CHESAPEAKE — Rarely does a church celebrate a 225th anniversary. One such church is Northwest Baptist Church in Chesapeake. This church predates the Portsmouth Baptist Association by nine years. Dating back to 1782, when the church was called North Upper Bridge Church, it originally consisted of people meeting in homes to hear sermons given by traveling ministers making their way from Shiloh, N.C., to Pungo, Va. “The ministers were known as circuit riders,” said the church's current pastor, Michael Smith.
Recalling the history of the church, Smith said that three years later, the church became part of Kehukee Baptist Association. Unfortunately, there was a period of 18 years when there were no records due to a fire in 1818. Years varied—sometimes with pastors, sometimes without—then in 1821, a new building was erected.
Over the course of 25 years, members were sent out to start new churches, including Pleasant Grove Baptist, Lake Drummond Baptist and Bethel Baptist in Virginia and Moyock Baptist in North Carolina.
Need for a new building was evident by 1896, and with the combined efforts of men and women alike, it was constructed nearly debt free. It was dedicated in 1900.
Donations, such as copper with which to provide a baptismal pool, were given through the generosity of church members.
In 1948, church members worked hard to raise money for Sunday school classrooms. “Actually, it was an addition of six to eight rooms, including classrooms, an office and the kitchen,” said Smith.
Many changes take place in the life of a church and this one is no different. Association affiliations have changed from the Portsmouth Baptist Association to the Norfolk Association and then back to the PBA.
For a time, the church shared a minister with one of its daughter congregations, Lake Drummond. The minister alternated Sundays at each church. A jointly owned parsonage provided him with lodging. Six years later, the church bought the other half of the parsonage from Lake Drummond.
A decision to send 150 years worth of records to the Virginia Baptist Historical Society in Richmond to be preserved gave congregational leaders peace of mind. Recalling the 18-year gap in records from earlier days due to a fire, it was deemed an important move.
Irma Sylvester, an 82 year-old who's been a member for at least 60 years, is grateful for her church.
“I love this church. I was Methodist before and when I married, I became Baptist and have worked in the church Vacation Bible School since the first year I was married.” Living one mile away with her daughter and son-in-law, she remembers many people from the past. “I've seen our young people later become ministers. That means a lot to me.”
Improvements continue to be done on the building, from heating and cooling systems to purchasing awnings and replacing glass windows. A new roof was put on, new carpet installed and other improvements have been made.
Smith is the 52nd pastor of the church. With an emphasis on mission work, Smith and his wife, Brenda, took on the task of shepherding the church and helping lead toward the work of missions. The couple is dedicated to this aspect of the ministry, particularly mission work on the Eastern Shore. To this area they travel each July, working with other mission volunteers helping migrant workers with their physical and spiritual needs.
“The important thing is getting people involved in missions, the lifeblood of the church. It's vital for spiritual growth,” says Smith.
Marking the 225th year in existence, the church hosted a celebration lasting several days. On Sunday, Oct. 7, the church kicked off the affair with a morning service in which former pastor David Phillips spoke. Phillips is now a chaplain in the military.
On Sunday night, John Upton, executive director of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, provided an inspirational message. At this time, the church recognized its four offspring churches.
On Monday evening, Oct. 8, the director of the Portsmouth Baptist Association, John Robertson, was present and Tuesday night, the speaker was Jesse Ramage, former director of missions.
Smith realizes that there is a reason God has kept the church there for 225 years. He feels that Northwest's best days could be ahead of her instead of behind her. “God expects us to be a beacon in the community in which he planted us and to reach people for Jesus Christ,” affirms the pastor.