Gillfield Baptist Church (Petersburg, Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gillfield Baptist Church |
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Gillfield Baptist Church, Petersburg
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| 37°13′25″N 77°24′28″W / 37.2235°N 77.4077°W | |
| Location | 209 Perry Street, Petersburg, Virginia |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| Website | www.gillfieldbaptistchurchpetersburg.org/ |
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| Heritage designation | Virginia |
| Completed | 1797 |
Gillfield Baptist Church is a very old church in Petersburg, Virginia. It is the second-oldest black Baptist church in the city. It is also one of the oldest in the entire country!
This church has the oldest handwritten record book of any black church. It was started in 1797 as a separate church. Both black and white people were members. In 1818, the church built its first building. It was at its current spot on Perry Street.
Later, in 1957, a pastor named Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker led the church. He helped start the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. This group was very important in the Civil Rights Movement. Gillfield Baptist Church played a big role in fighting for equal rights. It still helps the community today.
Contents
The Church's Early Beginnings
The church first started in Prince Edward County, Virginia. That was in 1786. It was known as the Davenport Church back then. In 1797, it became its own church. It had both enslaved and free people as members.
In 1800, most of the black members moved. They went to Pocahontas Island. This island was a growing center for free black people in Petersburg. The church then changed its name to Sandy Beach Baptist Church.
Building a Home in Petersburg
In 1818, the church bought land on Perry Street. This area was called the Gillfield neighborhood. It was named after a Revolutionary War hero. The church built its first building there. Over time, four different church buildings stood on this spot. The building you see today was built between 1874 and 1879.
These were early times for Baptist churches in Virginia. Preachers from New England helped start many new churches. Many churches joined together in groups called associations. Gillfield Baptist Church joined the Portsmouth Baptist Association in 1810. It had 270 members then.
Growing and Facing Challenges
More free black people moved to Petersburg. By 1821, Gillfield Baptist Church was very large. It had 441 members. This was more than twice as big as other churches. Free black members were active in the church. But white pastors led the church in its early years. White leaders also tried to control black churches.
In 1829, the Portsmouth Baptist Association tried to combine Gillfield Baptist with a white church. This was another way to control the black congregation. But the members of Gillfield Baptist said no. They stayed at their own church. However, they had to let members from the white church represent them. This lasted until after the American Civil War. Before this, free black leaders had represented them.
After Nat Turner's slave rebellion in 1831, laws changed. The state said every black church must have a white minister. This was to control what was taught. They wanted preachers to tell black people to stay in their place. Church records show how hard it was. The church had to make tough choices. They lived in a society where slavery was allowed.
New Leadership After the Civil War
After the Civil War, things changed. In 1865, Rev. Henry Williams became the pastor. He was the first black minister of Gillfield Baptist Church since 1831. He led the church from 1865 to 1900. This was a time of big changes after slavery ended.
The church left the Portsmouth Association. They joined a black Baptist group instead. This helped them avoid white control. This new group later became the National Baptist Convention, USA.
Rev. Williams was also a leader in the community. He was elected to the Petersburg City Council. He strongly believed black teachers should teach black students. He encouraged many students to become teachers. He was active in politics into the 1880s. The beautiful church building you see today was finished in 1879.
Gillfield Baptist in the 20th Century
From 1953 to 1959, Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker led Gillfield Baptist Church. He was a close friend of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.. They had met in divinity school. Walker led efforts in Petersburg to end racial segregation. This was when black and white people were kept separate.
Rev. Walker helped start the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Gillfield Baptist was used for big meetings. People learned how to prepare for peaceful protests. Walker was arrested many times. His first arrest was when he led church members into a "white" public library. He also started the Petersburg Improvement Association (PIA). This group planned actions for the local Civil Rights Movement. By 1960, the PIA had 3,000 members.
Rev. Walker left Gillfield Baptist in 1960. He became a leader for the SCLC in Atlanta, Georgia. He helped the SCLC plan important civil rights events. These included the Birmingham campaign and the March on Washington.
Continuing the Fight for Justice
Rev. Grady W. Powell, Sr. became the next pastor. He led the church from 1961 until 1997. He also took part in several Freedom Marches. When Rev. Powell started, he faced challenges. People threw eggs at his door. He got threatening phone calls. A cross was even burned in front of the church in 1963.
In 1970, Gillfield Baptist Church made history again. Under Rev. Powell, the church chose seven women to be deacons. This was a big step. Some of these women were Dr.Louise J. Thompson, Martha E. Moorefield, Thelma Mitchell, and Lula Allgood.
After Rev. Powell retired, Rev. Dr. George W. C. Lyons led the church. Gillfield Baptist Church is still a very active church. It remains an important part of community life in Petersburg.
