The History of Oak Grove A.M.E. Church
Oak Grove African Methodist Episcopal Church had its beginning in 1920, as a Sunday School class. A small group of committed Christians were faithfully dedicated to holding weekly meetings in the residence of Mrs. Cornelia Davis. Prior to Oak Grove becoming an official organism of African Methodism, it owed so much to the tandem guidance and leadership of Reverends B. E. Evans and V. L. Eckridge. Growth and development caused the assemblage to move to Lockport Public School for adequate housing, and under the leadership of Reverend Marshall Pearson, it became fully accepted into the Michigan Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The church’s original name, “St. Luke,” was changed at the request of the Conference because a church bearing the same name was already in existence. Thanks to the vision and the keen insight of Mrs. Martha Hughes, who took note that the church was located in an area distinguished by the splendor of many beautiful oak trees, it was not difficult to understand why she suggested the church be named “Oak Grove.“
It was in 1921 when the men of the church, with their own hands and labor of love, built the congregation’s first church home. Mr. Nelson Smoot, a member and master carpenter, designed the master plans for the new church. This small wooden structure was on the corner of Kentucky and Chippewa Streets. The building was known for its bell tower. The bell gave the clarion call to the faithful members to worship on Sunday mornings, and tolled when a member passed from labor to reward. In approximately 1926, the beloved bell in the tower came crashing down when the wooden church burned to the ground. It had tolled for the last time. Fortunately, the Women’s Club, under the presidency of Mrs. Cornelia Davis, had taken out fire insurance coverage on the church building, which provided funds to erect another facility. With the funds from the insurance policy, Mr. John Howard, a trustee, was instrumental in securing the down payment for a new Oak Grove.
On August 26, 1928, the congregation laid the cornerstone for the second church structure, this time made of brick. Oak Grove has been blessed by the ministry of ten pastors between its inception and the present. The history of Oak Grove would be incomplete without mentioning some of the first pioneers who played a pivotal role in the birth of Oak Grove. They were:
Church Secretary
Mr. Elijah Rhenn
Trustee Board
Mrs. Princess Boyd
Mrs. Cornelia Davis
Mr. Edward Gray
Mr. John Howard
Mrs. Martha Hughes
Mr. Plato Peters
Steward Board
Mr. John Crews
Mr. Gibson
Mr. Memory Griffin
Mr. Hammie Marsh
Mr. McRipley
Mr. Elijah Rhenn
Mr. Abraham Sessions
Mr. Francis Solomon
Sunday School Teachers
Mrs. Louise Blakley
Mrs. Cornelia Davis
Mr. Claude Thomas
Choir President
Mrs. Anna Thomas
Usher Board President
Mr. C. B. Harris
Missionary Society President
Mrs. Ada Pearson
In the year 1959, the congregation of Oak Grove purchased two city blocks of real estate at the corners of Wyoming and Pembroke for a new home. This property was later exchanged for the land upon which the church is now located, at Cherrylawn and Pembroke.
The eighth pastor, Reverend David E. Mitcham, was appointed to the Church in 1961. He arrived when the Urban Rehabilitation Program was meeting with much community opposition. It was through Mitcham’s leadership and the effective work of some members that Oak Grove became a catalyst to ease tensions and help accelerate the program of community improvement and renewal.
It was during the seventh year of Reverend Mitcham’s tenure that the church broke ground for its present building. On March 5, 1967, ground was broken and construction began. On April 17, 1968, the congregation worshiped for the first time in the new church. “A dream became a reality.”
For twenty–five years, under Reverend Mitcham’s pastorate, the congregation grew. It was during this time that he offered an idea to the congregation to expand the facility in order to accommodate various church programs and more space for worship.
On Sunday, August 2, 1987, the church broke ground for expanding the facilities of the Church. Shortly after, Reverend Mitcham retired as pastor of Oak Grove and on October 19, 1987, Reverend Gregory G. M. Ingram was appointed the ninth minister to “shepherd the flock.” Three months after Reverend Ingram arrived, the plans of the expansion program were enlarged to accommodate even more space for worship and to include expansion of the day care center.
The church was successful in securing a bank loan which, at the end of the construction project, would exceed two million dollars.
In the year 2000, shortly after Dr. Gregory G.M. Ingram was elected Bishop, Rev. Dr. Robert Brumfield was appointed Pastor of Oak Grove. Under his leadership, the church has continued to grow and prosper. Some dormant ministries have been revived, new ministries started and Oak Grove has become involved in several community initiatives. With the church still bursting at the seams, Dr. Brumfield is leading an effort to relocate to a facility that will allow the congregation to reach and serve even more people.
The Oak Grove African Methodist Episcopal Church has proudly serviced the Northwest Community of Detroit, Michigan for sixty years. During this time, Oak Grove has made significant contributions to the life and vitality of the City of Detroit. From humble beginnings of some twenty early pioneers, Oak Grove now claims over two thousand members.