A brochure about the history of the sanctuary organ is here.

The organ in the sanctuary now was installed in 2009;

The Beginning of a New Era in Musical Worship
V. Matora Christy Memorial Sanctuary Organ

After 30 years of dependable service, the 1978 Sanctuary Organ fell into an extended period of major repairs.
These repairs were requiring replacement of costly and
significant internal components, many of which were at
best difficult to obtain due to the aging technology of the
instrument. Because of the increasing frequency of technical problems, it was determined that the time had come for
a complete replacement upgrade. In April of 2008 the Rodgers “Specification 250” organ was completely replaced
and upgraded with a three manual 85 rank customized “Specification 351 Aeolian Skinner-Walker Digital Pipe
Organ.” The organ represents the most advanced digital technology in combination with wind generated pipes.
The three manual (keyboard) console has been designed for total logistical mobility to enhance service and concert
presentation. The installation of this grand instrument has been generated by the over-riding theme of the original
selection criteria: “Instrument Integrity, Worship Integrity” providing a quality aesthetic, spiritual and musical
worship experience for our congregation.

Dedication
In Acknowledgement and Appreciation

It is with great excitement that we celebrate the completion of installation of the new eighty-five rank Buch/Walker Digitized Aeolian Skinner Pipe Organ. The acquisition and installation of this grand instrument has been made possible by the generous provision of funds from the V. Matora Christy Bequest Fund. A new era in worship, congregational singing, and future programs of musical presentation will now begin.
~Dedication occurred Feb. 22, 2009~

In 1979, when the new organ was going to be installed in the sanctuary, the decision was made to replace the white lit cross above the altar.

Church member Don Stevens was asked to design a cross as a memorial to 10-year-old S. Todd Simcox, who was killed on his bike at the corner of Ravine and Boot Road by a school bus. Marie and Steve Simcox were active church members. Marie sang in the choir. They had a son and a daughter.

Don chose a design to show strength, yet gentleness. The cross is a 5-inch x 3-inch deep cross of dark wood for the base to depict the strength of God’s love for us. From the front, the 4-inch width gives a feeling of mass and power but looking from the side, the 3-inch height gives a sense of having a delicate touch. That is God’s way. Don chose to flare each end outward to show how He reaches out in all directions to us. If that flare were continued further, it could reach more and more of his children. That is one of Grove’s challenges.

The slightly smaller cross of light wood that overlays that dark base was chosen to tell of God’s love for all people regardless of their color, race, or religion. That is his promise.

The third and smallest of the crosses is made of the same dark wood of the base, completing a 3-dimensional look that brings the entire design into perspective. Being the uppermost cross the most delicate and the least demanding of the three, it looks to the heavens and asks for His blessings. The edge of each cross has been rounded to show the soft and continuous love that Gove has for us. His love and blessings are continuous.

The cross was dedicated to the glory of God and in memory of S Todd Simcox on May 4, 1980. The three-layered cross represents the trinity and celebrates victory over death and assurance of eternal life.

One of the stained glass windows in Memorial Hall is dedicated to Fred and Ellie Zuschnitt, and their son Bill.

Fred Zuschnitt carried his lantern. You knew when the church was open if you saw the light from Fred’s lantern. Their son Bill Zuschnitt, was also important in Grove history, and Zuschnitt Lounge is named after him.

Among those active in the work when the building was erected in 1844 were John Hill, father of Joseph Hill Sr. of West Chester, John Johns, Thomas J Aldred, Esau Strickland, Patrick Dunlap and others. The memorial windows are dedicated to some of these men.

During the early 1950s, the church was having financial problems and was without a pastor for months.   J. Holland Heck and William Zuschnitt continued to serve in all capacities to keep the church functioning.

Here is an article from a Grove Newsletter in 2001 that tells about Zuschnitt Lounge in the words of his daughter, Edie Zuschnitt Logan Nicholson.

The lounge was named for William F. Zuschnitt, (better known as “Bill Z.”) Bill was born November 23, 1906. As his daughter I will share with you that I believe he would never have approved of a room carrying his name. He was a quiet humble man who with God’s help led Grove Church through many years. I’ve been asked to share some of the events of his life with you.

My grandparents moved from Philadelphia to the Grove community in 1922. Their son Bill, then 16, saw his parents become involved at Grove Methodist Episcopal Church. I remember being told that everyone knew that Fred Zuschnitt was in the church when his lantern was sitting in the vestibule. since they walked to church.

I also remember hearing that there was a time during the 1940’s when Grove Church almost had to close its doors forever due to a financial crisis. My father was one of the members who helped keep the doors of the church open.

Bill Z was an adult Sunday School teacher and Superintendent with many years of perfect attendance. He was Lay Delegate to Church Conference for many years, he was a trustee, he bowled with the Grove bowling league, he could always be found in the kitchen when the men took over the kitchen to serve the annual Turkey and Roast Beef dinners or to serve their ladies at the Mother and Daughter Banquets. In addition, he was a member of Methodist Men, Head Usher and very involved with the Building Committee for the 1958 addition to the building.

I grew up watching my Dad serve Grove in ways that shared his deep faith. I remember the Manger Scene that was up every Christmas in front of the church in the 1960’s. He built the barn and manger each year.

I knew my father as a loving non-judgmental man. He always had a smile to share. He shared his feelings of inadequacy as Grove began to grow and we had more and more people with college educations join the church. It was hard for Bill Z, who attended school only through the eighth grade, to feel qualified to teach Adult Sunday School classes, but he continued with his teaching.

My parents taught me that, just as God called and used Moses, God does not only call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

In my teenage years when I made my personal commitment to Christ, I watched Grove swell and burn with the light of Christ in people’ hearts. At that time many small sharing groups were started. I will always remember Bill Z suggesting a Bible Study group that became known as the “B and P Group”. No, not “Bible Study and Prayer” – the “Bible Study and Pinochle Group”. Every Saturday night, adults met at our house for Bible Study, followed by Prayer and pinochle card games, not to mention fabulous desserts.

The Zuschnitt Lounge started out as a small room downstairs in the Education Building. That room does not exist now. It was located where the present foyer and stairs to the second floor are located. The original room was the one where Bill taught Sunday School before his death in January 1975.

I have always known I was a very lucky girl to have such a special Dad, and I believe Grove was blessed by his years of service.

Outside the kitchen, there is a plaque dedicated to Lane Jarrett, for his many hours of leadership, unselfish support, tireless and countless hours of service in organizing church dinners, preparing and serving food for 30 years. Lane was Chair of Trustees for many years and was an active participant in the United Methodist Men.

His wife, Edith Jarrett, also spent many hours in the kitchen preparing and serving meals. Edith was active in United Methodist Women at Grove.

During the same era, Ed Kurkjian was known as the “dishwasher.” He was at his station washing dishes during all those church dinners. There is a plaque on the dishwasher, installed later, that says, “In place of Ed Kurkjian.”

In October 1771, Francis Asbury, sent by John Wesley, arrived in Philadelphia, and preached his first sermon in the New World in Philadelphia at Old St. George’s Church.

Francis Asbury then became a circuit rider, spending his life on his horse while riding through the colonies to serve the Methodist Societies. During his ministry in the New World, Asbury rode 275,000 miles on horseback.

The earliest mention of what is now Grove was on March 13, 1773, when Reverend Francis Asbury met with William Webster, John King, and Isaac Rollins, itinerant Methodist preachers, at a “grove” of trees to preach God’s word. The Methodist Society formed there had several names: the Goshen Society, Valley Meeting, and finally because of its location among a grove of trees, Grove. Asbury organized this group into a society, named the Goshen Methodist Society

After meeting in the various homes of members, including George Hoffman and Daniel Meredith, the Society began to worship in a log schoolhouse, probably located in the area now the northwest corner of Grove and boot Roads.

In 1783, an acre of ground was deeded to the church and the old stone chapel was then built. The original deed was written on sheepskin and is presently housed with the Chester County Historical Society. The donors of the land, George and Eve Hoffman, lived on a farm on Grove Road, a short distance from the church. The farm is still there, and sheep are now raised on the farm.

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After the 1783 original Stone Chapel, a larger two-story structure was built in 1844. This new church was moved east of the site on which the Stone Chapel had been built. The altar in the sanctuary was on the east side of the building. The main entrance faced south toward the cemetery. Two other entrances were on the north and west of the building. An article in the Daily Local News in later years said that the people in the congregation felt that a mistake had been made because the building did not face Boot Road to welcome travelers along that main road.

A new and larger building was soon needed, so the 1844 building was replaced. The last services in the 1844 church were held on April 29. 1888. A newspaper article said that the last convert in the church was Mrs. Gray, wife of the village blacksmith, who joined the church the evening before.

The doors and window sash were removed from the building that week so that, “some time this week the building will be blown down (or up) with dynamite.” The 1844 building was then razed. There was considerable excitement over the method of destruction of the old church. According to one account, the anticipation of the dynamite explosion was not fulfilled as a disappointing thump collapsed the old church into a pile of rubble.

(Text for this article taken from several documents, including “A Short History of Grove United Methodist Church” by Ivan and Betty Lichty, Church Historians in the 1990’s, a publication written by Bob Brooks for the bicentennial, and a letter written in March 1914 by Joseph Meredith, grandson of Daniel Meredith.)

It is interesting to note that Grove was aware that the building needed to be welcoming to those passing by. Also interesting is that new members from the community were constantly joining the young church.