Pine Grove baptist church

Serving the Christmas, FL Community and Beyond since 1868

Henry Hodges, Sam Hodges, John R.A. Tucker, John Yates, James Savage, Albert Roberts met in a tool shed near the Henry Hodges estate Sunday May 24, 1868 to establish a church.  In 1870, a building site was selected in a centrally located pine grove that was owned by John R.A. Tucker.  He agreed for a church building to be built there with the understanding he would make the deeds when the church was operating properly.

The men began planning and set work days when possible to clear the land.  They built a log building to have services and was also used as a school; later a wild woods fire destroyed it.  During this time, services were held in homes (generally the Tucker home) with Brother Savage preaching.  On workdays the wives would pack lunch baskets and lent a helping hand.  While they ate their meal, Brother Savage would hold a service.

In 1871, the church was organized at the home of John R.A. Tucker, twelve charter members were present - Jackson and Poly Ann Osteen, Henry and Penelope Hodges, Sam and Samantha Hodges, John R.A. and Sarah Tucker, James W. and Elizabeth Savage and Albert and Dorie Roberts.  Brother Williams, Brother Yates and Brother Savage organized the church.

The building was completed and they needed an ordained preacher for the church to be in order.   They called Brother R.W. Lawton from Oviedo to Pastor the Church.  His only mode of  transportation was to walk to church once a month until the church could buy him a horse.

In 1876, Brother Tucker deeded the four acres of pine grove to the church.  About 1890, the second church was built with rough sawed pine lumber from a mill in Jacksonville.  The lumber was brought down the St Johns River in a motor launch to Lake Kane and hauled out by oxen and wagon to the church location.

The third building that we currently use was built in the time-frame of 1906 to 1908.  The second building was moved on skids about one mile to the Hodges property.

We at Pine Grove invite you to worship with us! No matter where you are at on life’s journey, you are welcome here!

Just as our founding families, we believe that God loves all of creation, and through Jesus Christ we are brought into fellowship with God. We are a family, proclaiming the love and grace of God, as found in God's Word. All are welcome at Pine Grove - those who believe as well as those who are seeking.

At each service we gather for meaningful worship to study God’s word. We reach out with the heart of ministry to care for our neighbors in the name of Christ here and around the world. We have fun and fellowship in a variety of activities. As we work and worship together we find that our faith grows as we enjoy friends old and new.

You will discover many exciting opportunities at Pine Grove. Our website is just the introduction to the spirit of our church. We want you to feel at home and comfortable here. We are pleased to welcome you as part of a growing and diverse Christian community.

Please join us for an upcoming worship service. There’s a place for you here at Pine Grove.

Pastors of Pine Grove  thru the years.

John B. Yates

Jim Savage 

Oscar Williams 1909

Joseph Lawton 

Ed Taylor 

Brother Poe 

Muria Taylor 

E.C. Gibture 

L.Chetty 

Grover Sparkman 

Brother Stanford 

W.W. Hancock 

Joe Raulerson 

E.J. Prevat 

Floyd Cox 

J..P. Dawson 

Brother Williams

Walter Lanier   

Brother Dawling 

Henry Usher 

Brother Siminane 

Brother Jennings 

Brother Scharbour   

R.A Guy 

Brother Johns 

Johnnie Kilpatrick 

Brother Simons 

Jim Graw 

John McDougle

William Warren 1956

A. C. Stancil 1957

J. D Streetman 1972

Coy Talley 1968-1974 [2 times]

Andrew "Buster" Phillips [Asst] 

John D. Canada 1958-1989 [4 times] 

Mark A. Clark 1989 - May 2012

David Slone 2014-2018

Ron Silverman 2019-2021