About Us :

Although easily accessible to major highways, winding country roads lead to Forest Grove Church. Visitors pass old stone farmhouses and sprawling green acres as they make their way to this historic church in a tiny Bucks County village. Serving as a place of worship for more than 150 years, its unadorned walls evoke a simpler time. It's easy to imagine founding members hitching their horses behind the sanctuary as they arrived for fellowship and service.The restrictions of transportation in the mid-1800s made travel from Forest Grove to congregations in Doylestown and Solebury difficult. No church of any denomination existed within several miles, and neighboring churches considered outreach in the area to be their missionary duty. Because of its central location between the former county seat in Newtown and the new county seat in Doylestown, Forest Grove was deemed a prime church location. As early as 1846, pastors of neighboring churches began holding services in homes around the village. The first gathering of what would become Forest Grove Presbyterian Church was held that year at the farm of John Gray, now known as Keystone Farm, and home of a current church family, the Robert Elliots.

Though a handful of ministers held services in private homes in the small farming community, it was the Solebury Church, now known as Thompson-Memorial Presbyterian Church, that ultimately took responsibility for nurturing Forest Grove Church into being. On November 28, 1853, the official organizational meeting was held, and attendees resolved to erect a church in the village as soon as they could. Solebury Church arranged for services to be held at the village's old Odd Fellow's Hall, and fund-raising efforts began to build the new house of worship. Ground was broken on August 30, 1854, and on November 21, 1855, the building was completed and dedicated to service. The original Forestville Church proudly opened its doors with just 11 official members and was formally recognized by the Old School Presbytery of Raritan, in the Synod of New Jersey, on July 19, 1856. The Reverend Henry Spayd, pastor of the Solebury Church, accepted the position as the church's first pastor. In years since, the church has employed nine permanent ordained ministers and numerous seminary students and interim pastors to lead the congregation.

Forest Grove Church has a rich history of lasting friendships, loving hands, and strong faith. We are a church of families - some of three and four generations sharing a pew on Sunday mornings - others new to the community who enjoy our "friendly, folksy" atmosphere. We pray together, grieve together, and play together. New members appreciate our "farmer's church" mentality. Older members stay because there is no better place to be than among church family. For those who worship here each Sunday, Forest Grove is truly a place like no other.