Church History
- Timeline
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1886 - Established as Lone Grove Station.
7/30/1903 - First Methodist Church of Lone Grove, Indian Territory was established.
1953 - Old church replaced (now our fellowship hall)
1968 - Name changed to United Methodist Church. The United Methodist Church was formed in 1968 as a result of a merger between the Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) and the Methodist Church.
1974 - Added our present church (sanctuary) Dedicated by Bishop Milhouse & Burney Cope, Ardmore District Superintendent
History
According to “History of Methodism in Oklahoma” published in 1935, our church was Methodist Episcopal South and was listed as Lone Grove Station on a Circuit. The Minister preaching here that first year was Brother J.C. Scivally in 1886-1887. Several Circuit Riders succeeded him and in 1903 the First Methodist Church of Lone Grove, Indian Territory was placed on file July 30th. It’s location was south of town then and it was certified by Brother Charles W. Clay. (He stayed here and became the surveyed our land.)
The Department of the Interior appraisement was for $18.00 and a record of the third 25% of that amount was receipted by an Indian agent, named Danan Kilsey.
Mr. C.C. and Mollie Price were the owners of the lots here the church and parsonage are located now. It was on January 27, 1906 when the Prices deeded the lots as a gift to the Trustees at that time (F.M. Byrd, L.C. Hollis and J.E. McCarty).
While the construction took place, the Church met in the old Lone Grove School north of town.
In the late 1920’s, the Baptist Church was on the same street, and a block to the north. In those days we were ecumenical - we shared preachers with one another and worshipped in each church on alternate Sundays.
The structure, which currently houses our Sunday School classes, was complete in 1952 with Rev. Joe Hazleet as Minister. The building project was under the direction of Curtis Ford.
