Few histories could be written with more care and interest than that of the present West Grove United Methodist Church. Though, it has experienced an up-and-down existence, many people have been blessed through the years by its ministry.

At times it has all but passed out of existence. Other times it hasenjoyed mountain top experiences, revival meetings, church and parsonage

building, improvement and prosperity. Many people have chosen to serve the Lord through its ministry during the years.

Today it stands a sentinel, pointing upward to God as an example thatall humans should remain loyal to the Christian way of life. It reminds the area of West Grove that God is not forgotten.

The first mention of West Grove that we find on record is in 1871. TheRev. W. G. Thorn, a prominent member of the Iowa Methodist Conference served as pastor. There was no church or parsonage at that time and the inference is that the preachers just "boarded around". From this we believe that Methodists had services here at different times previous to the building of the parsonage in 1892 and the church in 1903. We know that the Christian and two Presbyterian denominations had church buildings at one time in the West Grove area.

The Presbyterian church that stood where this building now stands was

later used as a Cyceum Hall and public meeting place until it eventually became idle and gradually fell in disrepair. The school house burned in 1961 and the church was used by the public school.

The Sawyer family gave the original lot to two Presbyterians and thentransferred it to the Methodists after they decided to build. The presentstructure preserved the solid-hewed sills from the older building. Theglass window on the North, "The Pioneers" dated 1855 was put in theMethodist church in honor of the old church, previously located on thissite. The large south window was dedicated on Jan. 24, 1904. The names of Bro. B. F. Shane and his wife's name written on the window commemorate the occasion.

Due to several circumstances the church began to lose interest in the kingdom. The public, which should have been its supporter, became more or less indifferent. In 1923 the appointed pastor failed to accept the work, so in the summer of that conference year West Grove was supplied by C. R. Rowe, son of Rev. R. C. Rowe. The church later closed. The drama begins when the church was to be sold. Rev. Trostle took a definite stand and

secured the key to the padlock and opened the sanctuary and began preaching

services. A miracle took place in answer to the fervent prayers of the people.

It is fact that there was too much indifference, a loss of attendance,

and a lack of proper support that turned out to be near tragedy. It may be

God's way of showing to the people how precious was that which they had lost.

In 1938 Rev. Hawes came as pastor. He was young and anxious. The church rested on a rather crumbling, sandstone foundation. So he personally aised the foundation upon jacks. Services were held in the public hall for a while. Cement blocks were used to construct a foundation. First a kitchen space was dug out and covered with cement and used as a coal room.

A furnace was installed in a cubby hole just back of the pulpit. It wasreached by a ladder. And in 1945 a full basement was dug, and a cement floor added that is still used today. Men of the community, whether they belonged to the church or not, pitched in and helped with the work required.

An oil heating plant was installed in 1952. The sanctuary receivedattention and redecorated with beautiful lights that attractively set it off to quite attractive advantage. Later a communion set, choir loft, and other items of improvement wre added. The church has been painted.

With the full cooperation and financial partnership of Wesley Chapel alovely parsonage was reconstructed and together the two churches painted it and the garage.

After thirty years West Grove joined with Drakesville, then later they joined with Bloomsfield as a three point charge. In 1997 due to circumstances they began to be served by a student pastor, Kris Matthes.

When it was necessary for her to move out of state in 1999, Christine Pauley a Certified Lay Speaker came to serve with us. In 2003, Sharon Squires became our pastor