The town of Kewanna, Indiana, was originally known first as Pinhook, then changed to Pleasant Grove then changed to Kewanna. The church was organized in 1839. At first it was a camp meeting in a grove on the northwest side of Kewanna. A decision was made to organize and hire a pastor. The camp meeting services were conducted by the Rev. Messers Doud, Rev. Ritchey, Rev. Westlake and Hardy Cain. Rev. Westlake was the first pastor, and he and Rev. Ritchey were the real organizers of the church.
Meetings contined to be helde in the grove and at members homes. They were also held in a school house west of Kewanna until 1845-46 when the first log church was built on West Main Street. This was built during the pastorate of Rev. R.F. Straight and Rev. Jacob Coloclazer, with the probably assistance of Rev. Frank Taylor.
Kewanna's church was the first one organized as well as the first actual church house built in Union township. The first meeting ever held was in the home of John Troutman. In 1857 the first frame church was built on a site very near that of the log church. Rev. William J. Forbes was pastor and the church was dedicated by Rev. T.S. Webb, then Presiding Elder of the District. In 1891 while Rev. J.W. Shell was pastor, plans for a new church began. The town of Kewanna now had a train station and it was felt that a larger and better church was needed for the rapidly growing congregation. During the pastorates of Rev. E.W. Lawhon, the side of the current structure was purchased. During the terms of Rev. Robert Wilkinson and Rev. Horace N. Ogdon, the brick structure was completed. The Rev. W.H. Hickman dedicated the new brick church on February 9, 1896. The congregation grew and more room was needed for Sunday School and for doing necessary social work. Thus, an annex was built at a cost of $15,000. The Annex was dedicated on March 15, 1928 during the pastorate of Rev. William Hargrave.
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