The congregation of First Baptist Church, Salem (FBCS) celebrated its 150th church anniversary Sunday, March 26.
Founded in 1867, shortly after the end of the Civil War, former slaves started the first meetings of the church as prayer services held in the home of Elizabeth Campbell on what was then known as Cove Road, (now Craig Ave.). Local ministers who volunteered their services delivered the first sermons. Later, the prayer services were moved to a home on the corner of White Oak and Calhoun Streets, the property of Rev. Walker Smith. From the best sources of information available, Rev. Smith was the first minister associated with the church as its pastor as indicated in the church history.
Plans for the sesquicentennial celebration began last year with a host of activities to take place. Also, 150 days leading up to the anniversary the church posted historical facts and scriptures on their Facebook page and held a prayer vigil each day at 1:50 p.m. The month long festivities for March included a banquet held March 10 at the Salem Civic Center with special guest and host Shed G. a faith based comedian. The attendees enjoyed an outstanding meal mixed with lots of laugher and fellowship.
Each week during the month of March a different pastor ministered to the congregation: Dr. Thurman O. Echols, president of the Virginia Baptist State Convention; Rev. David L. Chapman, interim executive minister Baptist General Convention of Virginia; Dr. David E. Goatley, executive secretary Lott Carey Mission Convention, and the Rev. Dwight O. Steele, Sr., pastor of the Pilgrim Baptist Church culminated the celebration with his sermon. A luncheon followed in the fellowship hall.
Louise S. Braxton, wife of former Pastor James A. Braxton gave reflections noting that the early congregants were brave souls, forming a church not far from the site of the south’s defeat at Appomattox and the confederacy capital in Richmond. “Only people fortified by faith and inspired by vision would attempt such a feat.”
Among the many members, friends, and well-wishers in attendance for the historic day were: Henry R. Bellinger a former member who now resides in Maryland. He and his children were all baptized at First Baptist. Bellinger moved away after returning from military service, but has remained in contact with its members and visits often. Rev. Robert Shepherd, also baptized as a child reflected on his grandparents being deacon and deaconess and Church Mother in the early years. Xavier L. Fox, the great great grandson of one the early pastors Rev. Benjamin F. Fox who served as pastor from 1889 – 1899; Charles and Thaiese Smith, grandchildren of the 13th pastor Rev. Charles J. Smith who pastored 1938 – 1967; and Zenobia Braxton-Sears, daughter of the 14th pastor Rev. James A. Braxton who pastored from 1968 – 2002 to name but a few.
Rev. Melton W. Johnson, pastor for the past 12 years summarized it all by saying three things have sustained the church through the years, “commitment to God, to the word and to humanity.” He continued by saying those will also be the things that sustain the church another 150 years.
FBCS is located at 226 S. Broad Street, Salem.
