[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 86 (Thursday, May 18, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNITION OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH (CENTRALIA)

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                        HON. A. DONALD McEACHIN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2017

  Mr. McEACHIN. Mr. Speaker, historic First Baptist Church 
(Centralia)--originally known as Salem African Baptist--was established 
in 1867, in Centralia, Virginia by freedmen from Salem Baptist Church. 
The mother Church is located two miles west of this site--on a hill by 
the railroad near the intersection of Centralia and Chester Roads.
  Members of the first Board of Trustees--Daniel Wilkerson, Wilson 
Lewis, Lemuel Dodson, James White, and Emanuel Johnson--received the 
deed of trust for this plot of land from Mr. & Mrs. P. A. Chalkley of 
Salem Baptist. Mr. Ben Duval, also from Salem Baptist, donated lumber 
for the Church. Prior to the erection of the first modest sanctuary in 
1867, the first worship services were held in a brush arbor at this 
sacred site.
  Between 1867 and 1949, the Church prospered under the leadership of 
eleven pastors including Reverend Lewis Branch who was the first, 
Reverends Ned Bland; Eli Saunders; J. E. Brown; T. H. Johnson (1897 to 
1906); William Thomas (1906 to 1915); H. M. Chapman (1915 to 1919); J. 
H. Binford (1919 to 1929); C. A. Cobbs (1929 to 1931); C. J. Washington 
(1932 to 1934); and W. B. Ball (1934 to 1949).
  In the early 1900's during the pastorates of Reverend T.H. Johnson 
and J.H. Binford, the second edifice was erected and renovated into the 
edifice of historic and architectural significance for which it is 
renowned: Historic First Baptist (Centralia).
  Per O'Dell (1983; pp. 346 and 356), ``Another church departing 
somewhat from the standard plan is . . . First Baptist Church of 
Centralia, erected by a black congregation in the 1910s.'' Known for 
its twin towers, and architectural elements that included Gothic 
Revival, Colonial Revival, and Shingle styles, the edifice was 
according to O'Dell, ``larger than any in the county at the time . . 
.'' Also, the exterior decoration was reported to be ``more elaborate 
than that on most rural churches of the period.''
  Needing more space for a growing discipleship, in 1963 under the 
leadership of Dr. Samuel Moss Carter, the twelfth pastor who served for 
forty years (1950 to 1990), First Baptist (Centralia) moved to its 
current edifice at 2920 Kingsdale Road--two miles northeast of the 
historic site at 4412 Centralia Road, Chester, VA.
  On April 16, 1996, Historic First Baptist Church (Centralia) was 
razed by arson. Led by Divine intervention and forgiveness of the 
arsonists, the current and thirteenth pastor--Dr. Wilson E.B. Shannon 
(who was installed in 1991) and the congregation that included 
professionals with architectural drafting, brick masonry, plastering, 
and contracting--reconstructed Historic First Baptist (Centralia) to 
authentic specifications within one year (1997) of her being destroyed.
  In July 2012, following an historic expose designed for the 
Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia (CHSVA), First Baptist 
Church (Centralia): Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (at which time, 
CHSVA recognized her historic and architectural significance), the 
Church was invited to apply for Chesterfield Historic Landmark status.
  Designated as a Chesterfield County (VA) Historic Landmark in June 
2014, the Church was also granted one of the highly coveted Virginia 
Historical Highway Markers by the Virginia Department of Historic 
Resources in December 2014. The marker was installed in November 2015 
at a grand ceremony marking this epic achievement. While First Baptist 
(Centralia) is the third church in Chesterfield to earn distinction as 
an historic landmark, First Baptist (Centralia) is the first African 
American Church in Chesterfield to earn this distinction.
  To further address family-life ministry and community needs, the 
shared vision of disciples and Dr. Shannon and First Lady Cynthia Smith 
Shannon--who just celebrated their 26th anniversary at First Baptist--
includes expansion of the Samuel Moss Carter Family Life Center to a 
45,000 square ft. edifice encompassing banquet facilities for 750 
occupants, an indoor Olympic sized swimming pool, and other amenities 
supportive of family life ministry.
  First Baptist Church (Centralia) has been blessed over the last 150 
years to have been a spiritual beacon for her members, the Church 
community and beyond--supporting them through the challenges of 
independence, the Great Depression, societal changes, physical growth, 
world wars, arson, and familial joys and sorrows. She welcomes the next 
150 years--Magnifying God's Word, Blessing His Name, and Aspiring to 
Exalt His Kingdom on Earth.

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