CHURCH HISTORY
Some time about the year 1904, Mrs. Jennie Aldridge, an invalid member on the Second Baptist Church, invited a number of children who attended no Sunday School to assemble at her resident near Butterworth's Bridge, on Halifax Street, every Sunday afternoon, where she taught them Bible lessons. Her health continued to fail, however, so she was compelled to give up the work.
Mrs. Mary R. Andrews, then residing at the corner of Hawks and Halifax Streets, took up the work of Mrs. Aldridge, and invited these children to her home. On February 4, 1906, this school appealed to the Baptist City Mission Board of Petersburg, Virginia, for assistance. After carefully examining the field, the Board decided that it was a fine mission field, but the Mrs. Andrew's house was too high up the street to accomplish the best results. Therefore, during the month of May, 1906, the Board rented a building midway between the residence of Mrs. Andrews and St. Matthew Street, which was fixed up for mission purposes. In addition to the Sunday afternoon school, a regular weekly prayer meeting was established.
In November, 1908, a brick blacksmith shop at 908 Halifax Street was purchased by the City Mission Board, remodeled and furnished as a Mission. It was called the Halifax Street Baptist Chapel. Interest in the Mission continued to grow for some years, son in June, 1913, pastor J.D. Kesler, a ministerial student from Richmond College, was engaged to spend his summer vacation in Petersburg working up the field. He at once established Sunday night preaching, which was well-attended On the first Sunday in October, 1913, the morning Sunday School was organized with thirty-three members, with C.S. Dodd, a physician, as Superintendent. In April, 1914, regular Sunday morning preaching was established in Chapel.
On Monday night, August 31, 1914, the Monumental Baptist Church was organized with twenty-eight members. The name Monumental was picked over Memorial and Calvary, which were other suggested names. All the sister Baptist Churches took part in the organization services, with J.D. Kesler acting pastor. Five days after the organizational meeting, five delegates were elected to attend the Petersburg Association meeting at Carson, Virginia, on September 15, 1914. J.E. Gibson was called as pastor in August of 1919, and served until March 1, 1954, except for a brief period.
In December, 1921, Monumental Baptist built an educational plant at 1021 Halifax Street and moved to that location. In October, 1942, the debt on the building was paid. The Church was dedicated on November 29, 1942.
March 16, 1952 marked another step -- moving into the sanctuary at 1021 Halifax Street which had just been completed at a cost of approximately $66,000.
On March 1, 1954, pastor R.J. Cutchin, Jr. became became pastor. In the Summer of 1954, the dwelling at 1009 Halifax Street was purchased, with the first floor being used as a home for the pastor, and the upstairs for Sunday School classes. The Sunday School continued to grow with classes being held in the pastor's living room, dining room, and kitchen.
In January, 1955, the church began the regular radio broadcast of its Sunday worship service, and it has was continued for ten years. In 1957, the sanctuary was air conditioned and a dwelling was built in Dinwiddie County and dedicated as August, 1957, for use as a Pastorium, at which time the entire annex at 1009 Halifax Street was taken over for Sunday School space.
Many of our members served faithfully in the Mission on Crater Road operated by the Baptist Churches of Petersburg. About 1946, the Baptist Churches of Petersburg felt that one church could better serve this Mission than the group as a whole and so it was turned over to Monumental along with the deed to the land. In 1956, morning worship services were begun in the Mission as well as Sunday morning school to replace the Sunday afternoon Sunday School. Mid-week prayer services were also added to the program. A nearby building was purchased as a Sunday School annex. In 1963, this mission work was established into a separate church under the name of Temple Baptist Church.
After several years of surveying and planning, Monumental Baptist Church purchased in 1962 acreage on U.S. Highway 301 South consisting of 5.5 acres and immediately began preparing plans for a new Sanctuary and education plant. This move was desired since our congregation was fast moving away from the area of our Halifax Street location. In July 1962, a used bus was purchased to serve the are of the new location.
During 1963, the Church prepared plans for a new building. In February 1964, a contract was signed for the first unit of our master plan, which included: temporary sanctuary, later to be converted into a fellowship hall and the educational building, plus a short wing to the South to house four Nursery Departments.
Ground was broken with appropriate services on Sunday, March 29, 1964, led by Rev. Charles Spain, Superintendent of Missions; and the cornerstone laying services were held on Sunday, November 15, 1964, with Dr. Frank Voight as principal speaker for the occasion. Services were first held in the new church plant on January 31, 1965, with dedication planned for Sunday, March 28, 1965.
Since then the church has had the privilege of being led by several other pastor: J.E. Gibson for 32 years, R.J. Cutchin for 30 years, Tom Lovorn for 18.5 years. In 2001, Barry D. Ginn became the Pastor of Youth and Education. Since January 2005, he has resided as the pastor of Monumental Baptist Church. This year the church saw a much needed renovation inside and out. God has used Monumental to richly bless the community with a great harvest of souls.
On September 6, 2014, Monumental celebrated its 100th Homecoming Celebration in which Triumphant Quartet will preform and Pastor Ginn will give a special message.
After 17 years of service, Dr. Barry D. Ginn preached his last sermon at Monumental Baptist Church on May 28, 2017. On May 29, 2017, Duane Guridy accepted the role of interim pastor. On Sunday, December 17, 2017, Duane Guridy by a majority vote was elected, as the fifth pastor, to lead the MBC congregation into the next era of church history.
Mrs. Mary R. Andrews, then residing at the corner of Hawks and Halifax Streets, took up the work of Mrs. Aldridge, and invited these children to her home. On February 4, 1906, this school appealed to the Baptist City Mission Board of Petersburg, Virginia, for assistance. After carefully examining the field, the Board decided that it was a fine mission field, but the Mrs. Andrew's house was too high up the street to accomplish the best results. Therefore, during the month of May, 1906, the Board rented a building midway between the residence of Mrs. Andrews and St. Matthew Street, which was fixed up for mission purposes. In addition to the Sunday afternoon school, a regular weekly prayer meeting was established.
In November, 1908, a brick blacksmith shop at 908 Halifax Street was purchased by the City Mission Board, remodeled and furnished as a Mission. It was called the Halifax Street Baptist Chapel. Interest in the Mission continued to grow for some years, son in June, 1913, pastor J.D. Kesler, a ministerial student from Richmond College, was engaged to spend his summer vacation in Petersburg working up the field. He at once established Sunday night preaching, which was well-attended On the first Sunday in October, 1913, the morning Sunday School was organized with thirty-three members, with C.S. Dodd, a physician, as Superintendent. In April, 1914, regular Sunday morning preaching was established in Chapel.
On Monday night, August 31, 1914, the Monumental Baptist Church was organized with twenty-eight members. The name Monumental was picked over Memorial and Calvary, which were other suggested names. All the sister Baptist Churches took part in the organization services, with J.D. Kesler acting pastor. Five days after the organizational meeting, five delegates were elected to attend the Petersburg Association meeting at Carson, Virginia, on September 15, 1914. J.E. Gibson was called as pastor in August of 1919, and served until March 1, 1954, except for a brief period.
In December, 1921, Monumental Baptist built an educational plant at 1021 Halifax Street and moved to that location. In October, 1942, the debt on the building was paid. The Church was dedicated on November 29, 1942.
March 16, 1952 marked another step -- moving into the sanctuary at 1021 Halifax Street which had just been completed at a cost of approximately $66,000.
On March 1, 1954, pastor R.J. Cutchin, Jr. became became pastor. In the Summer of 1954, the dwelling at 1009 Halifax Street was purchased, with the first floor being used as a home for the pastor, and the upstairs for Sunday School classes. The Sunday School continued to grow with classes being held in the pastor's living room, dining room, and kitchen.
In January, 1955, the church began the regular radio broadcast of its Sunday worship service, and it has was continued for ten years. In 1957, the sanctuary was air conditioned and a dwelling was built in Dinwiddie County and dedicated as August, 1957, for use as a Pastorium, at which time the entire annex at 1009 Halifax Street was taken over for Sunday School space.
Many of our members served faithfully in the Mission on Crater Road operated by the Baptist Churches of Petersburg. About 1946, the Baptist Churches of Petersburg felt that one church could better serve this Mission than the group as a whole and so it was turned over to Monumental along with the deed to the land. In 1956, morning worship services were begun in the Mission as well as Sunday morning school to replace the Sunday afternoon Sunday School. Mid-week prayer services were also added to the program. A nearby building was purchased as a Sunday School annex. In 1963, this mission work was established into a separate church under the name of Temple Baptist Church.
After several years of surveying and planning, Monumental Baptist Church purchased in 1962 acreage on U.S. Highway 301 South consisting of 5.5 acres and immediately began preparing plans for a new Sanctuary and education plant. This move was desired since our congregation was fast moving away from the area of our Halifax Street location. In July 1962, a used bus was purchased to serve the are of the new location.
During 1963, the Church prepared plans for a new building. In February 1964, a contract was signed for the first unit of our master plan, which included: temporary sanctuary, later to be converted into a fellowship hall and the educational building, plus a short wing to the South to house four Nursery Departments.
Ground was broken with appropriate services on Sunday, March 29, 1964, led by Rev. Charles Spain, Superintendent of Missions; and the cornerstone laying services were held on Sunday, November 15, 1964, with Dr. Frank Voight as principal speaker for the occasion. Services were first held in the new church plant on January 31, 1965, with dedication planned for Sunday, March 28, 1965.
Since then the church has had the privilege of being led by several other pastor: J.E. Gibson for 32 years, R.J. Cutchin for 30 years, Tom Lovorn for 18.5 years. In 2001, Barry D. Ginn became the Pastor of Youth and Education. Since January 2005, he has resided as the pastor of Monumental Baptist Church. This year the church saw a much needed renovation inside and out. God has used Monumental to richly bless the community with a great harvest of souls.
On September 6, 2014, Monumental celebrated its 100th Homecoming Celebration in which Triumphant Quartet will preform and Pastor Ginn will give a special message.
After 17 years of service, Dr. Barry D. Ginn preached his last sermon at Monumental Baptist Church on May 28, 2017. On May 29, 2017, Duane Guridy accepted the role of interim pastor. On Sunday, December 17, 2017, Duane Guridy by a majority vote was elected, as the fifth pastor, to lead the MBC congregation into the next era of church history.
