First Baptist Church (Petersburg, Virginia)
Encyclopedia
First Baptist Church was the first Baptist church in Petersburg
; one of the first African-American Baptist congregations in the United States, and one of the oldest black churches in the nation. It established one of the first local schools for black children in the nation.
Its congregation was active during the 20th century Civil Rights Movement
. Today it has the largest community outreach program in the city.
. As more churches were started, members came together in an association. With growth, in 1781 the association of churches split into two parts along state lines for Virginia and North Carolina. The twenty-one congregations in Virginia formed the Portsmouth Baptist Association, named after their first meeting place. Representatives worked together to form church policy. From 1810 to 1828 they began to work on Foreign Missions and Christian Education. Later they established Sabbath Schools.
The history of First Baptist Church started with scattered black members in Prince George County
worshipping as New Lights in 1756 after the Great Awakening. Baptist preachers had traveled widely in the South where they appealed to both blacks and whites in evangelical outreach. In the early years, such preachers strongly supported an anti-slavery message based on the equality of men made in God's image. Their democratic message and willingness to welcome blacks in active roles attracted many new members to the Baptists, despite the established role of the Anglican Church in Virginia. In some areas, energetic young men without many other opportunities were the ones to take up leadership roles as Baptist preachers and challenge the class system of the colony.
In 1774 some of the New Light members united under the Rev. John Michaels. Calling themselves the First African Baptist Church, they met in Lunenburg
in a building on the plantation of Colonel William Byrd III
. After their meetinghouse at the Byrd plantation was destroyed in a fire, in 1820 free members of the congregation moved into Petersburg, Virginia
, where there was a growing free black community. (From about 300 free blacks in 1790, the community in Petersburg grew tenfold to 3,224 by 1860, when it was the largest free black population in the South. In that year on the eve of the Civil War, there were about 6,000 enslaved African Americans and 9,000 whites in the city.)
With the move into Petersburg, the congregation took the name of First Baptist Church, and built their first church on Harrison Avenue (near the location of the current church.) This was one of two early black Baptist churches; they were the first of that denomination to be established in Petersburg.
Emphasizing education, the First Baptist congregation also created one of the earliest local schools for black children in the nation. From its beginning, the congregation had been led by black pastors. In the wake of Nat Turner's slave rebellion in 1831, however, planters
became so alarmed about the potential for religious messages to cause other revolts that they passed legislation in 1832 requiring that all black churches be led by white pastors. The planters believed they could ensure control of the message that whites would deliver. This situation lasted until after the Civil War, when blacks took back control of their church
By 1865 First Baptist had 1700 members. Rev. Leonard A. Black was pastor from 1873 to 1883, during which time the congregation grew to 3,600 members. The church soon joined a state convention of black Baptist churches, aided by the Consolidated American Baptist Convention, to escape the supervision of whites. This was the forerunner of the National Baptist Convention, USA. The congregation continued to grow after the war as freedmen came to Petersburg from outlying areas, and its members helped the rural migrants adjust to urban life. The current church at 236 Harrison Avenue was built starting in 1870, after a fire burned the previous one. The congregation steadily added to the church, completing the steeple during Black's pastorate.
In the late 1880s the pastor, Rev. Charles B. Gordon, also edited The Pilot (later known as The National Pilot), a paper that was said to be a mouthpiece for Baptists in Virginia.
, and the church was a place of mass meetings for demonstrations, support and voter registration.
In 1980 First Baptist built a new education building, and it has purchased nearby lots as part of planning for its future. It is an active leader in the downtown association of churches, with the largest community outreach program in the city. Its ministries include education and scholarship programs, welfare and family counseling. In addition, it televises services twice a week.
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
; one of the first African-American Baptist congregations in the United States, and one of the oldest black churches in the nation. It established one of the first local schools for black children in the nation.
Its congregation was active during the 20th century Civil Rights Movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
. Today it has the largest community outreach program in the city.
History
In the earliest decades of the Baptist Church in the Southeast, it was influenced by preachers from New England who generated the Great AwakeningFirst Great Awakening
The First Awakening was a Christian revitalization movement that swept Protestant Europe and British America, and especially the American colonies in the 1730s and 1740s, leaving a permanent impact on American religion. It resulted from powerful preaching that gave listeners a sense of personal...
. As more churches were started, members came together in an association. With growth, in 1781 the association of churches split into two parts along state lines for Virginia and North Carolina. The twenty-one congregations in Virginia formed the Portsmouth Baptist Association, named after their first meeting place. Representatives worked together to form church policy. From 1810 to 1828 they began to work on Foreign Missions and Christian Education. Later they established Sabbath Schools.
The history of First Baptist Church started with scattered black members in Prince George County
Prince George County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,047 people, 10,159 households, and 8,096 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile . There were 10,726 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile...
worshipping as New Lights in 1756 after the Great Awakening. Baptist preachers had traveled widely in the South where they appealed to both blacks and whites in evangelical outreach. In the early years, such preachers strongly supported an anti-slavery message based on the equality of men made in God's image. Their democratic message and willingness to welcome blacks in active roles attracted many new members to the Baptists, despite the established role of the Anglican Church in Virginia. In some areas, energetic young men without many other opportunities were the ones to take up leadership roles as Baptist preachers and challenge the class system of the colony.
In 1774 some of the New Light members united under the Rev. John Michaels. Calling themselves the First African Baptist Church, they met in Lunenburg
Lunenburg, Virginia
Lunenburg is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Lunenburg County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 165. The community is also known as Lunenburg Courthouse or by an alternative spelling, Lunenburg Court House....
in a building on the plantation of Colonel William Byrd III
William Byrd III
William Byrd III was the son of William Byrd II and the grandson of William Byrd I. He inherited his family's land in Virginia and continued their planter prestige as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses.He chose to fight in the French and Indian War rather than spend much time in Richmond...
. After their meetinghouse at the Byrd plantation was destroyed in a fire, in 1820 free members of the congregation moved into Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
, where there was a growing free black community. (From about 300 free blacks in 1790, the community in Petersburg grew tenfold to 3,224 by 1860, when it was the largest free black population in the South. In that year on the eve of the Civil War, there were about 6,000 enslaved African Americans and 9,000 whites in the city.)
With the move into Petersburg, the congregation took the name of First Baptist Church, and built their first church on Harrison Avenue (near the location of the current church.) This was one of two early black Baptist churches; they were the first of that denomination to be established in Petersburg.
Emphasizing education, the First Baptist congregation also created one of the earliest local schools for black children in the nation. From its beginning, the congregation had been led by black pastors. In the wake of Nat Turner's slave rebellion in 1831, however, planters
Planters
Planters is an American snack food company, a division of Kraft Foods, best known for its processed nuts and for the Mr. Peanut icon that symbolizes them. Mr. Peanut was created by grade schooler Antonio Gentile for a 1916 contest to design the company's brand icon...
became so alarmed about the potential for religious messages to cause other revolts that they passed legislation in 1832 requiring that all black churches be led by white pastors. The planters believed they could ensure control of the message that whites would deliver. This situation lasted until after the Civil War, when blacks took back control of their church
By 1865 First Baptist had 1700 members. Rev. Leonard A. Black was pastor from 1873 to 1883, during which time the congregation grew to 3,600 members. The church soon joined a state convention of black Baptist churches, aided by the Consolidated American Baptist Convention, to escape the supervision of whites. This was the forerunner of the National Baptist Convention, USA. The congregation continued to grow after the war as freedmen came to Petersburg from outlying areas, and its members helped the rural migrants adjust to urban life. The current church at 236 Harrison Avenue was built starting in 1870, after a fire burned the previous one. The congregation steadily added to the church, completing the steeple during Black's pastorate.
In the late 1880s the pastor, Rev. Charles B. Gordon, also edited The Pilot (later known as The National Pilot), a paper that was said to be a mouthpiece for Baptists in Virginia.
20th century
Like other major black churches, First Baptist long played a role in training new leaders in education, politics and business. Its congregation was active in the Civil Rights MovementCivil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
, and the church was a place of mass meetings for demonstrations, support and voter registration.
In 1980 First Baptist built a new education building, and it has purchased nearby lots as part of planning for its future. It is an active leader in the downtown association of churches, with the largest community outreach program in the city. Its ministries include education and scholarship programs, welfare and family counseling. In addition, it televises services twice a week.
Additional reading
- Albert J. Raboteau, Slave Religion: The 'invisible institution' in the Antebellum South, New York: Oxford University Press, 2004 (25th anniversary edition)
External links
- www.firstbaptistpetersburg.org -- Official web site
- "First Baptist Church, Petersburg, Virginia", African American Heritage
- "Petersburg Baptist Association to celebrate century of ministry", Religious Herald, 31 Aug 2006