Historic Photo of the Month -- Oak Grove Methodist Episcopal Church

      Although this photograph is not vintage, the structure certainly is. The Oak Grove Methodist Episcopal Church appears to have been established at the Daniel Colgan family’s log home in 1833. The congregation, known as the “Colgan appointment” met for some time in the Colgan one-room schoolhouse at the corner of County Roads D and 20 and was one of several Methodist churches on the “Stryker circuit” that shared one pastor.
     In 1879, Lewis W. and Hannah Prettyman sold one-half acre at the southeast corner of County Roads C and 20 to the Oak Grove Methodist Episcopal Church. Period newspaper accounts indicate the wooden frame house of worship was constructed by Von Behren & Shaffer—owners of the Stryker Boat Oar Company—for $519 and dedicated August 10, 1879.
     In February 1923, the Oak Grove church was sold to the Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Church; Evangelical and later Evangelical United Brethren services were conducted there for many years.
     In 1949, the Pine Grove Mennonite congregation was organized in the building and worshipped there until the Pine Grove congregation completed a new church in 1951 at the corner of Ohio 34 and County Road 20.50.
     In 1951 the Oak Grove church was sold to Oscar and DeNell Robarge of Bryan.
     In 1979 the building was sold to the Prayer Chapel, who continues to conduct services in the historic rural church.
    If you have an interesting historical photo to share, send it to the Stryker Area Heritage Council by clicking here.