[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 132 (Tuesday, December 5, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2085]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF IVY BAPTIST CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT C. SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 2006

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate an 
institution in my hometown of Newport News. On December 1, 2006, the 
members of Ivy Baptist Church celebrated their 100th anniversary, and I 
would like to take a moment to highlight the rich history of this 
church and its contribution to our community.
  In 1906, Rev. James Carr, along with Shaddy Clark and J.B. Peyton 
founded the first ancestor of the Ivy Baptist Church of today. It was 
called the First Baptist Church Dawson City. First Baptist Dawson was a 
blessing in a community plagued by crime in a city nicknamed ``Blood 
Field.'' In 1915, under the leadership of Reverend Carr, the First 
Baptist Church Dawson City building was purchased for $350 in cash.
  Rev. Samuel Brown, the second pastor, moved the church to the 500 
block of 18th Street in Newport News and renamed it the 18th Street 
Baptist Church.
  In 1923, the church elected its third pastor, Rev. James M. Bray. 
After 27 years of growth, witnessing and fellowship under Reverend 
Bray, the church sold its building at 18th Street, and a new church was 
built at 1612 Ivy Avenue at the cost of $60,000. Based on this change 
of location, the church was renamed Ivy Avenue Baptist Church in 1952.
  In 1958, the Reverend D.L. Charity became the fourth pastor of Ivy 
Avenue Baptist Church. The church continued to experience substantial 
growth with new programs implemented by Reverend Charity, who served 
for 8 years.
  On February 4, 1968, Rev. Dr. W. Henry Maxwell was selected as the 
fifth pastor of Ivy Avenue Baptist Church. Three years later, a new 
house of worship located at 50 Maple Avenue was purchased, and the 
first worship service was conducted there in February 1972. In order to 
maintain the heritage of the church, but to reflect the church's 
location change, the name was shortened from Ivy Avenue Baptist, to the 
Ivy Baptist we know today.
  Under Reverend Maxwell, Ivy Baptist continued to flourish. A church 
day care center was established in 1974, and a multipurpose annex named 
the W. Henry Maxwell Family Life Center was opened in 1999. After 36 
years of faithful service to Ivy Baptist Church, Reverend Maxwell 
retired.
  After a year-long search, Rev. Kevin G. Swann was elected the sixth 
pastor of Ivy Baptist Church. The church has already experienced 
significant growth in membership under Reverend Swann, and I believe he 
will live up to the legacy left to him. Over these 100 years, pastors 
at Ivy have licensed nine other pastors, and ordained nine pastors to 
the ministry. The day care program is popular throughout the community, 
and the Family Life Center is a community asset under constant demand 
as a venue for various church, civic and social programs.
  I would like to once again congratulate Reverend Swann and the 
members of Ivy Baptist on their centennial and I wish them another 
century of continued service to their community.

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