Our Story
Buford Grove Baptist Church has a long and rich heritage, first appearing in official records in 1887. According to records, it was officially constituted in 1886, although dates on old deeds prove the church was already in existence in 1876, and probably met in homes or a school house. The old wooden building was dedicated in 1889 under the leadership of Rev.Dub Layton and visiting minister Bert Dyal. The first recorded membership was 47.
In 1937, the Nassau County School Board deeded the property known as the Buford Grove School (which was given its name because of the beautiful groves of oak trees that were abundant in the area ) to the church. That property is now the Buford Grove Cemetery. The land was donated by Henry and Isabella Davis.
In June of 1954, the church purchased five adjoining acres, making a total of seven acres. It was here that the first brick building was constructed. God blessed mightily in this facility. Many of the current members were saved and baptized in this building. The church continued to grow, and eventually ran out of room. Chairs were purchased and brought into the auditorium to provide more places for people to sit. They knew they were going to need another building.
In 2007, under the leadership of Pastor Curtis Harrington, the new auditorium was built. Only eternity will reveal the impact that God has made in northeast Florida and around the world through the people of Buford Grove Baptist Church. We are so thankful for all God has done here, and are very excited about what He has yet to do!
Some of the pastors were:
Pastor Daniel Sikes - 1891
Pastor D.C. Andrews - 1899
Pastor Theodore Davis - 1909
Pastor McDonald - 1917
Pastor Thompson - 1920
Pastor Willie Sanders - 1923
Pastor A.L. Kennen - 1924
Pastor J.W. Caines - 1925
Pastor W.E. Hall - 1927
Pastor E. R. Bowers - 1938
Pastor J.E. Murrhee - 1951
Pastor Sam Stewart - 1963
Pastor Curtis Harrington - 1996
Pastor Keith Carringer - 2024