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Grant Improves Accessibility at Shady Grove UMC

Shady Grove United Methodist Church in Hickman County Tennessee was organized in 1808-1809 and established in 1831. The current building was erected in 1871 on top of a hill.

Due to steep steps, the front entrance is rarely used. The side entrance, our primary entrance, is accessible for worshippers with mobility issues. However, the parking area — graveled and uphill — presented challenges for an aging congregation with decreasing mobility.

Recent accessibility issues included:

  • A member with a broken hip struggling to use a walker in the gravel
  • A member using a wheelchair while carrying an oxygen tank having difficulty navigating the graveled and inclined parking area.

A Bill and Lynn McAlilly Grant for Church Accessibility helped fund much-needed leveling and paving projects in the parking area. The improved accessibility will help prevent a fall or other injury. Members — more confident of their safety — can now access the church via a level and paved parking area. Thank you, Encore Ministry Foundation, for the grant! 

Shady Grove UMC
A McAlilly Grant from ENCORE Ministry Foundation helped fund improvements made to the parking lot at Shady Grove UMC. Now, members such as, Jimmy Adler and Glenn Lapham (pictured left to right), enjoy a safer and more accessible entrance to the church.
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