HISTORY OF SHILOH BIBLE CHURCH

(Formerly known as Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and

Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church)

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Shiloh Bible Church had its very humble beginnings over 130 years ago in a small one room edifice.

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In 1893, the late Reverend J. B. Reese of Tarpon Springs, Florida founded Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church.  At that time, Rev. Reese was Moderator of the present First South Florida Missionary Baptist Association. He recognized, with grave importance, the need for this church since more and more families were settling into the area and needed a place to worship. This Church served both the Baptist and Methodist with each having services two Sundays a month.

 

In 1915, Reverend W. A. Harrison became pastor of Union Grove.  As a two Sunday pastoral church, with worship services on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, Union Grove grew continuously.  At a business meeting in 1932, Pastor Harrison told the members that he had been led, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to build a new church.  The members were in unanimous agreement.  Loving hands removed each board, bolt, nut, and nail of Union Grove so that a larger edifice could be erected and dedicated to God for worship.  The men of the church and town labored long and untiringly in making ready the sanctuary for religious services.  The women of the church were not left at home to mind the fires there.  Each day at high noon when the men retired to refresh themselves, they were able to do so with succulent dishes prepared by every helpful woman of the church.  Their work did not stop with food preparations, they did whatever their hands found to do.

 

So hallowed, so dedicated, and so spiritual was this spot that even when Union Grove was no longer standing, the members used the grounds on the north side of the church site for Sunday Services.  Under the shade of the spreading oaks, weather permitting, many a sermon was preached, prayers prayed, and hymns sung to the glory of God. 

 

Authenticated by records, in 1932, the new edifice was completed;

the Dedication Sermon was preached by the Reverend J. B. Reese. 

At a later church meeting, the church was renamed, Shiloh

by the Reverend W. A. Harrison who proclaimed:

“Shiloh it shall be, until Shiloh comes”.

 

​​The Shiloh Bible Church has grown in spirit, grace, and truth under the leadership of several shepherds, to include: The Reverend J. B. Reese, 1893-1915; The Reverend W. A. Harrison, 1915-1957; The Reverend M. J. Williams, 1958-1969; The Reverend C. H. Mobley, 1970-1980; The Reverend Alfred Lawrence, 1980-1981 (Interim); The Reverend A. Munford, 1981-1990; and, The Reverend Clem Bell, 1991-Present.

 

​​​In May 2019, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church was renamed Shiloh Bible Church.