Page 113 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
P. 113
History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
Salem to the new church, which was named New Salem at that time.
At the time Rev. Gruver took charge of the work in the vicinity of Cherry Grove, there was no
house of worship there. In fact, there was no organized congregation, or class, as our organized groups
were called at that time. Services were held during the summer months in a chestnut grove near where
the first church house was to be erected. These outdoor meetings were known as “bush meetings” at
that time. As a result of these meetings, Rev. Gruver began a movement to organize a class, and to build
a house of worship. This plan soon resulted in the first house of worship being built in the community
of Cherry Grove.24
Cherry Grove U.B. Church. The first church building at Cherry Grove served well for the
purpose of worship and Christian fellowship for many years. It was during the early years of its
ministry that the name of the church was changed from New Salem to Cherry Grove. The first trustees
were: E. S. Pennington. C. N. Sprinkle, and Henry Zirkle. These men and others served well in their
day, and their descendants are carrying on the work they helped to start in those days when the going
was hard and difficult. Peace be to their ashes, and may their spirits hover near us as we endeavor to
carry on.
1940s. In the year 1940, the Rev. W. D. Mitchell was appointed pastor of the Singers Glen
Charge, of which Cherry Grove was a part. Under his leadership the congregation began to grow until
soon they began to talk about a new house of worship better suited to accommodate the wider program
of the church. On June 21, 1942, Rev. Mitchell passed to his reward, and the Rev. Millard R. Floyd was
appointed in his stead.25 Rev. Floyd continued to carry on the idea of a new church house and led in
starting a building fund. Rev. Floyd served until September 19, 1946, when the Rev. Howard L. Fulk
was appointed to the charge.
24 Rev. W. F. Gruver was born near Chambersburg, Pa. on July 9, 1865, a son of Jacob and Anna M. Gruver. Rev. Gruver
early felt the call to the gospel ministry and without hesitation dedicated himself to that work. He attended Shenandoah
College, known at that time as Shenandoah Collegiate Institute. After graduation, he was married to Miss Nellie May
Ruby and moved to their first appointment which was the Singers Glen Charge. This charge consisted of Singers Glen,
Cherry Grove, which was just beginning to develop, and several preaching places in Brocks Gap. Rev. Gruver served
several charges in the Virginia Conference, and was instrumental in organizing churches at St. Luke’s in Martinsburg,
Blairton, and Cumberland. He served for several years as presiding elder of the Virginia Conference. His last pastorate
was Harrisonburg, from which he retired and moved to Martinsburg, W.Va., where he had been pastor for 20 years.
Rev. Gruver passed to his reward on November 30, 2024 at the age of 85.
25 Rev. Millard R. Floyd was born near Mannington, W.Va., on March 14, 1910. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Russel
Floyd, and is one of a family of eleven children. On May 14, 1927, he married Hazel Garrison, and to them was born
one daughter, Thelma, who in 1955 still resided in Singers Glen, Va. He was pastor of Cherry Grove Church from July
1942 to September 19, 1946. In 1933, Rev. Floyd began his work in the ministry, and returned to school to finish his
high school education while serving his first charge near Arden, West Virginia. Following his graduation from high
school, he served Rivesville and Volga charges in West Virginia. Following these years of service, he moved with his
family to Dayton, Va., where he entered Shenandoah College and Conservatory. It was while he was a student there,
that he was called to the Singers Glen Charge upon the death of Rev. W. D. Mitchell. While serving the Singers Glen
Charge he completed his education at Bridgewater College. It was while he was pastor at Cherry Grove that the building
fund for the new church was started. Rev. Floyd is now (1955) serving our church in Roanoke, Va.
II.B.11 Cherry Grove U.B. Church 99
Salem to the new church, which was named New Salem at that time.
At the time Rev. Gruver took charge of the work in the vicinity of Cherry Grove, there was no
house of worship there. In fact, there was no organized congregation, or class, as our organized groups
were called at that time. Services were held during the summer months in a chestnut grove near where
the first church house was to be erected. These outdoor meetings were known as “bush meetings” at
that time. As a result of these meetings, Rev. Gruver began a movement to organize a class, and to build
a house of worship. This plan soon resulted in the first house of worship being built in the community
of Cherry Grove.24
Cherry Grove U.B. Church. The first church building at Cherry Grove served well for the
purpose of worship and Christian fellowship for many years. It was during the early years of its
ministry that the name of the church was changed from New Salem to Cherry Grove. The first trustees
were: E. S. Pennington. C. N. Sprinkle, and Henry Zirkle. These men and others served well in their
day, and their descendants are carrying on the work they helped to start in those days when the going
was hard and difficult. Peace be to their ashes, and may their spirits hover near us as we endeavor to
carry on.
1940s. In the year 1940, the Rev. W. D. Mitchell was appointed pastor of the Singers Glen
Charge, of which Cherry Grove was a part. Under his leadership the congregation began to grow until
soon they began to talk about a new house of worship better suited to accommodate the wider program
of the church. On June 21, 1942, Rev. Mitchell passed to his reward, and the Rev. Millard R. Floyd was
appointed in his stead.25 Rev. Floyd continued to carry on the idea of a new church house and led in
starting a building fund. Rev. Floyd served until September 19, 1946, when the Rev. Howard L. Fulk
was appointed to the charge.
24 Rev. W. F. Gruver was born near Chambersburg, Pa. on July 9, 1865, a son of Jacob and Anna M. Gruver. Rev. Gruver
early felt the call to the gospel ministry and without hesitation dedicated himself to that work. He attended Shenandoah
College, known at that time as Shenandoah Collegiate Institute. After graduation, he was married to Miss Nellie May
Ruby and moved to their first appointment which was the Singers Glen Charge. This charge consisted of Singers Glen,
Cherry Grove, which was just beginning to develop, and several preaching places in Brocks Gap. Rev. Gruver served
several charges in the Virginia Conference, and was instrumental in organizing churches at St. Luke’s in Martinsburg,
Blairton, and Cumberland. He served for several years as presiding elder of the Virginia Conference. His last pastorate
was Harrisonburg, from which he retired and moved to Martinsburg, W.Va., where he had been pastor for 20 years.
Rev. Gruver passed to his reward on November 30, 2024 at the age of 85.
25 Rev. Millard R. Floyd was born near Mannington, W.Va., on March 14, 1910. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Russel
Floyd, and is one of a family of eleven children. On May 14, 1927, he married Hazel Garrison, and to them was born
one daughter, Thelma, who in 1955 still resided in Singers Glen, Va. He was pastor of Cherry Grove Church from July
1942 to September 19, 1946. In 1933, Rev. Floyd began his work in the ministry, and returned to school to finish his
high school education while serving his first charge near Arden, West Virginia. Following his graduation from high
school, he served Rivesville and Volga charges in West Virginia. Following these years of service, he moved with his
family to Dayton, Va., where he entered Shenandoah College and Conservatory. It was while he was a student there,
that he was called to the Singers Glen Charge upon the death of Rev. W. D. Mitchell. While serving the Singers Glen
Charge he completed his education at Bridgewater College. It was while he was pastor at Cherry Grove that the building
fund for the new church was started. Rev. Floyd is now (1955) serving our church in Roanoke, Va.
II.B.11 Cherry Grove U.B. Church 99
