[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 14, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            ON THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH

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                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 14, 2010

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
enduring legacy of a faith institution in the city of Portsmouth. This 
year, Third Baptist Church is celebrating its 125th anniversary, and in 
recognition of this milestone I would like to take a moment to reflect 
on the history of this esteemed church and its contributions to the 
greater Portsmouth community.
  The original seeds of Third Baptist Church were planted in a 
schoolhouse on Portsmouth's Chestnut Street in 1885. It was there that 
Rev. J.W. Godwin and a group of women conceived of the church and held 
its first services. From this humble beginning, the church grew under 
the pastorship of Rev. James Garris. It was during the tenure of the 
third pastor, Rev. Harold Anthony, that the church moved to its present 
location on the corner of Queen and Godwin streets, then the frontier 
of the city.
  Third Baptist's congregation grew considerably at the new site under 
the leadership of fourth pastor Rev. Frank Campbell. Rev. Campbell saw 
the location of the new church, a neighborhood populated by saloons and 
other morally questionable establishments, as a blessing and 
opportunity to spread the Word and enlarge the Third Baptist Church 
family. Due to revivals and outreach efforts, the church outgrew its 
building, and a new sanctuary was built in 1911, the sanctuary Third 
Baptist uses to this day.
  Third Baptist continued to grow under the leadership of fifth pastor 
Rev. B.W. Dance. During his 18 years at Third Baptist, the church knew 
both success and setback. The $10,000 mortgage was burned in 1920, a 
pipe organ was installed, and massive improvements to the sanctuary 
were completed. As the Great Depression swept the country, the Church 
was not able to escape its effects. But financial hardship was not 
powerful enough to close the doors of Third Baptist. When the church 
could not pay the salaries of Rev. Dance, the church organist, sexton, 
and clerk, they all continued to serve God and the congregation without 
a paycheck. This continued until the church could afford to pay them 
half their wages and finally restore their full salaries.
  The Church's sixth pastor, Rev. C. J. Washington, was installed in 
1939. Under his direction, the church established a building fund and 
secured property for and erected a parsonage on the southeast corner of 
Elm Avenue and Glasgow Street.
  Third Baptist's seventh pastor, Rev. C.H. Jordan, was installed in 
1947. His 31 years of service encompassed the postwar growth of the 
city of Portsmouth, and many of the institutions of modern Third 
Baptist were founded under his leadership. One of the Church's greatest 
accomplishments of this period was the establishment of a kindergarten 
and Adult Education Program. Originally housed in the first small Queen 
Street sanctuary, by 1951, the program had outgrown its facilities, and 
a new educational building was constructed. Third Baptist continued to 
expand in the neighborhood, buying a building across Queen Street and 
renovating it into a Fellowship Hall. Eventually this hall was the only 
Third Baptist building large enough to hold the education program, and 
in 1974 the repurposed, renovated, and fully air conditioned facility 
was dedicated. Rev. Jordan served Third Baptist until his death in 
1978.
  Third Baptist Church's eighth and current pastor is Rev. Joe B. 
Fleming. Since 1981, Rev. Fleming has led the church into the 21st 
century. During his tenure, the position of Youth Minister was 
established to coordinate a program to meet the needs and expectations 
of the young members of Third Baptist. The church ushered in a new era 
in service in 1994 when it named its first two female Deacons to the 
Diaconate. In October of 2004, the Fleming family added another 
generation of service to Third Baptist. Rev. Joseph A. Fleming, the son 
of Rev. Fleming and Mrs. Johnnie Fleming, became the Assistant to the 
Pastor of Third Baptist Church and currently serves as Supervisor of 
Ministries.
  The Church continues to minister to its community to this day. The 
education program now includes after school homework assistance. The 
newly renovated kitchen helps facilitate the weekly feed-the-hungry 
program and the Meals on Wheels ministry. This enduring legacy of 
service is due to the efforts of the congregation, some of whom have 
been members of Third Baptist for over 60 years.
  I would like to commend Pastor Fleming and the congregation of Third 
Baptist Church as they celebrate their 125th anniversary. I hope that 
their next 125 years of service will be as fruitful as their first 125 
years.

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