Union Grove Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ had a unique beginning. Honor belongs to the late Bishop William E. Hopson for his insight and desire to make Disciples of all nations. It all started when Williams’ parents, Rufus and Martha Hopson moved from Nash County North Carolina to Virginia. They purchased 8 acres of land from their son-in-law, the late J.E. Roster. They soon built a neat little log cabin on this property. Martha grew up as a slave and Rufus was a free slave.

After they settled into their new home, they felt the need to have a place to worship. They asked their neighbor for the use of his log cabin on Wednesday night for prayer service and on Sunday morning for worship. The neighbor gladly consented. The Lord moved in their favor when he called William to preach the gospel and William was asked if he could come and preach for their small congregation. William agreed to come on the fourth Sunday in April 1910. The only means of transportation William had was a bike. He rode his bike 12 miles to Rocky Mount, NC and tag it on a train to Emporia, Va. When he reached Emporia, he took his bike and paddled 10 miles to Freeman, Va.

William received some wholesome instructions from the late Bishop W.G. Best about moving to the area. He began thinking and praying and soon realized that he could best serve by moving his family to Emporia. He soon invited his friend Bishop Best to come and render a revival for him and together they established a congregation and named it Pleasant Grove. They took the church to the Goldsboro / Raleigh District Assembly; it was received and became the Pleasant Grove Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ in 1914.

William set out to make disciples as Christ desired, he did established disciples in places where there were none. William did not forget those whom he left in Nash County. He went back with the aid of his longtime friend, J.H. Todd and others to establish the St. James Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ in Elm City, North Carolina. They took this church to the assembly in 1934. Doing this time frame he established the St Mark Church of Christ in Richmond Virginia, and the Mount Olive Church of Christ in Lawrenceville Virginia.

William was faced with many obstacles along the way and at times he became discouraged.

Yet he never stopped praying and never forgot what his old friends told him, so after much prayer he was moved to go in a different direction. In 1948, William with help of others, established the Union Assembly Churches of Christ, Disciples of Christ Rocky Mount, NC/Richmond, Va. District. Pleasant Grove Church of Christ Virginia and St. James Church of Christ in NC as headquarters for the Assembly.

Union Grove Church of Christ had a unique beginning when a group of farmers purchased some land on the Sunnyside Road of Emporia, Virginia in the early fifties. It wasn’t long after they had settled and began to work their farms, they felt the need to worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth. There were no churches in that area, therefore brother Luther Pulley and his wife Mamie, Brother Walter Ellis and Brother Nick Long came together in prayer meeting and Bible study until they could find a preacher to lead them. Sister Mamie Pulley was a distant relative of Sister Bertha Ann Hopson, the wife of Bishop William Hopson. Mamie and her husband Luther set out to locate Bishop Hopson who was not too far away. They went to Bishop Hopson home and told him what they were doing and asked him if he could come and help them. Bishop was busy in revival at that time and told them to come back, but continue doing what they were doing in their prayer meeting and bible study until he could get there. It wasn’t long before Bishop and his son attended their meeting and was amazed at their progress. He began to preach for them there in Brother Ellis’ home. Bishop Hopson soon purchased a tent and Brother Pulley donated the land. They soon began to construct a wooden frame building. The church became fully organized, and the following became Deacons: Brother Walter Ellis, Brother Luther Pulley and Brother Nick Long, They decided to give the Church a name Union Grove Church of Christ Disciples of Christ, They became affiliated with the Union Assembly Rocky Mount, North Carolina/ Richmond Virginia District. Soon other brothers came, namely Deacon Paul Allen, Deacon Johnny Smith, and Leamon Allen. Sister Rachel Pulley was the church clerk and was married to Brother Edward Bryant and he soon became a deacon. Union Grove received assistance from sister churches, Pleasant Grove, Freeman Virginia, and Mt. Olive, Lawrenceville, Virginia. They would come and fellowship with their choirs until the church had its own, Bishop Hopson served as the pastor until Rev. William Scott became pastor, followed by Bishop Nedeom Putney, Bishop Malachi Dunk, and Elder Herbert Mitchell, who was followed by present Pastor Elder James A. McNair, Sr.