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Walnut Grove United Methodist Church


History

The Walnut Grove United Methodist Church located at the corner of Spruce Street and Reeves Avenue was built in 1926 under the leadership of a beloved pastor, the Reverend Van R. Landrum. The church presently has a membership of 80 members and is lead by the very able pastor, the Reverend William Timothy Sisk of Starkville, Mississippi. His wife, Lorie McClure Sisk and young daughter, Miriam Hannah Sisk live in the brick parsonage adjacent to the church on Spruce Street. The old parsonage was destroyed by a tornado in 1958. The parsonage was planned and designed by a beloved pastor, the Reverend Lawrence E. "Pete" Norton. Walnut Grove UMC is part of the Mississippi United Methodist Conference and the East Jackson District.



The church celebrated its 132nd year of serving Christ in this community in 1999. The first pastoral appointment was in 1867. In 1860, a deed was granted by the McNair family for land in old Walnut Grove on which a Methodist church was to be built. The first building erected was used until 1884. A new church was built in 1895 and dedicated by Bishop Charles B. Galloway. The following scripture from Psalms 26-8 "O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell and the place where you glory abides." was used at the dedication. Among the pioneers in the early church were the Fuston, Chadwick, Millen, Golden, Foster, Henderson, Richmond, Ratliff, Bishop, Ellis, Starling, Johnson, Ferguson, McClendon, Lindsey, Cooper, Casteel, and Graham families. In the early 1900's among the educational leaders of the community were Professors John Rundle and A.S. McClendon. These men played a large part in the progress of the church and were instrumental in preparing Misses Marzie and Willie Hall who went from thus church as missionaries to Africa.

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