Isle of Wight County Virginia USGenWeb Archives History.....Whitehead's Grove ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ The History Of Whitehead's Grove Baptist Church "The Smithfield (VA) Times," (Vol. 33, No. 25) Nov. 15, 1950 p. 1, col. 3-6 WHITEHEAD'S GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH [photo] The Whitehead's Grove Baptist Church during the past months has undergone an extensive building program. Special services will be held at the Church Sunday, November 19th. Pictured above is the Church as it appears today. p. 4, col. 5 The History Of Whitehead's Grove Baptist Church On January 29, 1950 [sic; 1843*] a presbytery of ministers met at Wells [sic; Wills] Old Chapel (later known as Whitley's Store) for the purpose of organizing a missionary Baptist Church in Isle of Wight County. The following ministers formed the presbytery: Putnam Owens, Samuel H. Holmes, and Reuben Jones. Assisting these were the following consecrated Laymen: Josiah Holloman and Bennett Brock of Mill Swamp Baptist Church, Robert Pope and John S. Gwaltney of Tuckers Swamp Baptist Church, James C. Jordan, William Millener and Samuel G. Boykins of Smithfield Baptist Church, Joseph B.G. Gwaltney of Suffolk Baptist Church. James C. Jordan was chosen moderator and Reuben Jones, Clerk of the presbytery. The following charter members were received, Ruswell Brock, Joel Brock and Sarah Brock from Mill Swamp Baptist Church; A.W. Turner, Willey Turner, Nancy Williams, Adeline Parr and Nancy Pitt from Smithfield Baptist Church and Rev. William O. Bailey from Millfield Baptist Church. After examination by the presbytery of their articles of faith, of the constitution and covenant, and of the conditions and needs of the community to be served, the following resolution was adopted: "Resolved that it is expedient for the glory of God and the cause of Christ that a Church of Christ be constituted at this place to be called and known as Bethesda Baptist Church, whose practice and principles shall be those of primitive Christians." In 1844 the house of worship was built about one-fourth of a mile north of Longview on Joel Brock's farm. In the fall of 1876 this building was sold to Nat Pitt for $65.00. During the winter months of 1876, the services were held in the afternoon at Oakland Christian Church. In 1877, the Church was re-named Whitehead's Grove Baptist Church in honor of Jack Whitehead, who gave the site for the new building. This is the present site of Whitehead's Grove Baptist Church. At this time the membership was 33. By 1888 the building, a 32-ft. by 36-ft. frame structure was too small. So, an addition was made to each end of the church. Again in 1912, the church was rebuilt. The following pastors have served. William Q. Bailey 1843-45; I.V. Luke 1848- 69; R.R. Owens 1870-71; J.R. Watkins 1872-73; J.E. Stephenson 1874-75; J.F. Deans 1876-1903; R.W. Bagwell 1903-05; J.L. Lawless 1906-07; J.W. Rawles 1907- 11; George W. Cox 1913-17; A.W.H. Jones 1917-21; A.P. Thompson 1921-22; G.W. Sawyer 1922-28; T.W. Page 1928-37; Lawton Riley 1937-39; J. Cales 1940-43; J.F. Colston 1944-48; Jesse H. King Jr. 1950-. In the Spring of 1949 a new educational building was begun. Also, the original church auditorium was brick veneered. The new educational building is composed of eight large Sunday School rooms, a kitchen, furnace room, church office, and restrooms. Extensive repairs likewise have been made in the interior of the church building. New hardwood floors, a beautiful new carpet, new pews, a baptistry, and a choir loft are only some of the many improvements made during the past year. The many improvements and repairs have not been made by any one person. Certainly the names of L.J. Crumpler, C.C. Channell and J. Waverley Horne will ever be remembered. Their unselfish and tireless efforts in the work at Whitehead's Grove will ever be a source of encouragement and great joy. Yet, without the loving cooperation and loyalty of the many members of Whitehead's Grove - such a Dedication Day would not be possible. All the above improvements and repairs have been ours without a burdensome debt. Through the generous and loving giving of many members the church has remained debt free. The most remarkable thing in the recent history of the church has been its decision to begin a full-time program, its carrying out an intensive building expansion and improvements - without a pastoral leadership. Previous to August 1950, the Church had been without a pastor for almost 18 months. It was during this period that the major part of the building program was completed. This spirit of love and cooperation among the Fellowship at Whitehead's Grove is what has made the church grow in a very real way. The Church has always been characterized by a warmth of fellowship, a spirit of harmony and love, and by loyal pride in truly doing God's work. It is with such a unity and spirit that the church faces the many new tasks before it - the completion of the parsonage, the improvements of the grounds, etc. It is the continuing purpose of Whitehead's Grove to truly be a fellowship - through which souls are strengthened in their love for God and for one another - and to be the most effective agency possible in the Salvation of souls for the glory of God. It is with humility that the Church faces this Dedicatory Service on November 19th. We pray God's blessings and guidance upon Whitehead's Grove Baptist Church as it moves in greater ways to minister to the needs of the people in the name of Jesus Christ. Rev. Jesse H. King, Additional information: Issues of "The Smithfield Times" (1928-2013) are posted at the Library of Virginia's "Virginia Chronicle" Virginia Newpaper Project, linked from their Digital Collections website, Virginia Memory, at: www.virginiamemory.com The text for this article has been corrected. The Isle of Wight County Historical Society {IWCHS} Grave Site Survey Task Force {GSSTF} transcribed the epitaphs in the many cemeteries in 2004. Whitehead's Grove Baptist Church report (#73): http://www.iwchs.com/Cemetery-Reports.html *The county history gives the date of the original presbetery as 1845, but that post-dates the erection of the church. King, Helen Haverty, et al. "Historical Notes on Isle of Wight County, Virginia." (Isle of Wight: Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors, 1993.) p. 316 The correct date 1843 from brief history the Women's Club of Smithfield ("Smithfield Times," Mar. 21, 1929); file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/history/church.txt Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by File Manager Matt Harris (zoobug64@aol.com). file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/history/wgbapt.txt