The Baptist General Association of Virginia has met three times in Fredericksburg but there is no one living who attended any of the meetings. The last one was held in 1874 and the thoughts on many minds were the hardships in trying to cope in the poverty of the post-War period.
Fred Anderson
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The editor of the Religious Herald cautioned messengers not to expect the old hospitality because the Fredericksburg people were “embarrassed in their worldly circumstances”; but after the meeting, he acknowledged the “magnificent hospitality” which could have accommodated even a larger attendance. “The well-earned reputation of this dear old city for hospitality has not only been sustained but if such a thing is possible, it has been increased.” The meeting was held at the Fredericksburg Baptist Church which itself had been damaged in the War.
The Herald reported: “Much of the meeting was spent in discussion of ‘our methods for developing the liberality of the churches and plans for carrying forward the work.’ The feeling of each and all seemed to be, ‘We must agree to disagree and stand firmly together for the good of the cause.’ ” The “embarrassing debt” of the State Mission Board was $7,200 which was due in 30 days. (The web site www.measuringworth.com gives the equivalent in today’s dollars as $140,000 CPI.) On the spot, William E. Hatcher lifted an offering to remove the debt and collected $750 (the equivalent of $15,000) from the messengers.
In his remarks, President J.L.M. Curry urged: “Notwithstanding our embarrassments, we must gird up our loins and go forward. Destitute fields are to be occupied, present stations held and enfeebled churches aided. Our past successes ought to be preparatory to a nobler future.” After four days of sessions, the meeting closed with all singing, “Blest be the tie that binds.”
While in Fredericksburg in 1874, the messengers witnessed the effects of the late war: “This is a remnant of the place [we formerly knew following] bombardment, fires and spoliations of the War.” While in Fredericksburg in 2009, the messengers will sense the tremendous sprawl of the city and environs and the developments off of Interstate 95. If the messengers stay in the suburbs, they will miss the historical treasures of Fredericksburg.
Dennis Sacrey, administrator and historian of Fredericksburg Baptist Church and currently president of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, has compiled a self-guided tour of his hometown. The following are on his list of places to see in the Historic District.
1) Monument commemorating Thomas Jefferson’s Statute of Religious Freedom, 1500 Washington Ave. Directions: Depart from the Expo Center on Carl D. Silver Parkway; go 0.7 miles and turn left on Fall Hill Ave.; go 2.4 miles and turn right on Washington Ave; go 1 mile to monument located at top of hill across from First Christian Church.
2) Site of Jailed Preachers, 900 block of Sophia St. The year before Jefferson drafted his Statute, local Baptist ministers experienced first hand the difficulties of living in a land in which religious liberty was not guaranteed. In 1768, five Baptist preachers were charged with being “disturbers of the peace.” Upon their refusal to cease preaching, they were incarcerated in the town jail, located on the banks of the Rappahannock River, where they remained for nearly six weeks. Directions: Continue ahead on Washington Ave. until it dead ends at William St. Turn left on to William and proceed seven blocks to the intersection with Sophia St. Turn right on Sophia and park in the municipal parking lot on your left. The stone warehouse located on the southeast corner of William and Sophia is traditionally considered the building in which the preachers were imprisoned. The warehouse is open to the public with a small admission fee.
3) Shiloh (Old Site) Baptist Church, 800 Sophia St. Following the Revolution, the Baptist presence in Fredericksburg became firmly established with a house of worship by at least 1804. The initial site of the church was on the lot now occupied by the CSX Railroad Station. By 1824, the church had expanded into a larger building located on the corner of Hanover and Sophia streets. Known as Shiloh, the racially-integrated church prospered; and in 1855 the congregation divided. A new building was erected a few blocks away to which the white members of the congregation moved and the old meeting house was sold to the African-American members of the church. In accordance with Virginia law, the church was required to have a white minister. George Rowe, a lay minister, served in that capacity until the end of 1862 when the church’s first African-American minister, George Dixon, assumed the pastorate. The members maintained the name Shiloh. The devastating Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862 inflicted serious damage to the building. The meeting house was partially destroyed in 1886 and replaced by the current building. A disagreement among the members concerning the fate of the damaged building led to a division and the formation of another church. With both groups wishing to retain the Shiloh name, the new congregation took the name Shiloh New Site Baptist Church while the other became known as Shiloh Baptist (Old Site). Shiloh New Site built a new building a few blocks away while the congregation of Old Site rebuilt on the original site. Both congregations remain a thriving part of Baptist life in the city. Directions: Leave the stone warehouse turning back towards the parking lot. Continue on foot past the parking lot to the church just ahead on the left.
An undated postcard depicting Fredericksburg Baptist Church
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4) Fredericksburg Baptist Church, 1019 Princess Anne St. Under the leadership of William F. Broaddus, the church was inspired to build a new house of worship in 1855. The building was damaged in the Civil War and was used as a Federal field hospital. The historic sanctuary and the Heritage Room can be visited during regular office hours, 8:30-5 on weekdays. Directions: Exit the municipal parking lot and turn right on to Sophia Street. Proceed to Amelia Street and turn left onto Amelia. Go two blocks to Princess Anne Street. The church is on the corner. Parking is available in the church lot across the street.
5) Home of William F. Broaddus, 1106 Princess Anne St., and Home of Thomas S. Dunaway, 1210 Princess Anne St. Both were pastors of Fredericksburg Baptist Church in the 19th century and prominent in Virginia Baptist life. Private residences.
6) Confederate Cemetery, 1000 Washington Ave. Burial site of Broaddus and Dunaway as well as Confederate soldiers. When the BGAV met in Fredericksburg in 1874, the body adjourned to walk to the cemetery and decorate the graves. Directions: Leave the Fredericksburg Baptist Church’s parking lot, turning left on to Amelia Street. Proceed five blocks. Amelia dead ends at the cemetery. Park on the street and enter through the gate.
Fred Anderson is executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies. He may be contacted at [email protected] or at P.O. Box 34, University of Richmond, VA 23173.