodist Episcopal Church merged in 1939. It joined with the Methodist Protestant and Methodist Episcopal South churches. They formed the Methodist Church. The Woman’s Society of Christian Service replaced the Ladies Aid Society in 1940. The Epworth League became the Methodist Youth Fellowship in 1941. The Usher Board formed in 1945.
A new parsonage was built in 1957. Rev. Smallwood and Ruize Tyler led the project. Hazel Chambers started the Junior Chorus in 1963. Sadie Taylor inspired the Gospelettes. Rev. Glenn Taylor organized them in 1964. The Methodist Men were organized in 1961. The church was modernized between 1960 and 1962. Services were held in the campground and parsonage during renovations.
The parsonage was renovated in 1979. Additional property was purchased. This enlarged the parking lot. The kitchen was remodeled in 1984. The church bought more property in 2002. This was for ministry expansion. Modernization continued from 2003 through 2006.
Since 2013, Rev. Timothy B. Warner has been the Pastor. He revitalized Bible Study, Prayer Meetings, and Sunday School. He also strengthened Youth and Young Adult ministries at Emory Grove United Methodist Church.
Today, Emory Grove United Methodist Church is more than just a historical landmark. It is a thriving community. It preserves the legacy of its founders. It embraces the future with faith and determination. It is a testament to the strength and spirit of Emory Grove.”