ABOUT US
Union Grove is a welcoming and loving church located in the heart of Raleigh/Durham NC. With a thriving young adult, youth and senior ministry we are always excited to have new guests come to fellowship with us. Our goal is to make you feel welcome and to ensure you leave worship knowing that we appreciate you.
Our Church is located at:
230 Union Grove A.M.E. Zion Church
Bear Creek NC, 27207
Telephone Number: 919-542-2584
Sunday Morning Worship: 10:00am In-person worship and Facebook Live
Sunday School: Tuesdays at 7:30 pm Virtual through Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7146747490
Meeting ID: 714 674 7490
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Reverend Marcus Williams
UNION GROVE HISTORY
In the middle of the nineteenth century, the original members of the church were worshipping at the site of what is now Roberts Chapel Church in Goldston, North Carolina because they did not yet have a facility of their own.
Eventually with God’s direction, these early church members decided to build their own church. The first church, constructed from piles of brushes for the roof and sides, became known as a “Brush Harbor.” Some of the chartered members were Mr. Lewis Watson, Mr. Buck Rives, Mr. Lewis Alston, and Mr. A. L. White. Because the structure was built in a pine thicket, the members gave the name Piney Grove to their first church.
Sometimes near the turn of the century, the church name was changed form Piney Grove to Union Grove A.M.E. Zion Church. It is assumed that the late Ms. Julia Alston gave the church its name because the church was the union of several other brush harbors in the area that had united together to form this great union in the grove.
As the membership grew, plans were made to build a church structure, “a plain, boxy shaped cabin made from slab material.” Completed around 1916, this structure was built on land purchased by Mr. Buck Rives and Mr. Lewis Watson from a man in the community whose last name was Oldham. Courthouse records indicate that a clear deed to the land was given to Union Grove A.M.E. Zion Church in the year of 1884.
During the turn of the last half-century, a third structure, the present brick facility, was constructed. According to church records, the full construction period covered 1959 to 1966. In 1968, Union Grove became a “stationed” church assigned to the Durham District. The present church was dedicated in 1970 under the pastorate of Rev. J.C. Gray.
Union Grove has grown rapidly over the years with excellent pastoral leadership. Among those who led are the following:
1884 - 1949
- Rev. Daniel Blackman
- Rev. Sprueill
- Rev. A.J. McDonald
- Rev. W.H. Horton
- Rev. C.T. Simons
- Rev. C.D. Canady
- Rev. J.P. Cofield
- Rev. C.V. Flack
- Rev. William D. Drake
- Rev. W. A. Wilcox
- Rev. C.D. Bridges
- Rev. U. Grant
- Rev. C.V. Ashley
- Rev. J.T. Young
- Rev. A.B. Massey
- Rev. John W. Mason
- Rev. Manual Ward
1950 - Present
- Rev. Henry R. Gillispie
- Rev. William D. Drake
- Rev. Leroy White
- Rev. Eddie Harrison Bebee
- Rev. Dwight F. Womack
- Rev. Benjamin A. Mack
- Rev. Matthew D. Nathan
- Rev. John C. Gray
- Rev. Frederick K. Woods
- Rev. Jwakiam M. Campbell
- Rev. James A. Boyd
- Rev. Henry Melvin
- Rev. Maurice Little
- Rev. William Augusta Eason
- Rev. Mark A. Thomas
- Rev. Sylvester Lambert
- Rev. Brian R. Thompson
- Rev. Jace L. Cox
- Rev. Gaylyn S. Wilson
- Rev. James E. Davis, III
- Rev. Dr. Reginald Boyd, Jr.
- Rev. Oscar L. Rush
- Rev. Charles Mathews
Beginning in November of 2021, Reverend Marcus Williams was appointed by Bishop Kenneth Monroe. Union Grove A.M.E. Zion Church stands as a living monument to the memory of its many early organizers. However, the church family remains focused on the future.
Community Resources
We encourage our members to be involved in community activities.
NAACP-Please consider joining the NAACP. The link to joining is listed below. Membership for adults- $30.00
https://www.naacp.org/membership/
