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Coordinates: 37°32′22″N 77°25′53″W / 37.53944°N 77.43139°W / 37.53944; -77.43139
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{{short description|Historic church in Virginia, United States}}

{{Infobox NRHP
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Richmond's First Baptist Church
| name = First Baptist Church
| nrhp_type =
| nrhp_type =
| designated_other1 = Virginia Landmarks Register
| designated_other1 = Virginia Landmarks Register
| designated_other1_date = November 5, 1968<ref name=register>{{cite web|title=Virginia Landmarks Register|url=http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/register_counties_cities.htm|publisher=Virginia Department of Historic Resources|accessdate=19 March 2013}}</ref>
| designated_other1_date = November 5, 1968<ref name=register>{{cite web|title=Virginia Landmarks Register|url=http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/register_counties_cities.htm|publisher=Virginia Department of Historic Resources|accessdate=19 March 2013}}</ref>
| designated_other1_number = 127-0168
| designated_other1_number = 127-0168
| designated_other1_num_position = bottom
| designated_other1_num_position = bottom
| image = Old First Baptist Church.JPG
| image = Old First Baptist Church.JPG
| caption = Old First Baptist Church, December 2011
| caption = Old First Baptist Church, December 2011
| location= NW corner of 12th and E. Broad Sts., [[Richmond, Virginia]]
| location = NW corner of 12th and E. Broad Sts., [[Richmond, Virginia]]
| coordinates = {{coord|37|32|22|N|77|25|53|W|display=inline,title}}
| lat_degrees = 37
⚫
| locmapin = Virginia#USA
| lat_minutes = 32
⚫
| built = 1839-1841
| lat_seconds = 22
⚫
| architect = Walter, Thomas U.
| lat_direction = N
⚫
| architecture = Greek Revival
| long_degrees = 77
⚫
| added = April 16, 1969
| long_minutes = 25
⚫
| area = {{convert|0.3|acre}}
| long_seconds = 53
⚫
| refnum = 69000349<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
| long_direction = W
| coord_display = inline,title
⚫
| locmapin = Virginia#USA
⚫
| built = 1839-1841
⚫
| architect = Walter, Thomas U.
⚫
| architecture = Greek Revival
⚫
| added = April 16, 1969
⚫
| area = {{convert|0.3|acre}}
| governing_body = State
⚫
| refnum = 69000349<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''First Baptist Church''' is a historic [[Baptist]] church in [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Virginia]], [[United States]]. [[Lott Carey]] and [[Colin Teague]] were associated with this church. Established downtown in 1780, it is currently located on the corner of [[Monument Avenue]] and [[Boulevard (Richmond, Virginia)|The Boulevard]]. The current senior minister is the Rev. Dr. Jim Somerville, former pastor of the [[First Baptist Church of Washington, D.C.]].
'''First Baptist Church''' is a historic Baptist church in [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Virginia]], [[United States]]. Established in 1780, the church is located on the corner of [[Monument Avenue]] and [[Boulevard (Richmond, Virginia)|Arthur Ashe Boulevard]]. {{as of|2024}} the senior minister is the Rev. Dr. Jim Somerville, former pastor of the [[First Baptist Church of Washington, D.C.]] Its historic building at 12th and East Broad streets is the home of [[Virginia Commonwealth University]]'s '''Hunton Student Center'''.

⚫
The church building was designed by noted architect [[Thomas U. Walter]] and built between 1839 and 1841. In 1841, a group of members formed the [[First African Baptist Church (Richmond, Virginia)|First African Baptist Church]]. It is a stuccoed temple-form [[Greek Revival architecture|Greek Revival]] style building with the two fluted [[Doric order]] columns of its [[portico]] in antis. During the [[American Civil War]] the church building served as an emergency hospital for [[Confederate Army]] soldiers. In 1938, the congregation sold the church to the [[Medical College of Virginia]].<ref name=VAnom>{{cite web|url=http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Richmond/127-0168_Old_First_Baptist_Church_1969_Final_Nomination.pdf |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: First Baptist Church |author=Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff|date=March 1969|publisher=Virginia Department of Historic Resources}} and [http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Richmond/OldFirstBaptistChurch_photo.htm ''Accompanying photo'']</ref>


==History==
==Style and Worship==
⚫
The '''First Baptist Church''' was originally organized in June 1780 by 14 members under the leadership of its first pastor Joshua Morris as the '''Richmond Baptist Church'''. It was the first church to be organized in Richmond, and in a Virginia city. In the beginning the congregation worshiped and met in a private home. Their first baptist meeting house was constructed on lot 659 at the northeastern corner of Cary St., at 3rd St. In 1802 a new church building was constructed at E Broad St. at College St. The church moved from that location in 1841 to E Broad St. at 12th St.<ref>[http://google.com/books/edition/The_First_Century_of_the_First_Baptist_C/55o9AAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1 McCarthy, Carlton,"The First Century of the First Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia 1780-1880", 1880, Google Books]</ref> Their new building was designed by architect [[Thomas U. Walter]]. It is a stuccoed temple-form [[Greek Revival architecture|Greek Revival]] style building with the two fluted [[Doric order]] columns of its [[portico]] in antis. During the [[American Civil War]] the church building served as an emergency hospital for [[Confederate Army]] soldiers. In 1938, the congregation sold the church to the [[Medical College of Virginia]].<ref name=VAnom>{{cite web|url=http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Richmond/127-0168_Old_First_Baptist_Church_1969_Final_Nomination.pdf |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: First Baptist Church |author=Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff|date=March 1969|publisher=Virginia Department of Historic Resources}} and [http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Richmond/OldFirstBaptistChurch_photo.htm ''Accompanying photo'']</ref> Also in 1841, a group of members formed the [[First African Baptist Church (Richmond, Virginia)|First African Baptist Church]]. The original First Baptist Church had a mixed congregation. In 1841 they separated. The First African Baptist Church occupied and purchased the original church building at E Broad St. and 14th St. (now College St.). This building was torn down in 1876 and replaced with the one that stands in that location today.
First Baptist Church offers two traditional Sunday services, the one at 11:00 am being broadcast live on a local [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[television station]]. Most aspects of the church reflect traditional Baptist churches including [[Sunday school]] prior to worship and evening bible studies throughout the week. The music during worship is several hymns, an [[offertory]] song (usually instrumental) and a choral anthem. Other music that may be added is children or youth choir, English [[handbells]] or various soloists on instruments. Wednesdays offer a meal and activities for everyone.


[[Basil Manly Jr.]] was the pastor from 1850 to 1854.<ref>{{Citation| publisher = Oxford University Press| last = Wills| first = Gregory A.| title = Manly, Basil, Jr. (1825-1892), Baptist minister| date = February 2000}}</ref>
The Youth Group takes up the whole third floor and is 8th to 12th graders. There are usually a minimum 50 people a Sunday.


== Firsts==
== Modern use ==
The [[Medical College of Virginia]] acquired the building in 1938, and it became the institution's first [[student center]]. In 1989, the building, then part of [[Virginia Commonwealth University]], was named Hunton Hall for [[Eppa Hunton Jr.]] and [[Eppa Hunton IV]]. It was renovated from 2005 to 2007.<ref>{{cite web|first=Pamela|last=DiSalvo Lepley|title=Hunton Student Center grand reopening honors VCU's history|date=January 25, 2007|work=[[Virginia Commonwealth University|VCU News]]|url=https://www.news.vcu.edu/article/Hunton_Student_Center_grand_reopening_honors_VCUs_history|accessdate=August 14, 2022}}</ref>
Not only was it the first church of any denomination to be organized in Richmond, the first Baptist church organized in a [[Virginia]] city, and the first church in Virginia to organize a missionary society for women, but it also was the first in the city to organize a Sunday school for children, the first in America to send her own members as foreign missionaries to the continent of [[Africa]], and the first in the Southern Baptist Convention to have a church library.


==References==
==References==
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==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* {{Citation |publisher = McCarthy |publication-place = Richmond |title = The first century of the First Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia. 1780-1880 |url = http://openlibrary.org/books/OL23299739M/The_first_century_of_the_First_Baptist_Church_of_Richmond_Virginia._1780-1880 |publication-date = 1880 }}
* {{Citation |publisher = McCarthy |location = Richmond |title = The first century of the First Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia. 1780-1880 |date = 1880 |ol = 23299739M }}


== External links ==
== External links ==
Line 50: Line 41:
{{National Register of Historic Places in Virginia}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Virginia}}


[[Category:Greek Revival churches in Virginia]]
[[Category:Greek Revival church buildings in Virginia]]
[[Category:Churches completed in 1839]]
[[Category:Churches completed in 1839]]
[[Category:19th-century Baptist churches in the United States]]
[[Category:19th-century Baptist churches in the United States]]
[[Category:Baptist churches in Virginia]]
[[Category:Baptist churches in Virginia]]
[[Category:Baptist congregations established in the 18th century]]
[[Category:18th-century Baptist churches in the United States]]
[[Category:Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia]]
[[Category:Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia]]
[[Category:Churches in Richmond, Virginia]]
[[Category:Churches in Richmond, Virginia]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1780]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1780]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Richmond, Virginia]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Richmond, Virginia]]
[[Category:Southern Baptist Convention churches]]

Latest revision as of 18:39, 20 November 2024

First Baptist Church
Old First Baptist Church, December 2011
First Baptist Church (Richmond, Virginia) is located in Virginia
First Baptist Church (Richmond, Virginia)
First Baptist Church (Richmond, Virginia) is located in the United States
First Baptist Church (Richmond, Virginia)
LocationNW corner of 12th and E. Broad Sts., Richmond, Virginia
Coordinates37°32′22″N 77°25′53″W / 37.53944°N 77.43139°W / 37.53944; -77.43139
Area0.3 acres (0.12 ha)
Built1839-1841
ArchitectWalter, Thomas U.
Architectural styleGreek Revival
NRHP reference No.69000349[1]
VLR No.127-0168
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 16, 1969
Designated VLRNovember 5, 1968[2]

First Baptist Church is a historic Baptist church in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Established in 1780, the church is located on the corner of Monument Avenue and Arthur Ashe Boulevard. As of 2024 the senior minister is the Rev. Dr. Jim Somerville, former pastor of the First Baptist Church of Washington, D.C. Its historic building at 12th and East Broad streets is the home of Virginia Commonwealth University's Hunton Student Center.

History

[edit]

The First Baptist Church was originally organized in June 1780 by 14 members under the leadership of its first pastor Joshua Morris as the Richmond Baptist Church. It was the first church to be organized in Richmond, and in a Virginia city. In the beginning the congregation worshiped and met in a private home. Their first baptist meeting house was constructed on lot 659 at the northeastern corner of Cary St., at 3rd St. In 1802 a new church building was constructed at E Broad St. at College St. The church moved from that location in 1841 to E Broad St. at 12th St.[3] Their new building was designed by architect Thomas U. Walter. It is a stuccoed temple-form Greek Revival style building with the two fluted Doric order columns of its portico in antis. During the American Civil War the church building served as an emergency hospital for Confederate Army soldiers. In 1938, the congregation sold the church to the Medical College of Virginia.[4] Also in 1841, a group of members formed the First African Baptist Church. The original First Baptist Church had a mixed congregation. In 1841 they separated. The First African Baptist Church occupied and purchased the original church building at E Broad St. and 14th St. (now College St.). This building was torn down in 1876 and replaced with the one that stands in that location today.

Basil Manly Jr. was the pastor from 1850 to 1854.[5]

Modern use

[edit]

The Medical College of Virginia acquired the building in 1938, and it became the institution's first student center. In 1989, the building, then part of Virginia Commonwealth University, was named Hunton Hall for Eppa Hunton Jr. and Eppa Hunton IV. It was renovated from 2005 to 2007.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  3. ^ McCarthy, Carlton,"The First Century of the First Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia 1780-1880", 1880, Google Books
  4. ^ Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff (March 1969). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: First Baptist Church" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying photo
  5. ^ Wills, Gregory A. (February 2000), Manly, Basil, Jr. (1825-1892), Baptist minister, Oxford University Press
  6. ^ DiSalvo Lepley, Pamela (January 25, 2007). "Hunton Student Center grand reopening honors VCU's history". VCU News. Retrieved August 14, 2022.

Further reading

[edit]
  • The first century of the First Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia. 1780-1880, Richmond: McCarthy, 1880, OL 23299739M
[edit]
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