Sugar Grove Methodist Episcopal Church had its beginning in the fall of 1875. Rev. T.I. Jagger organized the church. The 19 charter members were George Ryan and wife, Sauks Miller and wife, Mrs. Josephine Carey, Samuel Carey and wife, Rachel, George Claphan and wife, Henry Scott and wife, James M. Carter and wife, Amanda and John Wilcox and wife, John Davis and wife and J.M. Porter and wife.
They first met in the little white frame school house that was located just north of our present church. Later a brick school was built, and they continued to meet in the Scott's Crossing School for 23 years.
A revival meeting was held the first winter and TJ. Carey was the first convert.
In 1895 - 1896 there was no regular pastor and finally no Sunday School.
In 1897, a student pastor by the name of George D. Gray reorganized the Sunday School and preached that summer. In the fall of 1897, TJ. (Tommy) Carey was assigned as regular pastor. At a revival meeting that winter, 27 people were converted and joined with the church.
A church home was desired and Rev. Carey called a meeting to talk it over. He and J.M. Carter went to Fairview Methodist Episcopal Church, west of Kenton, Ohio and studied its construction carefully, planning our own building to be much the same.
Nicholas McGlumphy donated the land for the church site. Trees for lumber were given and almost all the labor was donated J.M., Carter was head carpenter and architect, giving his time and labor until the building was completed.
A sawmill was set up in the forest across the road from where the building was to be. The framework was raised April 6, 1898 and the building went quite rapidly. Rev. Carey recalled a time in the process of construction when the men carried the boards from the mill, across to the church, where others nailed them in place as fast as they were sawed out.
On August 14, 1898, the dedication services were held with Rev. H.C. Jameson delivering the sermon at 10:00 a.m. The midday meal was eaten in the beautiful grove nearby. There were also afternoon and evening services. It was a great day for Sugar Grove Church. One important thought shared that day, and one we should remember is "In union there is strength.
Rev. Carey moved right away in the fall and Rev. John Parlette took charge.
In 1920 plans were made to remodel the church and this was done in 1921. Pledges were made to cover the expense.
In 1930, a campaign was started to eliminate the debt. In 1935, the last note was paid and burned. Other improvements have included: residing the church in March 1951, basement remodeling in 1954, furnace and basement improvements in 1956-57 and a new roof in October 1966 and again in August 1994. During one period Sugar Grove Church was apart of a three-point-charge: Dola, Dunkirk and Sugar Grove. For a time, Sunday School was held every Sunday and worship followed every other Sunday. Finally the little church in Dola was closed and with just two churches in the charge, worship was held every Sunday. During this period, the pastor lived in the Dunkirk parsonage.
Finally, in 1977, the churches separated, and we became a one point charge. The first year, a home was rented for the pastor. The following year, the present parsonage, located at 615 South Simon St. Ada, was purchased.
In 1962, 2.36 acres of land from the corner, west to make the present lot was purchased from Verne Smith for $4200 and the old Scott's Crossing School was torn down.
In 1968 the Evangelical United Brethren merged with the Methodist Church to form the United Methodist Church, thus changing the name of Sugar Grove Methodist Church to Sugar Grove United Methodist Church.
Sugar Grove United Methodist Church has sent six individuals into the world to carry the gospel message: TJ, Carey, Neil Peterson, R.C. Kimble, Frank Sanderson, Leroy Thompson and John Elwood.
In all, 56 pastors have ministered to the needs of this community.
Our current Pastor is the Reverend G. Alan Brown II, O. S. L.
As Mrs. Bertha Moore and Rev. Carey wrote as they summed up the events of the sixty year celebration: We are glad today, first for the pioneers who started our church, for those who have kept it going, and lastly for a free church home to bequeath to our children. May they keep the sacred trust.
