This history was submitted to the archived USGenWeb Project by Jane Norton Powell in 2005.  No copyright infringement is intended.  Click here to view the original item.

Note:  The TNGenWeb Project does not condone use of culturally insensitive language.  In the text below, certain antiquated terms remain for context.

Beech Grove, established 1883, was the first Afro-American Church of Christ in Haywood County. The history of the church as written in History of Haywood County, 1989, states that it was begun very near the present location by a few black Christians who had been taught by whites who lived in the vicinity. And it was, at first, called “The Church of God.”

Land was purchased for $8.00 from W. A. Whitelaw and wife and specified for church property “to have and hold forever,” and here was built the first one room structure.

Early families were Murf and Queen Currie, Ike and Mary Waller, Buck and Aurelia Bond, Bob and Ann Lester, Ross and Ella Carter, Shed and Ella Carter, Myra and Ben Anderson, Grant and Maria Jones.

Early preachers were Murf Currie, Shed Carter, William Alphen and G. P. Bowser served as visiting minister who came at various times in the interest of the school at Silver Point, Tennessee. Sister Etta Bond Reid labored as a teach in that school during its struggling years. Gospel meetings were held annually as were tent meetings with the late Marshall Keeble and Bro. D. M. English.