History of Antioch Baptist Church
Madison, Virginia 22727 1865 - Present
With the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, enslaved persons were declared free. But not until two years later and the defeat of the Confederacy were they truly free, learning the news from Union soldiers, other slaves, or (sometimes months later) their masters. Blacks were, especially, attracted to the Baptist and the Methodist churches. The teachings of Christ appealed to African Americans because it gave them hope for a better future and provided them with a spiritual escape from their miserable lives and the hope of spending eternity in heaven with Christ. African Americans were subjected to restrictions intended to prevent unsupervised assemblies. Slave owners used the Bible selectively. Some churches denied blacks the right to join without their masters’ permission, to meet independently, or a list of other harassing schemes. They were taught that God expected them to obey their masters and not steal from them. The hostile treatment blacks received from some of the white congregations in white churches motivated them to establish their own churches, when they were allowed. (http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Slavery_During_the_Civil_War)
Antioch Baptist Church was the first black church organized in Madison County. Ideas and plans began the year of 1862. It saw fruition in 1865.
The first members, who organized the church, came from Beth Carr. Before the Civil War, the whites and blacks belonged to the same church. The first pastor of Antioch was Reverend Gaskins; he ministered from 1865 until 1923. To date, this church was served by ten pastors, they include Reverends: Gaskins, Dallas H. Banks, A. G. Gordon, W. S. Woolfolk, J. O. Wright, Ben Gray, John Jentons, James L. Garfield, C. H. Sanford, and Frank D. Lewis, Sr.
In consideration of fifty ($50.00) dollars in hand, the late Belfield Cave of Madison deeded to Nelson Kay, Jordan Jackson, James Mason, Samuel Page, and Jack Wilson – Trustees of Antioch Baptist Church, of Madison, Virginia for a lot located on the corner of Route 673 and the Old Turnpike, for the purpose of building a new church.
This is a large two (2) story building, built by the Church and the Odd Fellows. The second floor was known as the Odd Fellows Hall.
On February 26, 1917, the Odd Fellows bought a building lot from Mrs. Sally Mallory, and built a new hall uptown. It was then that they tore the second story from the church building, but failed to replace the church steeple. In 1938, during the pastorate of Reverend John A. Jentons, a new steeple was built.
For many years, services at Antioch was held on the fourth (4th) Sunday of each month, morning and night. In later years, night services were discontinued, and the second (2nd) Sunday of each month was added.
In 1940 Reverend C. H. Sanford became our pastor, with help from the Almighty and under Reverend Sanford’s guidance and leadership the church family witnessed many changes in our sanctuary. A few of the changes are: establishment of the Missionary Circle, Youth Department, installation of new ceiling lights, paneling, refinished floors, new carpet, new piano, central heat, and the cornerstone was laid for the addition of the Fellowship Room with restrooms. A pulpit, communion table, and other church furniture was donated and refinished by our (then) Associated Pastor, Reverend J. R. Beasley. The installing of glass and storm windows began prior to Reverend Sanford’s death in 1981.
In March 1983, Reverend Frank D. Lewis, Sr. was installed as our Pastor. Under his leadership, we acquired additional church enhancements and stepped into the modern era of technology, they include: Host to the Wayland Blue Ridge Baptist Association (WBRBA), in August 1984, reorganization of the Youth Department, implementation in 1994 of a Youth Outreach Ministry, two (2) sons of the Church were licensed – Reverends Journey R. Beasley, and Charles Lewis, three (3) female Ministers served the Church Ministry – Ministers Naomi Rowe, Carmen Mills, and Tracy Slaughter, Women’s and Men’s Fellowship Ministry added, four (4) new choirs added, The Fellowship Hall was named in Honor of Pastor C. H. Sanford for 42 years of Pastoral Service, installation of the Baptismal Pool in the Fellowship Hall, purchase of new choir robes, addition of a much needed choir room and Pastor’s study, new P.A. system with mikes and speakers, video TV, Wi-Fi networking technology, Web presence, padded pews, air conditioning, ceiling fans, a side porch, renovation of the front of the Church, enlargement of the Vestibule, addition of another bathroom and an usher room. Major additions in 2000 include the enlarged pastor’s study, additional multi-purpose rooms, trustee office, nursery, church office, enlarged choir room, and a basement with multi-purpose areas. In 2011 additional computers were added for the youth department. The dining room was remodeled in 2012; it included additional cabinet storage, dual cook stoves, new counter tops and tiled flooring. In essence to all the added material items, Antioch’s membership has seen a remarkable increase in membership and spiritual growth. The addition of various ministries and the ‘Missions’ movement, that we stress, is the basis of a growing and prosperous church for kingdom building. Two (2) more Sunday’s were added in January 1996, and the Fifth Sunday was added in 2009.
With the assistance of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the leadership of Pastor Lewis, the Church Family will continue to grow and go onward in Christian Unity and Love.
With the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, enslaved persons were declared free. But not until two years later and the defeat of the Confederacy were they truly free, learning the news from Union soldiers, other slaves, or (sometimes months later) their masters. Blacks were, especially, attracted to the Baptist and the Methodist churches. The teachings of Christ appealed to African Americans because it gave them hope for a better future and provided them with a spiritual escape from their miserable lives and the hope of spending eternity in heaven with Christ. African Americans were subjected to restrictions intended to prevent unsupervised assemblies. Slave owners used the Bible selectively. Some churches denied blacks the right to join without their masters’ permission, to meet independently, or a list of other harassing schemes. They were taught that God expected them to obey their masters and not steal from them. The hostile treatment blacks received from some of the white congregations in white churches motivated them to establish their own churches, when they were allowed. (http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Slavery_During_the_Civil_War)
Antioch Baptist Church was the first black church organized in Madison County. Ideas and plans began the year of 1862. It saw fruition in 1865.
The first members, who organized the church, came from Beth Carr. Before the Civil War, the whites and blacks belonged to the same church. The first pastor of Antioch was Reverend Gaskins; he ministered from 1865 until 1923. To date, this church was served by ten pastors, they include Reverends: Gaskins, Dallas H. Banks, A. G. Gordon, W. S. Woolfolk, J. O. Wright, Ben Gray, John Jentons, James L. Garfield, C. H. Sanford, and Frank D. Lewis, Sr.
In consideration of fifty ($50.00) dollars in hand, the late Belfield Cave of Madison deeded to Nelson Kay, Jordan Jackson, James Mason, Samuel Page, and Jack Wilson – Trustees of Antioch Baptist Church, of Madison, Virginia for a lot located on the corner of Route 673 and the Old Turnpike, for the purpose of building a new church.
This is a large two (2) story building, built by the Church and the Odd Fellows. The second floor was known as the Odd Fellows Hall.
On February 26, 1917, the Odd Fellows bought a building lot from Mrs. Sally Mallory, and built a new hall uptown. It was then that they tore the second story from the church building, but failed to replace the church steeple. In 1938, during the pastorate of Reverend John A. Jentons, a new steeple was built.
For many years, services at Antioch was held on the fourth (4th) Sunday of each month, morning and night. In later years, night services were discontinued, and the second (2nd) Sunday of each month was added.
In 1940 Reverend C. H. Sanford became our pastor, with help from the Almighty and under Reverend Sanford’s guidance and leadership the church family witnessed many changes in our sanctuary. A few of the changes are: establishment of the Missionary Circle, Youth Department, installation of new ceiling lights, paneling, refinished floors, new carpet, new piano, central heat, and the cornerstone was laid for the addition of the Fellowship Room with restrooms. A pulpit, communion table, and other church furniture was donated and refinished by our (then) Associated Pastor, Reverend J. R. Beasley. The installing of glass and storm windows began prior to Reverend Sanford’s death in 1981.
In March 1983, Reverend Frank D. Lewis, Sr. was installed as our Pastor. Under his leadership, we acquired additional church enhancements and stepped into the modern era of technology, they include: Host to the Wayland Blue Ridge Baptist Association (WBRBA), in August 1984, reorganization of the Youth Department, implementation in 1994 of a Youth Outreach Ministry, two (2) sons of the Church were licensed – Reverends Journey R. Beasley, and Charles Lewis, three (3) female Ministers served the Church Ministry – Ministers Naomi Rowe, Carmen Mills, and Tracy Slaughter, Women’s and Men’s Fellowship Ministry added, four (4) new choirs added, The Fellowship Hall was named in Honor of Pastor C. H. Sanford for 42 years of Pastoral Service, installation of the Baptismal Pool in the Fellowship Hall, purchase of new choir robes, addition of a much needed choir room and Pastor’s study, new P.A. system with mikes and speakers, video TV, Wi-Fi networking technology, Web presence, padded pews, air conditioning, ceiling fans, a side porch, renovation of the front of the Church, enlargement of the Vestibule, addition of another bathroom and an usher room. Major additions in 2000 include the enlarged pastor’s study, additional multi-purpose rooms, trustee office, nursery, church office, enlarged choir room, and a basement with multi-purpose areas. In 2011 additional computers were added for the youth department. The dining room was remodeled in 2012; it included additional cabinet storage, dual cook stoves, new counter tops and tiled flooring. In essence to all the added material items, Antioch’s membership has seen a remarkable increase in membership and spiritual growth. The addition of various ministries and the ‘Missions’ movement, that we stress, is the basis of a growing and prosperous church for kingdom building. Two (2) more Sunday’s were added in January 1996, and the Fifth Sunday was added in 2009.
With the assistance of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the leadership of Pastor Lewis, the Church Family will continue to grow and go onward in Christian Unity and Love.