James Harvey Ellis was born October 30, 1801, and married Sarah Crockett on December 27, 1821. James Harvey was one of six boys born to Stephen Ellis and Lucrecia Sims Ellis. Stephen was a Methodist minister serving in North Carolina. However, he died just two years after moving to Tennessee leaving a wife and six children.
James Harvey and Sarah moved to Western Kentucky and settled in the Pleasant Grove community, where the farm of Jaimey Erwin and Brad Erwin is now located. Jaimey Erwin, son of James Leslie Erwin and grandson of James Warren Erwin and Polly Ellis Erwin, lives in the approximate location of the house and the brick manufacturing area. Broken pieces of pottery and brick from the 1800s can still be found in the fields. James Harvey Ellis donated a portion of the farm to establish the church and the cemetery and in began his ministry as the church’s lay preacher, which was in the Wadesboro Circuit at the time.
In 1834/1835 the first one room church house was built of small round poles and a roof of boards, a replica depicted behind the South Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church now. The Church is first mentioned in the Quarterly Conference on March 21, 1835. No money was given in support of the minister. The church owns a New Testament and commentary that belonged to James Harvey Ellis and was found in the attic of an old house by Ellis Paschall, husband of one of James Harvey Ellis’ great, great granddaughters.
In May 1844, after being a lay preacher for several years, James Harvey Ellis’ character was examined by the Deacons at the Wadesboro Circuit meeting (part of Memphis Conference) and recommended for Deacons orders, meaning that he was ordained by the bishop and had the authority to administer the sacraments by that particular appointment at his own church.
In 1848 a second log structure, two stories, was erected a bit south of our present church.
The Murray Circuit was listed as part of the Paducah District at the meeting on March 4, 1876. James H. Ellis, L.D. was still preacher. In 1885, a new church building was erected. It was 56 feet long, 36 feet wide, and 14 feet high. Money was raised by subscription. It is noted that the visiting Subscription Committee called upon 100 male members before they were refused a subscription. $25 was paid by several members including John Ellis, son of James Harvey Ellis, and many smaller amounts down to fifty cents. The property including structure was valued at $1200. Some people donated money, some lumber, and lamps and outfit. At the time, Pleasant Grove had 187 members. Interestingly, there were two front doors, the door on the right for the men and the door on the left for the women. In 1897, there were 271 members on the role so the preachers must have been doing rather well. Seating capacity was 500.
On July 27, 1912, another ½ acre of land was donated to Pleasant Grove Church by Bro. J. W. Ellis. John Wesley Ellis was the son of James Haret Ellis, and father of Leslie Ellis, a later leader in the church.
By 1924, it had become necessary to erect a new building so a building committee was elected to lay out plans to enlarge the church since there were 957 members at the time. At this time, the church was referred to as South Pleasant Grove. Over $12,000 in subscriptions was pledged to build the new church. Additions were added to the building committee in February 1924 with Leslie Ellis being Chairman and J.M. Clark being Secretary and Treasurer. The church was completed in October and ran first on a coal furnace for heat and a Delco motor with generator for lights.
An addition to the church annex was built in 1958, whereby a pastor’s study, church office, and more Sunday school rooms were added. In 1964, the Church completely remodeled the sanctuary, removing the balcony. A new chancel, carpet and chandeliers were added in addition to two Sunday School rooms at the front of the church. A 41 ½ steeple was added, constructed by Campbellsville Industries, a division of Campbellsville College. The last addition to the Church complex was added some six years later and remains as is now.