History of Cedar Grove

According to past records of the church we have had four church buildings in our community. The first two buildings no longer exist. The third and fourth buildings are located on Johnston Valley Road approximately five miles east of Kingston and ¾ mile from Highway 70.

In 1882, the name of the church that met in the first building was known as the Pleasant Grove Church. This property was sold on October 18, 1882, to the Roane County School Commissioners and Directors of the Public Schools. We have no record when the building was built or how long the church had been in operation.

The second building, built by William Martin, was located opposite the present church cemetery on Johnston Valley Road on land donated by Isaac Johnston and G.T. Johnston on September 21, 1895. This building was called "A House of Worship" and could be used by the Methodist, Christian, Baptist, and any and all other denominations ¼ of the time. The land was deeded to G. P. Norman (Methodist), S. J. Moore (Christian), and Thomas Johnston (Baptist). Records indicate that only the Baptist, constituted as the Cedar Grove Baptist Church in 1895, ever used the building.

The third building, built in 1961, is now used for offices and as an educational facility. The current sanctuary, located to the right of the third building, was built in 1983, and is the fourth building. The Cedar Grove Baptist Church is affiliated with the Big Emory Association, the Tennessee Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention.

The Cedar Grove Baptist Church has had many pastors, but was a “part time” ministry until Rev. James L. Austin (1955–1966) when the church moved to a full time ministry.

Pastors since 1936:

W. J. James (1936),

T. O. Drake (1937),

Lewis Holt (1938–1942),

L. D. Noland (1943–1944),

Bill Tarwater (1944),

L. D. Noland (1945–1946),

J. V. Banning (1947–1949),

Fred Green (1950),

Paul Smallen (1951–1954),

James L. Austin (1955–1966),

Raye Maddox (1966–1985),

Charles (Chuck) King (1987-1992),

Mike Henegar (1992-2001),

Mike Miller (2003-present)