[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1850-E1851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      ON THE 130TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIFTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH

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                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a 
storied institution of faith in the Third Congressional District. This 
year, the Fifth Street Baptist Church is celebrating its 130th 
anniversary, and I would like to highlight some moments from the 
history of the church and its contribution to our community.
  Fifth Street was organized in 1880 and first worshiped in the old Odd 
Fellows Hall on East Franklin Street. The church acquired land for a 
sanctuary on Fifth Street in 1882, and became known as Fifth Street 
Baptist. The first pastor, Rev. Henry Haywood Mitchell, served for 2 
years. Under the pastorate of Rev. A.P. Dunbar, the new house of 
worship was completed and dedicated in 1886.
  Fifth Street grew rapidly under the leadership of its third pastor, 
Rev. Wesley Paul Graham. At the end of one revival, Rev. Graham 
singlehandedly baptized 285 people in one afternoon. It was under his 
direction that the first Baptist Young Peoples Union in Virginia was 
established at Fifth Baptist. This Union was influential in the plans 
to consolidate Richmond Theological Seminary and Wayland Seminary of 
Washington, DC into one institution--Virginia Union University. Rev. 
Graham served Fifth Baptist for 17 years, with the highlight of his 
pastorate being the 1900 Session of the National Baptist Convention 
hosted at Fifth Street Baptist.
  Fifth Street flourished in Richmond during the turn of the century. 
Under the leadership of its fourth pastor, Rev. Thomas J. King, the 
first Deaconess board in the city was organized, and hundreds of new 
members were added to the church. It was also during Rev. King's 
ministry, on July 4, 1926, that a new sanctuary was dedicated at 705 
North Fifth Street.
  The Great Depression brought with it a share of challenges for Fifth 
Baptist. In response, the church called a pastor who had already built 
a church in Philadelphia and was proven as a skilled leader. On the 
first Sunday in February, 1930, Rev. Christopher Columbus Scott became 
the fifth pastor of Fifth Street Baptist Church, and he served the 
church for 36 years. During his years of service, the church celebrated 
the burning of its mortgage in 1946, installed a new 22 rank pipe organ 
in 1955, and led the city-wide celebration of Emancipation Day for many 
years, bringing nationally known speakers and rallies for civil rights 
to the church.
  Changes in the city of Richmond brought changes to Fifth Baptist 
under the leadership of its sixth pastor, Rev. Henry Clayton Gregory 
III, who assumed leadership of the church in August 1967. New 
expressway construction and other municipal developments had 
geographically split the Jackson Ward/Navy Hill community. In response, 
the church rededicated its efforts to the community, serving as a 
command post for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Poor People's March and 
establishing a Federal Credit Union for members. Fifth Baptist also 
looked to serve the world at large, building a medical clinic in 
Karnal, India.
  In January 1974, Rev. Roscoe Dennis Cooper, Jr. was installed as the 
seventh pastor of Fifth Baptist. It was under his leadership that the 
church undertook the biggest change in its history. Citing growing 
problems with the location in Downtown Richmond, the church took the 
bold step to move 37 blocks away to a new property on Third Avenue. On 
Sunday, October 5, 1975, the church members marched these blocks to the 
church's new home in the Highland Park Community.
  The church's eleventh and current pastor is Rev. F. Todd Gray. At the 
church's new location and under his leadership, Fifth Street has 
continued to minister to the needs of the community. Coming together 
with community neighbors, the church helped found the North District 
Community Development Corporation. Under this organization, the church, 
in conjunction with the Southern Tip Civic Association, The United Way, 
St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church, and other community groups, has 
provided numerous programs to the community including: computer 
training, test prep, job training, summer jobs for youth, and medical 
services. In 2005, the church dedicated a new Community Empowerment 
Center known as the G.R.A.C.E., God's Redemptive And Community 
Empowerment, Center.
  As Fifth Street gathers to celebrate this historic milestone, the 
church can truly remember its past, celebrate its present, and focus on 
the future continuing to ``bring the Kingdom to the Community!'' I 
would like to congratulate current pastor Rev. Gray and all of the 
members of the Fifth Street Baptist Church on the occasion of their 
130th anniversary.

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