[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH DENBIGH 150TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 20, 2012

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a 
legacy of faith in Virginia's Third Congressional District. This year, 
First Baptist Church Denbigh in Newport News is celebrating its 150th 
anniversary, and I would like to take a moment to reflect on the 
history of this esteemed institution and its contributions to the 
greater Hampton Roads community.
  The story of First Baptist Church Denbigh begins in July 1862 as the 
Civil War raged. A Recognizing Council was called to meet at the old 
Denbigh Baptist Church. They chose Rev. Peter Banks to lead the 
congregation. Rev. T. G. Wright became the second pastor, serving from 
1863 to 1869. During his administration, the white community returned 
to claim their church building. Rev. Wright and congregation moved to 
the current location, building a small house of worship.
  During the tenure of Rev. T. G. Nettles (1870-1881), a larger house 
was built to accommodate increased membership and the church was 
renamed to ``First Baptist Church of Warwick County.'' Other ministers 
were Reverends Watt Talton (1882-1883), J. B. Whiting (1883-1887), 
Robert H. Nazareth (1887-1912), T. C. Williams (1912-13), A. A. Hudgins 
(1913-26), Isaac Daniel (1926-32), J. D. Atkins (1933-40), and Joseph 
H. Brown (1941-48), all of whom added to the church in both physical 
form and spiritual leadership. During this period, the church was 
renamed ``First Baptist Church Denbigh.''
  For the next ten years, the church received sermons from Reverends B 
F. Burton and I. L. Buie along with other leaders. Later ministers were 
Reverends Samuel Fladger (1959-63), T. T. Brown (1963-67), and Albert 
L. Hill (1968-73), who initiated a bond sale to build a new air 
conditioned facility, with an indoor baptismal pool, which held its 
first services in 1972.
  Rev. Herbert A. Hill, Jr. began his pastorate in 1974 and gave the 
church the strength to endure though a tragic fire in 1986 which 
destroyed the church edifice. For a time, services were held in schools 
and other places in the community. In 1987, Rev. Hill's tenure as 
pastor ended and associate pastors provided guidance to the flock.
  In 1987, Edward Talton, a deacon for more than 40 years, was called 
into the ministry. Rev. Talton preached only two sermons from the 
pulpit before his death, but his life was a sermon in itself. In 1988, 
Rev. Haywood Barnes was voted to serve as interim pastor. Since 1988, 
Rev. Ivan T. Harris has led services, assuming the full-time pastorate 
in October 1991. Through Pastor Harris' efforts, the church's 25 year 
mortgage was burned on October 9, 1994--after only 6\1/2\ years.
  Over the years, the First Baptist community has continued to 
flourish. Successful fundraising has afforded the church handicap-
accessible transportation, a new Church Bell, an Education Center, 
Child Development Center, Family Life Center, and modern technologies. 
In addition to Sunday prayers, the church offers Summer Bible School, 
The Bible Institute, and GED, Homebound and Short Term Suspension 
programs. It provides over 30 ministries and is home to several choirs. 
The Church leads charitable causes including the The Hunt Food Locker, 
Food Mobile, Summer Feeding Program, an Outreach Center for women's 
transitional housing, a Clothes Closet, and the adoption of a low-
income neighborhood.
  Perhaps the most notable activity of the church is their African 
Village Adoption Project, initiated in 2005. Members have selected a 
native from Benin, Africa for adoption. The Church as a whole has 
provided a water well, microbanking program, motorcycles, books, a 
Christian School, and medical and worship facilities.
  As First Baptist Church Denbigh gathers to celebrate this historic 
milestone, the church can truly remember its past, celebrate its 
present, and focus on its future. I would like to congratulate Pastor 
Harris and all of the 2,500 members of First Baptist Church Denbigh on 
the occasion of their 150th Anniversary. I wish them many more years of 
dedicated service to the community.

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