Robert M. Hendry Memorial United Methodist Church
Shady Grove, Florida
During the year 1874 several of the members of old Friendship Church in Madison County, where Robert M. Hendry was pastor, decided to organize a church at Shady Grove in order to have a church more centrally located for its members. Some of the charter members were: Robert M. Hendry and his wife, Martha; Henry Slaughter and his wife, Susan; Jerry M. Wilder and his wife, Lydia; David A. Hendry and his wife, Annie; Henry A. Rowell and his wife, Polly Ann; Thomas B. Hendry and his wife, Josephine; James M. Hendry and his wife, Lou; Mrs. Amanda Williams; and Jim Williams and his wife, Frances.
Robert M. Hendry and his son, Thomas, organized the church in an old log schoolhouse about three and one-half miles southwest of the present building near a stream called “Cypress”. A few years later a log church was built further south on a lot donated by R. E. Wentworth, a grandson of Robert M. Hendry. There were no records until 1891. Around the turn of the century, a new frame building was erected further north near the Econfina River on another lot donated by R. E. Wentworth.
During 1905 and 1906 thoughts were given to moving the church over near the little village of Shady Grove, but were met with opposition. At this time the South Georgia Railroad was built through the present site of Shady Grove. In 1908 efforts were again made to move the church. On October 14, 1908, E. M. Hendry made a deed for a lot to the church and during 1908-1909 the church was moved to its present site on the banks of the Econfina at the Hendry mill site.
The present brick church was dedicated in 1963 as the Robert M. Hendry Memorial Methodist Church. It was he and his descendants who made up the body of the church and deeded the land originally.
Thomas B. Hendry son of Robert M. Hendry was one of the charter members of the Shady Grove Methodist Church and served as pastor at all four wooden structures.
Some of the pastors of Shady Grove Methodist or Robert M. Hendry Memorial have been: Thomas B. Hendry, Charles Braswell, H. A. Crumpton, B. T. Rape, T. M. White, W. J. Dowl, Ward, McMannen, U. S. Tabor, Brother Scarborough, J. M. Hendry, J. R. Crandall, Shepherd, A. C. McCall, , William C. McGill, J. A. Hendry, Higgs, Brother Harrison, H. B. Boyd, C. F. York, D. G. McDaniel, J. M. Parker, Lee Jones, J. R. Gilbert, W. W. Robins, Rowell, Watts, J. W. Wyrick, J. A. Cullifer, Champion, and William L. Windsor.
During 1916, J. A. Hendry was pastor. Shady Grove was placed on the Fenholloway Charge.
In 1960, the charge became Shady Grove Charge. At this time, Boyd New Life and Lake Bird are members of the Shady Grove Charge.