[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16792]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           ON THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF FOURTH BAPTIST CHURCH

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                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 25, 2009

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate an 
institution in Richmond, the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. 
On Saturday, June 27, 2009, the members of Fourth Baptist Church are 
celebrating their 150th anniversary, and I would like to take a moment 
to highlight the rich history of this church and its contribution to 
our community.
  Fourth Baptist Church, the first black Baptist church in the Church 
Hill community in Richmond, began in 1859 as a regular assembly of 
slaves for prayer. The group met regularly on Chimborazo Hill until the 
outbreak of the Civil War, when the white congregation of the Leigh 
Street Baptist Church granted permission for the slaves to hold their 
services in the church basement.
  In 1865 the Reverend Scott Gwathmey, one of the group's prayer 
leaders, gained permission for the group to meet in a Union barracks on 
Chimborazo Hill. There, on December 2, 1865, the Fourth Baptist Church 
was formally organized, with Reverend Gwathmey serving as the first 
pastor.
  The barracks were eventually demolished, but the congregation 
salvaged lumber from the debris and constructed their own church 
building. In 1875 this church was replaced by another one of frame, on 
the northern side of Church Hill, near what was to be the site of the 
present church. The present building was completed in 1884, three 
months after the former church was destroyed by fire.
  The church has grown considerably from these humble beginnings. Major 
expansion was conducted under the direction of current Pastor Emeritus, 
Dr. Robert L. Taylor. Dr. Taylor served as Pastor of Fourth Baptist for 
34 years. He was responsible for instituting many of the programs that 
still exist at the church, and oversaw the building of the addition to 
the church building now known as Taylor Hall.
  Fourth Baptist has vibrant Men's and Women's programs that enlighten 
and assist the young people as they participate in the Boy Scouts, Girl 
Scouts, and the Youth Usher programs. Fourth Baptist also participates 
with the Baptist General Convention of Virginia to conduct outreach 
ministries throughout Greater Richmond and the Commonwealth of 
Virginia.
  I would like to congratulate Chairman of the Board of Deacons Gerard 
A. Dabney, Interim Pastor Dr. Marion Tapscott, and the entire 
congregation of Fourth Street Baptist on the occasion of their 150th 
anniversary. I would to wish them another 150 years of service to their 
community.

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