[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 194 (Tuesday, November 18, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1087-E1088]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMEMORATING THE 245TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH 
                         OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

                                  _____
                                 

                       HON. JENNIFER L. McCLELLAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 18, 2025

  Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 245th 
anniversary of the First African Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia, 
one of the oldest continuously operating Black congregations in the 
United States and a cornerstone of faith, resilience, and community 
leadership in the Commonwealth and in Virginia's 4th Congressional 
District.
  The church's roots run deep into Richmond's past. On July 1, 1841, 
members of three Baptist churches gathered at First Baptist Church to 
formally organize what was to become ``The African Baptist Church of 
Richmond.'' That founding charter included stipulations that reflect 
the fraught realities of its time, including the oversight of religious 
instruction by a committee of white members of Richmond's Baptist 
churches.
  Founded in 1780, during a time when the vast majority of African 
Americans in Virginia were enslaved, First African Baptist Church began 
as a congregation of free and enslaved worshippers who sought spiritual 
refuge and self-determination in the heart of Richmond. Despite 
extraordinary obstacles, the congregation persevered, grew, and became 
formally recognized as an independent church in 1841 under the 
leadership of Reverend Robert Ryland.
  Throughout its remarkable history, First African Baptist Church has 
stood as a beacon of hope and activism in Richmond. It was a center for 
abolitionist organizing, education, and

[[Page E1088]]

later, for the Civil Rights Movement in Virginia, playing a vital role 
in advancing justice, equity, and opportunity for all.
  I had the honor of joining the congregation for their 245th 
anniversary celebration and witnessing firsthand the deep faith, unity, 
and pride that continue to define this historic church. Under the 
dedicated leadership of Reverend Dr. Rodney D. Waller, First African 
Baptist Church remains a powerful force for good, empowering future 
generations through worship, education, and community outreach.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 245th 
anniversary of the First African Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia, 
and in recognizing the profound contributions this historic 
congregation has made to our Commonwealth.

                          ____________________