Harmony Grove Missionary Baptist Church

Duane's take

The way the marker at Harmony Grove tells it, here's the story as I understand it. Back in 1871, a local businessman by the name of William Koehl donated one acre of land north of Huntsville — and on that acre, something took root that would outlast just about everything around it. The purpose was clear from the start: to establish a church for the African American citizens of Pine Prairie.

Leading that founding effort were deacons W.T. Watkins and Matthew Bryant, and the Reverend W. Watkins.

A small church building went up not long after, and it pulled double duty from the beginning — house of worship and home of the Pine Prairie school both at once. One building, carrying two kinds of hope. The congregation kept growing, kept reaching.

In 1901, church trustees went back to the Koehl family — this time to William's son, Herman — and purchased two additional acres. Roots going deeper, ground getting wider. Now here's where the story takes a hard turn, and it deserves to be said plainly.

On June 24, 1978, Harmony Grove Missionary Baptist Church burned to the ground. Everything the congregation had built, gone. But a man named John Kay — a concerned neighbor — ran toward that fire and pulled the church bell out of it.

That bell survived. It was later restored, and today it stands displayed right out front of the rebuilt church. A rescued thing, bearing witness.

The congregation didn't fold. They worked hard to rebuild, found a building in which to hold services, and moved it onto the church property. Then in 1991, a house was donated to the church and moved to the property as well.

Once renovated, that new building gave them a sanctuary, a choir stand, a pastor's study, a fellowship hall, a kitchen, restrooms, and storage space. The entire structure was remodeled again in 1999. Built, lost, rebuilt, refined — that's the arc of this place.

For over a hundred years, Harmony Grove was Pine Prairie's only African American church. One congregation, carrying that whole community on its back. Over time it developed a youth ministry, a nursing home ministry, and a prison ministry.

Every fourth Sunday in August, they hold an annual homecoming. Every May, a church picnic. The work goes on.

That bell John Kay pulled from the fire? It's still out front. And the church it belongs to is still ringing.

What the marker says

Harmony Grove Missionary Baptist Church was founded in 1871 when local businessman William Koehl donated one acre north of Huntsville for the establishment of a church for the African American citizens of Pine Prairie. The leading founders of the congregation were deacons W.T. Watkins and Matthew Bryant, and the Reverend W. Watkins. A small church building was soon constructed and was also used as the home of the Pine Prairie school. Church trustees later purchased two additional acres from William Koehl’s son, Herman, in 1901. On June 24, 1978, the Harmony Grove Missionary Baptist Church burned to the ground. John Kay, a concerned neighbor, saved the church bell from the fire. The bell was later restored and is displayed in front of the rebuilt church. Congregation members worked hard to rebuild the church, and a building in which to hold services was soon located and moved to the church property. In 1991, a house was donated to the church and also moved to the property. Once renovated, the new building provided a new sanctuary, choir stand, pastor’s study, fellowship hall, kitchen, restroom and storage space; the entire structure was remodeled in 1999. Harmony Grove Missionary Baptist Church was Pine Prairie’s only African American church for over 100 years. During its existence, the church has developed a youth ministry, a nursing home ministry and a prison ministry. An annual homecoming is held each fourth Sunday in August, and a church picnic is held each May. Through its community outreach and mission work, Harmony Grove Missionary Baptist Church continues to positively impact its community.