College Grove was settled by the Allison and Ogilvie families around 1800, other early settlers include the Demonbreums, Hughes, and Rogers. Over the years the Cannons, Covingtons, Gentrys, Pages, Scales, and Webbs joined the community. A brick home built by Arch Hughes stood for over a hundred years until it was leveled by a tornado in 1925.

Until 1840 College Grove was known as Poplar Grove. In 1861 the post office came to Poplar Grove and the name had to be changed because another Poplar Grove already existed. The name was changed in honor of a boys school and a female seminary in the community.

Also, in June of that year, Dr. Samuel S. Webb sold two acres for $240.00. This property was to be used for both the College Grove Seminary for Young Ladies and a Methodist Episcopal Church.

Some have thought that this Methodist Church might have been an outgrowth of an earlier Methodist congregation, Bethel Methodist Church, established in 1835 on the southeast corner of the Brown Boyd farm at a spot know as Bethel Springs. There is no proof of this, but the Bethel Church disbanded in 1861, the same year the College Grove Church began.The original building had two front doors - one for men and one for women - that were found in many churches. It was unusual in design because the church also had a front porch. The present building was built in 1888 by T. G. Slate, a local carpenter and was dedicated in 1889.

Through the years, changes and additions have been made to the 1888 building. In 1932, Sunday school rooms were added. The building was raised and a basement added in 1948, an adjoining strip of land was given by Mr. Marvin B. Scales. Stained-glass windows, an organ, and a new lighting system were installed in 1952. Additions in 1956 were a chapel and more classrooms. In 1973, there was remodeling and redecorating done along with installation of a new air conditioning and heating system.

Mailing Address: PO Box 216