[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15741]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST CHURCH OF NEWPORT NEWS 
                               (BAPTIST)

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 13, 2014

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a 
continuing legacy of faith and community in Virginia's Third 
Congressional District. This year, First Church of Newport News 
(Baptist) in Newport News, Virginia is celebrating its 
sesquicentennial, and I would like to take a moment to reflect on the 
history of this esteemed institution and its contributions to the 
greater Newport News community.
  First Church of Newport News (Baptist) holds the distinction of being 
the first form of organized religion located within the original city 
limits of Newport News. In fact, it predates the city by 32 years, 
having been originally organized in 1864 as First Baptist Church by the 
Reverend Thomas Poole of Isle of Wight County. The small wood framed 
church located under what is now the 28th Street Bridge was a spiritual 
home for many slaves, freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, whose 
only exposure to Christianity had come from their previous masters.
  Under Reverends Carr and Cooley, the church moved its location to 
23rd Street and Jefferson Avenue and continued to grow. Under Reverend 
William H. Dixon in 1897, planning and construction began on the new 
church building that would house the church for most of the 20th 
century. The impressive structure would include a steeple that was 
believed to be the highest in Newport News and was a landmark on the 
city skyline for decades.
  A church is more than its building, and First Baptist's ministry in 
Newport News continued to expand under Reverends Harris, Taylor and 
Henderson. In 1919, Dr. A. A. Galvin became Pastor and many ministries 
and facets of parochial life at First Church that still exist were 
founded during his tenure, including the Benevolent Fund and the Men's 
Star Bible Class. Under the next pastor, Dr. John F. Williams, the 
church formed both a Gospel Choir and a Deaf and Blind Ministry.
  In 1961, Dr. Fred J. Boddie, Jr. succeeded Dr. Williams and began his 
39-year tenure, the longest of any pastor in the church's history. It 
was under Dr. Boddie that the church moved to its current location on 
Wickham Avenue and changed its name from First Baptist Church to First 
Church of Newport News (Baptist) to reflect its historic roots. Dr. 
Boddie led First Church into the 21st century, retiring in 2001. Under 
his leadership, the church truly lived up to its motto becoming, ``the 
friendly church on the corner where everybody is somebody and Christ is 
all''.
  In 2005, Dr. Reginald Dawkins was called to be pastor. In 2011, 
Rodney Johnson was installed as the twelfth leader of First Church and 
the church continues to grow in its outreach to the community under his 
stewardship. This dedication to service is reflected in the theme for 
First Church's Sesquicentennial, ``Renewing Minds and Transforming 
Lives with a Legacy of Hope and Charity''.
  As First Church 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 all of the members of First 
Church of Newport News (Baptist) on the occasion of its 150th 
Anniversary, and I wish them many more years of dedicated service to 
the community.

                          ____________________