Fairgrove Village Churches

About the year 1861, a class of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Fair Grove by Elder Bancroft. The services of the church have been held with general regularity to the present time. There are now two classes holding services in the schoolhouses. A formal organization for incorporation was made at the fourth quarterly conference of the Watrousville circuit held at Watrousville June 12, 1875, when the corporate name of "First Methodist Episcopal Church of Fair Grove" was adopted, and the following trustees elected, viz.: William H. Rose, Edmund McCready, S. N. Aldrich, Charles Partlo and E. W. Johnson. Preparations are being made for building a house of worship in the village of Fair Grove.

A church of Seventh Day Adventists was organized in 1865 by Elder Van Horn with six or eight members. It was formally organized for incorporation March 12^th, 1869, articles of association being signed and the following trustees elected, viz.: Christopher Cramer, David Ferren and B. Perkins. The church has now thirty members with a Sabbath-school of forty members. Elder William Ostrander is the preacher assigned to this circuit. The church building situated two and one-half miles north of the village of Fair Grove is unfinished, though occupied for religious services.

June 22, 1883, was incorporated the "Board of Managers of the Fair grove Congregation of the Reformed Presbyterian Church," by which set the powers of the corporation were vested in the ruling elders, deacons and the pastor. This was done in conformity with the requirements of the law, and to enable the congregation to hold property. Its original organization, however, dates back for several years. In 1882 a house of worship was completed at a cost of about $2,000. The membership is about fifty-five. The Sunday-school numbers 110, with an average attendance of fifty-five. Services and Sabbath-school are held every Sunday. The pastors of the church have been Revs. Shanks, Hill, and the present incumbent, J. R. Wylie.

At a quarterly conference of the United Brethren in Christ, held at Fair Grove September 16, 1871, a board of trustees was elected consisting of Richard T. Hunter, David E. Cranston and Amos Huntington, with authority "to build a parsonage-house," and hold the same house and property for the benefit of the said church. The membership of the church was about twenty-five; the pastor, Rev. William Price. There are now two classes in the town, one to the west, and the other to the north of the village of Fair Grove. Rev. W. H. Drake is pastor, and holds services with each class every Sabbath. Grounds have been secured and material collected in Fair Grove village for a house of worship, which it is hoped and intended will be soon erected.

Articles of association were entered into May 10, 1875, by John E. Cragg, James Gaunt, J. G. Gaunt, Phebe Gaunt, Mary Gaunt, Phebe A. Gaunt, Mary Yeomans, Esther Williams, Sarah Yeomans, and C.D. Petershaus, "of the denomination called the Methodist," for the purpose of forming a body corporate. The name of Fair Grove mission or circuit was adopted, being located in the townships of Fair Grove and Gilford. This was the formal organization of the church under the laws of the State. Their house of worship is in the Southwest corner of the town. Services are held every Sunday.