Fred Anderson

“ … If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed!” (John 8:36) ‘Negro Adam” — property of Thomas Dodson — was the first black who can be documented in one of the church records at…

In rural Tidewater Virginia the noises are usually the sound of a crane’s flapping wings or the gentle lapping of the waves. Macedonia Baptist Church in Mathews County recently offered its own sounds of celebration as the congregation celebrated the…

It was a crisp, cool, cloudless day on Oct. 2 for the 125th anniversary celebration at Big Island Baptist Church in Bedford County, Va. The distinctive temple-like church building had been spruced up for the big day. The menfolks had…

America is obsessed with race. Slavery has been gone for 150 years. Segregation crumbled in the 1960s and ’70s. Relationships have improved between the races yet race remains a defining issue in so many phases of American life. Virginia Baptists…

They were the best and most faithful assistant to every preacher in Virginia Baptist life. They likely were his only assistant. Without them, preachers could not have done their work. Indeed most of the churches could not have existed without…

The theme of the annual meeting of the General Association set for Nov. 8-9 in Richmond is “ReJoice, ReClaim, ReJesus.” It is a repetitive use of the prefix which refers to “back” or “again” or “anew.”  Hidden within the three…

One of the most attractive and appealing areas of Virginia is the Hunt Country of Northern Virginia. The gentle hills, the rolling dark green meadows, the horse farms, the stacked stone walls that stretch forever are mental images which remain…

For the second summer, this columnist participated in the after-school program of the African Christian Community Church which meets in the old sanctuary of Hatcher Memorial Baptist Church in Richmond, Va. The Richmond Baptist Association adopted the African Christian Church…

I awoke with a tune stuck in my head. It was a catchy tune but I couldn’t figure it out. Where had I heard it? And then the words came. I remembered. It was the hymn which had been sung…

For those of certain ages, there are events which forever stay in memory. My mother could tell me where she was when she heard about Pearl Harbor. I remember what I was doing when I heard that President Kennedy had…

Caroline Gwathmey Jones of King and Queen County, Va., was at once family-proud, place-proud and church-proud. She enjoyed sharing stories about the history of the Gwathmeys and the family seat, Canterbury; about her county and its long and illustrious part…