European Baptists are throwing a huge party in July in Amsterdam to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the church founded by John Smyth and Thomas Helwys in 1609. If Amsterdam is not on your summer itinerary, there are places closer to home in Virginia where individuals, families and church groups can experience Baptist heritage.
Day Trip #1
Visit Richmond and begin your Baptist heritage journey at the Virginia Baptist Historical Society. Located in the heart of the beautiful University of Richmond (founded by Virginia Baptists in 1830), the VBHS has a Heritage Gallery with exhibits on Baptist history. A 36-panel mural created by Sidney E. King traces significant events in the Virginia Baptist story, including the quest for religious liberty and the launching of missions. Individuals may come at their leisure on weekdays. Groups need to schedule a tour by telephoning (804) 289-8434. Open weekdays, 9-12, 1-4:30.
James Madison and John Leland, in the Religious Liberty Window at Richmond's First Baptist Church.
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places of interest in Richmond include the Virginia Baptist Resource Center on Emerywood Parkway near Broad and Glenside. The attractive facility includes the offices of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, the Religious Herald, Virginia WMU and the Virginia Baptist Foundation, and a branch office of HopeTree Family Services. Groups should call ahead and schedule a tour by telephoning (800) 255-2428 or (804) 915-5000.
The Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board is the headquarters of one of the world’s largest missionary-sending agencies. Although the facility is strictly a working office, there are a few exhibits for visitors. Groups should call (800) 999-3113 or (804) 353-0151. The IMB is located on Richmond’s historic Monument Avenue. While on Monument, a day trip could include a ride from the IMB to the State Capitol. The visitor will pass the various heroic monuments which give the grand avenue its name: Arthur Ashe, the tennis star and humanitarian and Confederate figures — Maury, Jackson, Davis, Lee and Stuart.
At the Stonewall Jackson monument, find a parking space along the avenue and visit First Baptist Church. The church’s bell is housed on the grounds. It was saved from being melted for cannon in the Civil War. Visit the chapel with its stained-glass windows which depict scenes from Baptist and Christian history.
At the Jefferson Davis monument, park and visit the Virginia Society of Architects in the huge Gothic mansion known as the Branch House. As you circle the Lee Monument, note that its inscription carries a single word of three letters: LEE. At the Jeb Stuart monument, park again and walk one block north to Grace and Lombardy Sts. and you are at the site of old Richmond College, the crown jewel of Virginia Baptist education. Only an old mansion, Columbia, and giant pillars remain.
There are numerous other interesting sites as you continue down Monument after it becomes Franklin Street. These include St. James Episcopal Church, Beth Ahabah Synagogue and its fascinating Jewish museum, Sacred Heart Cathedral which is reminiscent of European cathedrals, the world-famous Jefferson Hotel (visit the lobby), the Greek temple next to the hotel that was once Second Baptist Church, the house where Robert E. Lee lived, and finally the State Capitol. The capitol’s new visitor entrance on Bank Street takes visitors underground to enter the historic building.
Day Trip #2
Depending upon your point of departure, an interesting trip highlighting religious liberty could begin south of Fredericksburg along Highway 1 at Carmel Baptist Church, where a marker recalls the horsewhipping of evangelist John Waller in 1771. Continue up US 1 or I-95 north to Fredericksburg and visit its historic downtown. Park along Princess Anne Street and visit the Fredericksburg Baptist Church, which has a marker remembering the several Baptists who were imprisoned in 1768 in Spotsylvania for practicing their faith. Visit the church’s history room and ask to see the sanctuary with its beautiful stained-glass windows. From the church walk over to Rising Sun Tavern, where in 1777 five patriots outlined the bill that Thomas Jefferson later authored and James Madison presented as the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Take time to enjoy window shopping along Caroline Street.
Detail from Religious Liberty Window at First Baptist, Richmond. |
from Fredericksburg west along Rt. 3 to Rt. 20 towards Orange. About six miles east of Orange at the junction with Rt. 628 is the roadside park which commemorates the meeting between John Leland, an important Baptist spokesman for religious liberty, and James Madison, father of the Constitution. The Gum Spring site contains an historic marker bearing the likeness of Leland. Visit picturesque Orange and go inside the Orange Baptist Church. Continue on Rt. 20 four miles south of the center of Orange and visit Montpelier, the recently-restored home of James and Dolley Madison, who are buried on the grounds.
Day Trip #3
Pay homage to mission history by visiting the grave of Lottie Moon, the famous Virginia-born missionary to China. Travel to Crewe and begin your trip at the Crewe Baptist Church, which has a beautiful stained-glass window portraying the missionary’s work. The church is located on Rt. 460 in Crewe. Continue to the gravesite which is located on Rt. 49 South about a mile from Rt. 460. There are directional markers at the cemetery. Another day trip could be planned for Scottsville Baptist Church, which was the home church of Lottie Moon’s parents. There are exhibit items of interest. The church is located in Scottsville, 20 miles south of Charlottesville on Rt. 20. Another area church with Moon connections is Hardware Baptist Church, where Lottie taught Sunday school. Take Rt. 20 south eight miles off I-64, turn right on Rt. 708 and the church is three miles on Rt. 708 on the left side of the road. A trip into Charlottesville, where Lottie attended the Albemarle Female Institute, could include a stroll down its pedestrian shopping mall and a visit to the large First Baptist Church at 735 Park Street. Lottie was baptized in a former building of the church. And, of course, there is Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, and its newly-built visitor’s center, as well as Ash Lawn, the home of James Monroe. (Jefferson was impressed by democracy as practiced in the church of his Baptist neighbors and Monroe made a monetary contribution to Luther Rice for a Baptist college in Georgetown, then a separate town in the District of Columbia.)
Baptist tourists on these suggested day trips will make new discoveries and they will find that most everything on the itineraries (except for admissions to a few of the more famous historic sites) is free.
Fred Anderson is executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage.