On March 17, 1871,
the “Methodist Episcopal Church South by the name of Pleasant Valley” bought two
acres of land from Lewis and Amanda O’Neal, Crownover, Monzingo, for the $5.00.
The next year, in December 1872, Rev. Robert Randall was appointed to the
church. He held worship services once a month, though Sunday School
classes were held every week.
When visiting preachers came, they were greeted by the
community Hortman on Saturday and stayed with a local family for the weekend.
They would leave on the Monday train.
The original church building is still in use today, having gone through
many improvements and additions over the years. Mittie Greene Willis was
baptized as a youth in the spring near the church in 1915. In speaking of
her church, she commented that it "was a social center, spiritual center, and
the one place as a child she could come to feel the presence of the heavenly
Father and understand his love for her.”
The church has continued to grow and is active in the
community. Among the many activities are the UMW bazaar fundraiser held
every year, bringing gift & fruit baskets to the local shut-ins and nursing home
residents at Christmas, an annual October revival, and Homecoming every June.
Many current members are descendants of the original founders of this church.
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