centennial history of rivermont avenue baptist church

CENTENNIAL HISTORY
OF
RIVERMONT AVENUE
BAPTIST CHURCH
1896- 1996
by Mrs. B. B. Bullington
Published in October 1996 by
/1hChurch Growth Institute
P.O. Box 7000, Forest, VA 24551
JAMES E . BAUCOM, JR.
The Grand Past and a Glorious Future
James E. Baucom, Jr.
The Centennial of Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church
coincides with the centennial of the modern Olympic games,
held this year in Atlanta, Georgia. Analogous to the Olympics,
our church has likely grown larger and become more influential than its founders ever imagined. There is much to celebrate at the end of one hundred years of achievement.
We are tempted to claim the words of 2 Timothy 4:7-8
as our own: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the
race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me
the crown of righteousness..." Were we to rest on our laurels
now, who could say that we were not more than faithful to the
original vision of our founding church mothers and fathers.
But we are not a complacent people, for the vision of
our founders and the love of Jesus Christ still bum within our
hearts. We believe that the best is yet to come, that God
continues to use our church in mighty ways, that the next I 00
years will be even more prodigious than the last. We have our
own bright visions of ministry for the next century.
So we claim instead Paul's words recorded in
Philippians 3:13-14: "[We] do not consider that [we] have
made it [our] own; but one thing [we] do, forgetting what lies
behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, [we] press on
toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in
Christ Jesus." The reality of a grand past only assures us of the
certainty of a glorious future. Even as God is faithful, so shall
we be.
AUTHOR'S FOREWORD
Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church is one hundred years
old! Like all centenarians this church has a century-full of
stories to tell! We are at the point in time when it is natural and
normal to take a good look at our past, which this history will
help us to do. There is no way, however, to relive any part of
our past, although it is a rich and cherished heritage. Also,
nowhere in our past history can we find our future! That leaves
us standing in the present where great and encouraging things
are happening. We are a growing, busy, caring fellowship
endeavoring to carry out the teaching and commands of our
Lord to make this a better world. We have a splendid pastor,
talented and committed associate ministers and staff, and
excellent facilities. Indeed our future looks bright! We ask
God's blessings as we continue on our primary mission of
obeying His command to preach and teach His Word to all
people.
A church, in a true sense, is both a house of worship and
the people who are its members. This history will feature both
the house and the people, relating facts about each which will
hopefully deepen and sharpen our desire to grow as Chris- tians
and also make us ever mindful that maintaining the house of
worship in good order honors our Lord. As we celebrate
this milestone in our history and look at our past, it seems that
we, first, must feel it our desire and duty and high privilege to
give thanks. First, we express our gratitude to God for His
blessings through the past century. "The Lord hath done great
things for us, whereof we are glad" (Ps. 126:3). We thank God
for the twelve pastors who served the church during the years
past, each consecrated to God, sound in his theology, scholarly,
and remarkably gifted by God to meet the needs of the church
during the time of his ministry. Each served with distinction
and made his own noteworthy contribution to our heritage.
Each pastor was supported by a wife who enhanced his minis4
try with her own abilities and the unselfish giving of her time
and talents to advance the Lord's work in this church. We
thank God for them. We are grateful to God for the long
procession of faithful men and women who responded to the
Lord and sought His guidance and contributed their time,
abilities and means to support the church and build the rich
heritage that is ours.
It is hoped that this history will be interesting to read
and, at the same time, be a good record of pertinent facts.
Church records for some periods of time are either not available or are meager; therefore, neither the narrative nor the facts
could be complete-even if it were feasible to provide space to
contain it all. This brings to mind what the Apostle John wrote
near the end of his gospel, "And many other signs truly did
Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in
this book: But these are written that ye might believe that
Jesus is Christ the Son of God..." (John 20:30-31). John did not
attempt, evidently, to write all that he himself knew. Then, in
John 21:25, he seemed to admit that he did not know everything, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did,
the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that
even the world itself could not contain the books that should be
written." So, you will not find everything in this history, but
please accept it as an honest and earnest effort to give you an
accurate account of the outstanding events of the past one
hundred years. Blessings on you as you read it! May you find
it both interesting and meaningful!
5
CENTENNIAL HISTORY RIVERMONT
AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH
by Mrs. B. B. Bullington
INTRODUCTION
Three earlier historical sketches have been written on
Riverrnont Avenue Baptist Church. The first was a brief
account titled A Backward Glance covering the fifteen years on
Cabell Street which was published as part of the special bulletin for the dedication of the new Rivermont Avenue sanctuary
on January 15, 1911. The second was the Historical Sketch of
the Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church written by Miss M.
Lizzie Harvey and published in the anniversary brochure on the
occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary in 1946. The third was the
Seventy-fifth Anniversary History by Mrs. B.B. Bullington
published in 1971. These three accounts have been extremely
helpful in preparing this Centennial History and are quoted and
copied in some instances. A rare and interesting source of
information was the 364-page journal containing the handwritten church minutes of the meetings held from January 15,
1895, to November 1, 1911-the entire Cabell Street era and
ten months after the move to the Avenue. (The pages in this
journal are fragile and yellowed but, for the most part, are
legible.) The help and encouragement given by the many
people who have shared information and suggestions is acknowledged with deep appreciation.
6
ORIGINAL CHURCH BUILDING AT
800 CABELL STREET
CABELL STREET
1896- 1910
In 1896 the social and cultural life of America was
heading towards a time of great change. Henry Ford completed his first automobile that year, assembly lines and mass
production were being developed, the first Rural Free Delivery
of mail was started by the Post Office Department (beginning
in Virginia) which was a boon to Sears-Roebuck (started in
1895) and other mail order houses and opened up a new world
to the farmers. In 1899 the aspirin tablet made its debut! In
1903 the Wright brothers made their famous flight and there
7
was great activity in the railroad and construction industries.
However, in 1896, life was simple and somewhat difficult for
many people. The economic situation of this era is reflected in
the history of the young church throughout the fifteen years on
Cabell Street. It is difficult to evaluate and appreciate the
contribution of that early church to our heritage without taking
the economic condition of the time into account.
In the beginning, this church was a dream and a goal of
the Young Men's Missionary Society of the First Baptist
Church. In 1886 they purchased a piece of property on Cabell
Street for a church. They conducted Sunday School in the old
Danielstown Schoolhouse and held tent meetings throughout
the Rivermont area. They worked hard and faithfully and in
1891 Dr. Franklin P. Robertson, a Home Missionary, was asked
to assist them. With the aid of the Baptist City Mission, Dr.
Robertson helped establish this church and also the church at
Mount Madison (Madison Heights Baptist Church) and served
as the first pastor of each church (Madison Heights, 18911895, Cabell Street, 1896-1900). The work on Cabell Street
was slowed down by the financial panic of 1893 but the men
continued to forge ahead. About this time a group of vigorous
women, who called themselves the Cabell Street Church
Builders, gave great encouragement and financial support to the
project. After the church was built, this group changed its
name to the Cabell Street Church Circle, with Mrs. A. A.
Mullen as the first president, thus becoming the first organized
mission group of women in the church.
In January, 1895, the First Baptist Church assumed the
responsibility of erecting the church building. Letters were
sent to four architects listing some of the needs and specifications to be met and asking for sealed bids on a design for the
church to cost $2,500. A contract for the design was later
awarded to E. G. Frye, Architect.
8
On March II, 1895, requests for bids went to thirteen
local builders from the Building Committee composed of
William Hurt, Chairman; E. A. Hancock. Assistant Chairman;
J. T. Diuguid, Secretary-Treasurer: J. G. Payne, Reverend C. J.
Thompson, L. E. Thomas. G. A. Coleman. A. W. Farrar, Reverend Franklin P. Robertson, Dr. F. C. McConnell and James T.
Bowman. The contract was awarded to J.D. Bondurant and
Company and construction began immediately.
On September 15, 1895, the $4,000 building was
dedicated. The building was designed to seat nearly 400
people, had an inclined floor, an open baptistry and dressing
rooms, a nursery, and a pastor's study. On the Sunday following the dedication of the building, a Sunday School was formally organized with an enrollment of 75. It is interesting to
note that at this time the church had not yet been formally
constituted and had no members on its roll! However, four
months later, on January 12, 1896, the church was formally
constituted, becoming the third Baptist church in the city,
standing proudly alongside First Baptist Church ( 1815) and
College Hill Baptist Church ( 1876).
Dr. Franklin Pierce Robertson
1896- 1900
Dr. Franklin Pierce Robertson was officially called to
be their first full-time pastor, at a fixed annual salary of $1 ,000.
It was a joyous and unique situation that day, as the church
members also had to be formally received (94 from First Baptist,
eight from other churches and six not clearly identified on
available records). At last, these 108 people had their own
church-and the church had its people!
The newspaper account in The News on the following
Tuesday read in part as follows:
"The formal organization of the Cabell Street Baptist
Church took place on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. Here9
tofore this church, in fact ever since its completion, has been
connected with and to a great extent dependent upon the First
Baptist Church and it was not until Sundav afternoon that it
assumed a separate organization. The new church enters upon
its work as a separate bodv with the most flattering prospects
and if it continues as it has begun, its growth will he phenomenal.
The exercises in connection with organization on
Sunday were of a most interesting nature. One of the largest
congregations ever seen in the church was present and all
entered with spirit into the various exercises. The sermon was
preached by Reverend C. 1. Thompson, pastor of the College
Hill Baptist Church, who in an interesting manner cited a large
number of passages in the Bible appropriate to the occasion,
and in welcoming the church as an independent body he
wished every success and a long prosperous life. Dr. F C.
McConnell, pastor of the First Baptist Church, was present
and made a very interesting and earnest talk in reference to
the occasion. The deacons of the other churches together with
their pastors were present and extended the right hand of
fellowship to those who united themselves with the new church.
The music throughout the service was delightfully rendered."
On the very next night, January 13, 1896, in a church
business meeting there was elected a full corps of church
officers comprised of "representative men who knew how to
take hold of things and make a success of them" (Harvey):
Trustees: G. A. Coleman, Chairman; James T. Bowman, Dr. W.
B. Thornhill, F. C. Harris; Deacons: G. A. Coleman, Chairman;
Dr. Rawley Martin, C. H. Spencer, A. P. Roberts, A. W. Farrar,
L. E. Thomas; Finance Committee: H. H. Harris, Jr., Chairman;
Jr. Pugh, W. R. McDonald; Enrollment Clerk: Aubrey Harvey;
Church Clerk: Percy Flippin; Treasurer: R. T. Watts, Jr.; Ushers: George E. Flippin, Chairman; Aubrey Harvey, Edward M.
Pugh, R. C. McDaniel, Bernard Bowman, LeGrand Thornhill,
A. J. Layne; Music Committee: L. E. Thomas, Chairman: R.
10
S. Williams, Miss Lizzie Harvey, Miss Emma Thornhill, Miss
Ella Ford; Home Missions Committee: W. H. Baldock, Chairman; State Missions Committee: R. S. Weekly, Chairman.
Dr. Robertson was well acquainted with and devoted to
the church when he began his four-year pastorate. He had
worked five years with its planning, construction and organization. He was a dedicated, capable, scholarly man, described as
"handsome and winsome and frail, a young preacher who made
friends easily" (Virginia Baptist Ministers- Taylor). He graduated at the head of his class at Richmond College and continued
his education at the Southern Baptist Theological Semi- nary at
Lousiville. The church was off to a great and promis- ing
beginning. There was a steady growth through the year,
the membership increasing to 160 and the Sunday School to
over 200 members. There was an enthusiastic Sunbeam
Society, an active Missionary Circle and a Baptist Young
People's Union.
The church held monthly devotional-business meetings
at which time any need or problem presented was put in the
hands of a committee appointed then and there. By the time of
the next meeting, the matter was expected to be taken care of and
the committee disbanded-but, if necessary, the commit- tee
continued until the matter was handled. This was the procedure
followed to get things done and it worked well. For many
months every bill, regardless of the amount, was presented at the
business meeting for approval. Later, the Finance Committee
was authorized to handle regular bills. There was an everpresent concern with finances and it took an earnest effort to
keep in good standing.
One item of business from the church minutes gives a
picture of what they were up against at times. Up to this time,
it had been necessary to use a borrowed piano. At the second
business meeting after the church was organized, a committee
II
was appointed to get the best deal possible on the purchase of a
piano. The committee later recommended that the piano,
borrowed from J.P. Bell Company, be purchased for $275, terms:
$50 down, $10 per month. This was approved and at a later
meeting the Treasurer reported that the $50 had been paid. But, it
was very difficult to come up with the monthly payments. For a
time the offering on the fourth Sunday night of each month went
to the piano fund, but that was never enough. Then, the offering
from another Sunday night was designated for the piano. At
times, the money was supplemented by lay leaders. Somebody
then remembered that a small organ had been given to the church
and stored at First Baptist. This organ was resurrected, repaired
and sold for $30 which was almost enough to pay for the piano!
Immediately. the Treasurer was asked to check the insurance to
see that the piano was covered. Later an organ was acquired and
the church voted to use the organ for worship services. The
records do not show how they got the organ. It was most likely a
gift, as there was no mention in the minutes of any payment for
it. In March. 1896, the first hymnals were ordered-ten for the
choir.
From the beginning, First Baptist Church gave great
support to the new church in many ways and continued to give
needed financial support for several years. In 1896 they gave
$40 per month -which was a sizable gift, nearly half of the
pastor's salary. Then too, First Baptist peopled the new church
by giving up 94 of its active members!
On June 14, 1897, a committee was appointed to
finalize plans for an addition to the church, the cost not to
exceed $400, with as much money as possible to be raised
among the members and the committee empowered to borrow
the shortage from the bank. By the end of the meeting,
$141.50 had been pledged. Later the additional cost for heating and furnishings was approved. The room was completed in
October.
12
In 1898 the church entered into a troubled period of
time. Dr. Robertson became ill in July. He suffered for many
months and it was feared he might not be able to resume his
responsibilities. He was away from Lynchburg part of this time
and the church leaders greatly missed-and needed- his
wise counsel and leadership. Though still in poor health. he
returned in November and continued to serve until January
I, 1900, when an opportunity came to him for lighter work as a
Home Missionary in the Franklin County area at a salary of
$500 per year. His son, U.S. Senator A. Willis Robertson,
referred to this move in a speech at the Rocky Mount Baptist
Church, " ... my father chose to come to the Franklin field
saying God would provide for his needs, which included the
expense of a daughter already in college and five sons whom
he hoped to see go to college." After serving the Rocky Mount
area for five years, he retired to Salem, Virginia. While in
retirement there he spent the remaining twenty-three years of his
life "helping with the spiritual uplift of the people of Roanoke,
Bedford and Franklin Counties" (Virginia Baptist Ministers Taylor). Dr. Robertson participated in the service
of dedication for the Rivermont Avenue sanctuary on January
15,1911.
This was a difficult time for the church. The faithful
leaders struggled with great responsibility and soon had to face
the fact that their financial situation was becoming a matter of
great concern. H. H. Harris, Jr., Chairman of the Finance
Committee, called on the church in a business session to make
a decision on how to handle the emergency brought on by the
many members who were delinquent in paying their "dues."
Letters had been sent to these members earlier, but the response was not good. In this meeting it was decided to have
them visited. Members were chosen to do this visiting and
assigned names of the ones to be visited. Later, by church
action, those members who had not paid or given a good reason
for not doing so, were cited and given letters of dis13
missal. Many other members requested to be dropped from the
roll. Sadly, there was much dissension among the membership.
The harmony was indeed broken. Better times were coming
soon-but they could not be foreseen at this time.
James Alexander Mundy
1900- 1906
In April, 1900, the church voted unanimously to call
James Alexander Mundy as its second pastor. A native of
Amherst County and a graduate of Richmond College, he came
to Cabell Street from a four-year pastorate at Reidsville, North
Carolina. Looking at the overall history of this church and
particularly at the situation that prevailed at the church when
he was called, Dr. Mundy was surely one of God's greatest
special blessings bestowed upon this congregation. He was
sixty-five years old, said to be frail, but was described as a man
with a gentle spirit, ripe wisdom and pulpit power. These were
qualities coveted and needed to lead this church in conflict.
Immediately efforts were focused on "mending fences"
and healing. By letters and visits all members who had been
excluded from the church, and others who had requested to be
dropped, were invited to return, "with no questions asked." A
great number of them returned and new members were again
uniting with the church. Special meetings were planned and
socials held to bring the people together. Soon the spirit of the
church improved and was called good! In July 1901, the
church was declared to be free of debt. In a tribute paid to Dr.
Mundy by the church it was said that only a God-sent man
could have done what he did for them.
When Dr. Mundy resigned on Christmas Eve in 1905,
there was a unanimous rising vote to not accept his resignation
and a committee of two (P. G. Cosby and W. H. Wranek) was
appointed to ask him to reconsider. But, he informed the
14
committee that his health had necessitated the resignation and
he could not continue. He died in Amherst County four years
later. In the historical sketch, A Backward Glance (January 15,
1911 ), he was said to have "served the church with undemonstrative efficiency until February 1906, when enfeebled health
and advanced age forced his resignation."
Oscar Ernest Sams
1906- 1918
In May 1906, the young and vigorous Oscar Ernest
Sams became the third pastor. He was a native of Mars Hill,
North Carolina and a graduate of Wake Forest College and the
Rochester Theological Seminary. He came to Lynchburg from
Harrisonburg, Virginia where he served his first pastorate.
Cabell Street Church was now ten years old and had not experienced any significant growth, having a membership of 209
and an average Sunday School attendance of 110. However, it
had emerged from a troubled time with renewed vigor and a
fine spirit of cooperation. The basic and fundamental work of
the first two pastors, their sound theology and their dependence
on the leadership of God had given the church a firm foundation. When the new pastor arrived with his bride all activities
of the church took on new life. Both the church membership
and the Sunday School attendance increased steadily. One
Sunday School class was meeting in a tent in the yard and
another in a private home next door. It became evident that a
larger building was a necessity.
On Sunday morning, May 10, 1908, the church voted
unanimously to build a new church and appointed a committee
to find a suitable site. Immediately after the service, the
committee held its first meeting. In September the site of the
present sanctuary, known as the Wright property, was purchased for $6,000. A Building Committee was named as
follows: H. H. Harris, Chairman,; A. E. Harvey, Secretary, H.
15
T. Thornhill. Treasurer; Mrs. I. H. Adams, P. S. Adkerson, S. I.
Carter, P. G. Cosby, W. H. Farrar, G. E. Flippin, Mrs. A. A.
Mullan, Miss May Payne, Miss Lula Scott, Mrs. M.G.
Snavely, Miss Emma Thornhill. Dr. W. B. Thornhill, T. A.
Woodson and W. H. Wranek. (Miss Lula Scott. who had been
a devoted member of the church through the years, died before
the building was completed. In her memory her family gave
the beautiful resurrection angels stained-glass window installed
above the choir loft.)
After months of hard work, the Building Committee
reported on March 6, 1910, that they had the following bids in
hand: Lowest bid on the building, $31.300 ($29, 720 if less
expensive brick was used); pews - $1 ,500; windows - $800;
heating $1 ,200; light fixtures and curtains - $500. The committee was authorized to proceed with plans for the construction and disposal of the three old buildings on the lot (sold later
for $358.50), and to borrow the necessary funds. Very soon a
contract was awarded to Harwood and Moss of Newport News,
Virginia and ground was broken on April 5, 1910.
The Building Committee was instructed and authorized
in August 1910 to dispose of the Cabell Street property to the
best possible advantage. The property was sold on August 5,
1912, to D. A. Hurley for $1 ,600. Later it was sold to Mount
Moriah Baptist Church and on July 2 L 1922 it was sold to
Mount Carmel Baptist Church, the present congregation. Since
1938, it has been renovated and enlarged three different times
to become the attractive church it is today.
In September the committee appointed earlier to suggest a name for the new church, "if they deemed it advisable,"
reported that they had agreed that the name should be changed
to "Rivermont Baptist Church." However, it was disclosed in
the meeting that a black congregation had already chosen that
name. The suggestion that the word "Avenue" be inserted was
16
approved, and thus the name became "Rivermont Avenue
Baptist Church." (The Rivermont Baptist Church on Faquier
Street is an active, cooperating neighbor of Rivermont Avenue
Baptist Church. It has a background similar in many respects
to this church. It was organized in 1880 by a small group of
Christians who found it inconvenient to attend their own
churches and held prayer meetings and Sunday School in
private homes in the Cabell Street area. With the assistance of
the pastor of the Holcomb Rock Baptist Church, they organized a church at the corner of Cabell and Spruce Streets, now
Monsview Place and Grayson Street, and named it Daniel's
Town Church. Later they purchased the Fauquier Street
property, built a new building and moved the old one to the
rear of the new property. It was during the pastorate of the
Reverend C. G. Cabell, 1909 - 1925, that the church made
great progress and was renamed "Rivermont Baptist
Church"-evidently just about the same time Cabell Street
Baptist Church moved into the new church building on
Rivermont Avenue and changed its name to "Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church.")
When the cornerstone was laid on October 4, 1910, the
builders had not yet been able to give a completion date. The
church voted to turn the matter over to the Building Committee
to get action. Shortly thereafter it was announced that the
Sunday School rooms could be occupied on January 1 and the
sanctuary on January 15, 1911.
This was a busy, happy time. All eyes were turned to
the future! While waiting for the moving dates, all activities of
the church were going well. A great revival was held October
9 - 26 with two speakers from the Home Mission Board joining
Dr. Sams to bring the messages. The church and the entire
community were revived and blessed. On the two Sundays
following the meeting forty-two new members were received.
All new officers for 1911 were elected. A committee was
17
standing by with plans being finalized for the dedication
ceremony to be held on January 15.
At the last business meeting on Cabell Street, the
church voted to adopt the Reverend Peter Winston Hamlett,
missionary in Soochow, China, as Foreign Pastor. This action
of the church seemed symbolic of the enlarged vision and
expanding ministry ahead for Rivermont Avenue Baptist
Church. The church could now turn its focus on a future that
held great promise.
RIVERMONT AVENUE
1911 1995
M
On January 15, 1911, almost fifteen years to the day
after Cabell Street Baptist Church was organized, the new
building on Rivermont Avenue, costing $50,000, was dedicated
in a joyous service of worship. The principal speakers were
Dr. George W. McDaniel and Dr. R. H. Pitt. Dr. Robertson, the
first pastor, offered prayer in the service.
Miss Harvey wrote of this occasion: ''This building is a
constant reminder of the devoted interest of the pastor, Mr.
Sams, whose love is inwrought into its very walls, who
watched the structure as it grew, brick by brick, and of the
marked efficiency of the Chairman of the Building Committee,
H. H. Harris, who devoted his splendid business ability to
every detail of the plans and of the construction as well as to
the handling of the financial problems, giving unstintingly of
his time, his thought, his means."
On the occasion of the bond-burning on February 22,
I 920, Dr. Sams reminisced in a letter to the church: "When the
structure was started in 1910, we had our lot and $100 in the
bank, and when it was completed in 1911, we owed $37,000.
18
During the erection of the building, there never arose a dissenting voice. We prayed and planned and agitated. Our giant
enterprise demanded hearty and unanimous cooperation by the
membership. This we had in a very marked degree. Surely
God's smile of approval was upon us, else long since, we
would have found opposition." The church voted to send him a
silver cup holding the ashes from the bond-burning.
Listed in the dedication program were names of the
following builders and suppliers:
Architects:
McLaughlin, Pettit & Johnson,
Lynchburg, Virginia
(Mr. Stanhope Johnson, Architect)
Harwood and Moss,
Contractors:
Newport News, Virginia
James Meredith,
Foreman:
Lynchburg, Virginia
M. P. Moller,
Organ built by:
Hagerstown, Maryland
Windows designed by:F.C. Fischer
Atlanta, Georgia
Furniture installed by: American Seating Company,
Chicago, Illinois
By this time the church membership had grown to 715,
the Sunday School to 789.
The church reluctantly accepted Dr. Sams' resignation on
February 1, 1918, ending a pastorate of nearly twelve years, to
become pastor of the Central Baptist Church, Johnson City,
Tennessee. He later became president of Carson-Newman
College, and later on president of Bluefield College for three
years. In 1930 he returned to his native community in North
Carolina where he served as vice president of Mars Hill College until his death in 1952.
19
Robert Alfred MacFarland
1918. 1927
In May 1918, the forceful Robert Alfred MacFarland
began his ten-year pastorate as the fourth pastor. He came to
Lynchburg from Scotland Neck, North Carolina. He was
educated at the University of Richmond and the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary. He was prominently identified
with denominational work at all levels and was regarded as one
of the best speakers of the Baptist denomination.
Early in this pastorate the sanctuary was redecorated and
put in good order for the mortgage-burning ceremony on
February 22, 1920, celebrating the final payment on the building debt. Five members of the Building Committee assisted in
the ceremony: H. H. Harris, Mrs. I. H. Adams, Mrs. M. G.
Snavely, Mrs. D. M. Thomasson (May Payne) and Miss Emma
Thornhill.
After a careful study over an eight-month period by a
special committee, it was determined that added educational
facilities were needed. A Building Committee was appointed on
February 7, 1923, and instructed to proceed with plans to build
an addition on Bedford Avenue. This committee was composed
of H. H. Harris, P. G. Cosby, Jr., Miss Lizzie Harvey, H. T.
Thornhill, Dr. H. B. Spencer, P. R. Monroe, C. H. Spencer,
Mrs. G. H. Thornhill, T. A. Woodson, W. H. Wranek, Miss
Berta Miller, Mrs. Susie Richards, Mrs. E. J. Atkinson, M. R.
Scott, Dr. W. H. Johnson, Mrs. L. 0. Old, and
P. S. Adkerson. Dr. MacFarland largely designed the new wing
which was opened for use on January 4, 1925, at a cost of more
than $90,000. This new facility enabled the church to entertain
the State W. M. U. Convention the following October.
20
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u
21
It was during this pastorate that the church purchased a parsonage at 1460 Rivermont Avenue, which was used until 1962.
Dr. MacFarland was president of the Baptist General
Association of Virginia when he resigned his pastorate on
October 11, 1927, to accept a call to Gaffney, South Carolina.
A unique tribute was paid him on the Sunday before he left
when several local churches of different denominations transferred their evening services to Rivermont Avenue to participate in the farewell service and reception honoring the
MacFarland family. One speaker on this occasion referred to
Dr. MacFarland's yeoman service as being instrumental in
getting the Virginia Baptist Hospital located in Lynchburg. He
returned to Rivermont as interim pastor for several months after
Dr. Nordenhaug's resignation in September 1948. He made his
home in Gaffney until his death on March 14, 1960.
Edward Bacon Willingham
1928- 1932
Edward Bacon Willingham was welcomed as the fifth
pastor on March 1, 1928. He was a graduate of Richmond
College and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Prior to
coming to Lynchburg, he was Field Secretary for the Virginia
Baptist Board of Missions and Education. Under his guidance
and leadership the church, now thirty-two years old, turned
careful attention to "modernizing" its organization to better
carry on its activities-as he said, "...in a wise and forwardlooking manner." The number of "firsts" instituted during this
period was remarkable.
In September, Dr. F. A. Agar, an efficiency expert with
the Northern Baptist Convention and author of A Manual of
Church Methods, held a conference for church leaders. Invited
to participate in this meeting were the leaders of First Baptist
22
and College Hill churches. The most up-to-date and successful methods of church administration were presented and the
church adopted many of them which are still followed. First,
an Executive Committee (Church Council) composed of fifteen
church leaders was established to plan and coordinate church
activities.
On Sunday morning, October 14, 1928, the first Board
of Deaconesses was elected, composed of the following
twenty-five women: Mrs. I. H. Adams (who was elected the
first honorary deaconess on December 4, 1929), Miss Florida
Casey, Miss Mildred Cone, Mrs. L. J. Duffner, Miss Lizzie
Harvey, Mrs. R. D. Hughes, Mrs. J.D. Jacobs, Mrs. J. E.
Kruger, Miss Berta Miller, Miss Grace Monroe, Miss Mary P.
Morris, Mrs. L. 0. Old, Miss Margaret Payne, Miss Flossie
Phelps, Mrs. P. C. Royster, Mrs. N.J. Smith, Sr., Miss Anna
Snead, Mrs. S. C. Stratton, Mrs. A. W. Terrell, Mrs. W. L.
Thomas, Mrs. George Thornhill, Mrs. R. P. Thornhill, Miss
Ellie White, Mrs. T. A. Woodson, and Mrs. W. H. Wranek.
A church office was opened on November 12, 1928,
and Mrs. J. L. Staples was employed as the first full-time office
secretary. She was church organist and also served as choir
director for a period of time. Mrs. Staples was employed by
the church until her resignation as financial secretary and
organist in October 1972, ending forty-four years of faithful
service.
In 1928 - 1929 many innovations were made: printed
Sunday bulletins were provided; vestments for the choir secured; the first Vacation Bible School and School of Missions
were held; particular effort was given to development of activities for the young people; a religious census was taken and a
Sunday School Enlargement Campaign was held; and a unified
budget was adopted for 1929.
23
In January 1929, the church membership was divided
into visitation lists for assignment to the deacons and deaconesses.
A Brotherhood was organized in 1931, with L. 0.
Moser as first president.
The following statistics were published in the bulletin
on September 30, 1928: 885 active church roll, 248 inactive,
1133 actual church roll; 808 actual Sunday School enrollment,
550 average attendance, 556 unenlisted Sunday School prospects.
Dr. Willingham closed his pastorate in October 1932, to
accept a call to the Delmar Baptist Church in St. Louis. From
1956 until his retirement in 1965, he served the American
Baptist Convention in many capacities. As pastor of
Rivermont Avenue he endeared himself to all -especially to
the young people, whose lives were greatly influenced by his
ministry. His death occurred in New York City on November
16, 1972.
Ernest Frederick Campbell
1933-1941
The sixth pastor, Ernest Frederick Campbell, came on
September 1, 1933, from the Tatnall Square Baptist Church on
the campus of Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He was a
graduate of Mercer University and did graduate work at
Harvard University and the Newton-Andover Theological
Seminary in Boston. His 15-year ministry in a college community put him in good stead in Lynchburg as he had special
appeal to the many college students in the area.
Early in his ministry he led a "Loyalty to Christ and
Church" program which met with great success. New hymnals
24
were purchased and the sanctuary repainted in time for Easter
on March 28, 1937. Mr. Stanhope Johnson, architect when the
building was erected, graciously gave his time and expert
counsel in selecting colors for redecoration of the sanctuary.
A happy event took place on January 12, 1941, the 45th
Anniversary of the church. A bond-burning ceremony was
held to mark the liquidation of the debt on the Bedford Avenue
educational building. Hubert T. Thornhill, Chairman of the
Building Fund Committee, announced that $15,000 had been
paid six months before maturity to make this earlier celebration
possible. Two former pastors, Dr. MacFarland and Dr.
Willingham, participated in the service along with Dr.
Campbell. Also assisting were Hunter Spencer, Jr., Richard
Harris, Jr., and Warren Koontz, Sr., son and grandsons of
deceased members of the Building Committee. In the service
grateful recognition was voiced for the leadership, enthusiastic
interest, tireless efforts and abundant giving of H. H . Harris, T.
A. Woodson, and Hubert T. Thornhill to make this a special
time of celebration.
Dr. Campbell resigned in March 1941, to become
pastor of the First Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia,
where he remained for fifteen years until his retirement in
1956. Though in very poor health, he returned to Rivermont in
November, 1959, as interim pastor for three months. His
ministry during that short time was a blessing. His last sermon
was at the conclusion of this ministry. He died in Alexandria
on April 21, 1960.
Josef Nordenhaug
1941- 1948
During the troubled years of World War II, Josef
Nordenhaug became the seventh pastor, beginning his sevenyear pastorate in July 1941. A native of Oslo, Norway, he was
educated at the University of Oslo where he was a science
25
major. He was very active in church work and taught four years
at the Baptist Theological College in Oslo. He came to the
United States in 1928 to attend the Southern Baptist Semi nary
in Louisville, majoring in New Testament Greek. He returned
to Norway and was assistant pastor of First Baptist Church in
Oslo for a short time before he was called back to the States by
the Prestonsburg Baptist Church in Kentucky. Later he became
pastor of the Vinton Baptist Church in Virginia, where he was
serving when he was called to Lynchburg.
At this time, great emphasis was put on missions and
benevolences. By 1947 approximately one-half of the total
gifts of the church were given to missions. In 1946 Dr.
Nordenhaug returned to Norway to administer $8,000 in relief
money, given equally by Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church
and the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board. He was told
to use the money at his discretion for his native war-torn country.
He did much research and consultation with authorities to
determine the wisest use of this money. Among other causes, he
chose to make a donation to a home for deep-sea
fishermen, to help some severely bombed-out locations, and to
buy a "piece of ground" beyond the Arctic Circle for a recreational center for young people which was later christened
"Rivermont Camp." Visiting in the home of a missionary
friend, Dr. Nordenhaug met a young lady who was a student
nurse preparing to go to the Congo as a missionary. She had
worked her way through college by scrubbing floors and doing
other heavy manual labor. In the name of Rivermont Avenue
Baptist Church, he presented her with 500 kroner, a little over
$100. It brought jubilation and tears! The people present held
a service of thanksgiving to thank God for His providence and
for the members of this church. The young girl said, "I won't
sleep a wink tonight. So much money I have never had in all
my life." No mission money was ever distributed with more
loving care and concern or received with deeper gratitude than
this sum of $8,000.
26
For a four-year period during the war Dr. Nordenhaug
had no word from his family in Norway. His first word was a
letter from a boyhood friend in Sweden who had escaped the
German occupation in Norway. This friend assured him that
his two brothers and two sisters were well "although they do
not have any superfluous fat - but no Norwegian has that."
He also wrote that eighty percent of the churches were confiscated by the Nazis.
On January 27, 1946, the church celebrated its Golden
Anniversary in two beautiful worship services, with Dr.
Campbell preaching the morning service and Dr. Willingham
the evening service. The cover of the handsome bulletin for
the day was lettered in gold and included the complete program
of events and the historical sketch written by Miss M. Lizzie
Harvey.
Extensive alterations were made to the second floor of
the educational building in 1947 to provide offices for the
pastor and two secretaries and to improve facilities for the
Sunday School. The first Pastor's Secretary, Nancy Moore, was
employed in 1948. The sanctuary was repainted and new carpet
installed. When property was purchased by the Baptist Council
of Greater Lynchburg on which to build Chestnut Hill
Baptist Church, Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church paid $1,260
of the total cost of $6,500.
At this time the membership of the church was l ,200,
including six charter members: Miss Lizzie Harvey (who was
at the time of her death, on June I, 1964, the last surviving
charter member), Miss Ann M. Snead, C. H. Spencer, George
E. Flippin, Mrs. Susie P. Richards and Mrs. John Domin.
Dr. Nordenhaug resigned on September 3, 1948, to
become editor of The Commission, Southern Baptist's world
mission magazine with a circulation of I 00,000. Later he
27
became president of the Baptist Theological Seminary in
Zurich, Switzerland. In 1960 he was elected General Secretary
of the Baptist World Alliance, serving with distinction until his
death on September 18, 1969.
Warner Earle Fusselle
1949. 1955
Warner Earle Fusselle, became the eighth pastor in
November 1949. A native of Florida he came to Lynchburg
from the First Baptist Church in Taylorsville, Kentucky. He
left a promising musical career in opera to answer God's call to
preach the Gospel. He was a graduate of the University of
Florida and received his M.A. and Th. D. degrees from the
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
In 1950 the unified budget system, which had been
tried in earlier years and abandoned, was adopted and continues to be followed.
At this time the church was experiencing great growth.
Records indicate that the church membership at this time was
1409, the Sunday School, 1051. The size of the diaconate was
increased from twenty-five each to thirty deacons and thirty
deaconesses, and later on to thirty-five each, to facilitate the
membership visitation plan.
Joseph Abernathy was employed as the first full-time
Minister of Music in July 1950. He was highly regarded and
filled this position with effectiveness until his resignation in
September, 1954.
After a detailed study and careful planning, on February 1 1 , 1951, the church approved extensive repairs and improvements to the sanctuary, including an enlarged choir loft, a
new baptistry with adjoining dressing rooms, alterations to the
28
balcony, and excavation beneath the sanctuary to provide a
rehearsal room, robing rooms for the choirs, and an office. A
new pipe organ was installed in an organ pit (Moller $36,500). The total cost of this project was $103,000.
The Thornhill property next door to the church on
Rivermont Avenue was purchased for $11,500 and put into use
as a Youth Building in September 1954. The cost of this
property was handled by refinancing the $71 ,000 church
indebtedness at the time.
Dr. Fusselle resigned in January 1955, to accept a call
from the First Baptist Church, Gainesville, Georgia. In 1964
he became president of Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Georgia. He died on August l, 1990, in Jackson, Tennessee.
Herbert Raymond Carlton
1955- 1959
Herbert Raymond Carlton, a native of Richmond who
was educated at the University of Richmond and the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary, became the ninth pastor in
December 1955. He held a pastorate at West Point, Virginia
for eleven years and at Galax, Virginia for fourteen years
before becoming the Secretary for Summer Assembly for the
Virginia Board of Missions and Education. During his three
years in that capacity he was responsible for promoting the
development of Eagle Eyrie Baptist Assembly.
William D. Gregory became the second full-time
Minister of Music in May 1956, and served until August 1957.
Extensive repairs and renovations were made to the
church property in 1956. Changes were made in the heating
system, the exterior of the Youth Building and the interior of a
29
large portion of the educational building were repainted, floor
covering was laid in the corridors and vestibules, and storm
windows were installed on the stained-glass windows in the
sanctuary.
The church purchased the Styne property on the corner
of Rivermont Avenue and Ruffner Place on November 13.
1957. The property was immediately renovated and furnished
and designated as the Nursery Building.
Mr. Carlton recommended and helped establish the
"teller system" of tabulating the offerings and preparing bank
deposits which has continued to be followed.
In the fall of 1958 the church used the full "Forward
Program" to promote the 1959 budget. This was very successful, resulting in an increase of $22,000 over pledging for the
previous year.
On May 31, 1959, Virginia Harvey began service as the
first full-time educational director. She served well in this
position until her resignation in August 1964.
Though his pastorate was relatively short, it was a
significant time and the church felt a distinct loss when Mr.
Carlton resigned in September 1959, to return to the Board of
Missions and Education as the first Secretary of Annuities for
Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. After his
retirement in 1984, he remained in Richmond and continued on
practically a full-time schedule with interim pastorates and
supply preaching until his death on August 12, 1990.
Albert Egerton Simms
1960- 1974
Albert Egerton Simms, a native of Raleigh, North
30
Carolina, became the tenth pastor on February 1, 1960. He came
from the Calvary Baptist Church in Newport News, Virginia,
where he had served fourteen years. He was educated at Wake
Forest College and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
His fine abilities and wide experience made him an exceptional
leader. At the time he came to Rivermont Avenue he was
president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia and very
active at all levels of Baptist work.
A great need of the church was given attention in April
1960, when the church approved the writing of a constitution
and bylaws and appointed S. Clyde Maddox, Jr. Chairman of a
Constitution Committee. A constitution was adopted in November of the next year and it proved to be an excellent and
helpful document. The constitution has been amended and
updated as needed through the years, with a careful revision in
1995 by a committee headed by Wallace B. Thacker.
The first Rivermont Reminder was published in May,
1960, and continues to be a well-received and informative
weekly publication.
In August 1960, Rex Gardner was called as the third
minister of music. He served until June 1968, when he resigned
to accept a position with the Campbell County school system. He
returned to serve as Interim Minister of Music from May
1975, to February 1977, and again for ten months in 1982.
On Sunday, January 15, 1961, the 50th Anniversary of
the dedication of the sanctuary was noted and the following
persons were present who had attended the dedication. They
were: Mrs. W. C. Blair, C. W. Callahan, Mrs. S. H. Daniel,
Mrs. L. J. Duffner, Mrs. E. S. Galliher, Mrs. G. C. McGehee,
Miss Lucy M. Monroe, Percy R. Monroe, Mrs. A L.
Overstreet, Mrs. P. C. Royster, Mrs. J. I. Saunders, Mrs.
Charles H. Spencer and Miss Frances Thornhill.
31
An intensive study of the church membership roll was
begun in 1961. Diligent efforts were put forth over a period of
five years to locate nonresident members and secure correct
addresses for all members. As a result of this study 184 names
were removed from the roll by church action in September
1966, making the church membership a more realistic figure of
1185.
The Church Library was reactivated after a concerted
effort begun in 1961 and it has continued to be a useful facility
of the church.
The third note-burning ceremony was held on January
20, 1963, marking liquidation of the building indebtedness
involving funds borrowed twice for building improvements and
the purchases of two adjoining properties. Along with the
Pastor, Trustees Nate Adams and P. R. Massie, Finance Chairman John W. Ferguson, Jr., and Assistant Treasurer W. E.
Royall participated in the ceremony. The financial campaign
conducted in the following fall was very successful, with
pledges for the 1964 budget totaling $104,938, exceeding
$100,000 for the first time.
A meeting held at College Hill Baptist Church on June
5, 1964, affected not only Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church,
but all area Baptist churches in the Strawberry and Piedmont
Associations. After months of study and consideration and
prayer, I 05 representatives of 21 churches (18 of the Strawberry Association and three of the Piedmont Association) met
to consider the possible formation of a Lynchburg Association.
After formal consideration by each church, on Sunday, November I, 1964, the new association was formed and this church
thus ended a long, meaningful affiliation with the Strawberry
Association, one of the oldest Baptist associations in the state,
having been organized in 1776, the year the Declaration of
32
Independence was signed. Mr. Simms was the first moderator
of the new Lynchburg Baptist Association, presiding over its
first two annual sessions.
The funeral service for Price Wright, the longtime
faithful janitor, was held in the sanctuary on October 28, 1964.
He served for twenty-one years in a quiet, efficient and resourceful manner and was at times assisted by his wife,
Dimple, who continued to be the part-time maid for several
years.
William D. Wingfield joined the church staff on January 2, 1966, as the second Minister of Education. He concluded his ministry on April 27, 1971, to go to the Salem,
Virginia Baptist Church.
In March 1968, Mrs. H. T. Thornhill established the
Hubert T. and Stella McGee Thornhill Memorial Scholarship at
Lynchburg College to provide assistance for Lynchburg area
students, with preference given to members of Rivermont
Avenue Baptist Church. This generous provision has been
helpful to many of our members.
On October 1, 1968, Charlotte M. Walker began as
minister of music. She led a fine program with choirs for all
ages from five years up. She resigned on September 22, 1974,
to accept a call to Derbyshire Baptist Church in Richmond.
33
DR. FRANKLIN PIERCE ROBERTSON
JANUARY 1896-JANUARY1900
34
JAMES ALEXANDER MUNDY
APRIL 1900-FEBRUARY 1906
35
OSCAR ERNEST SAMS
MAY 1906-FEBRUARY 1918
36
ROBERT ALFRED MACFARLAND
MAY 1918-0CTOBER 1927
37
EDWARD BACON WILLINGHAM
MARCH 1928-0CTOBER 1932
38
ERNEST FREDERICK CAMPBELL
SEPTEMBER 1933-MARCH 1941
39
JOSEF NORDENHAUG
JULY 1941- SEPTEMBER1948
40
WARNER EARLE FUSSELLE
NOVEMBER 1949-JANUARY 1955
41
HERBERT RAYMOND CARLTON
DECEMBER 1955-SEPTEMBER 1959
42
ALBERT EGERTON SIMMS
FEBRUARY 196Q-APRIL 1974
43
HARRY TILMAN DIXON, JR.
APRIL 1975-SEPTEMBER 1987
44
STEVEN CLAY CROMER
JULY 1988-JULY 1993
45
THORNHILL AND STYNE HOUSES PURCHASED TO
PROVIDE SPACE FOR NEW WING.
Rivermont Avenue Wing
The new Rivermont Avenue wing, the third major
construction project of the century, was used for the first time
on July 7, 1968. The first formal action relating to this proposed addition was taken in July 1961, when a Planning and
Survey Committee was formed with W. Ewart Royall as
Chairman. The first report from this committee came nearly
three years later with a proposal that priority be given to airconditioning the sanctuary and improving the heating system,
at an estimated cost of $19,466. This recommendation was
approved and the work was underway immediately. The airconditioning was completed and enjoyed in June.
On November 4, 1964, the Planning and Survey Committee made a progress report and a recommendation that a
Building Committee be appointed with the authority to hire an
46
architect to design the new wing. The Finance Committee gave
approval to the recommendation and the projection of plans to
get the financial emphasis underway. At this meeting, the
Pastor, Chairman of the Finance Committee, and Chairman of
the Planning and Survey Committee were authorized to
name a Building Committee. The following were subsequently
named: W. Ewart Royall, Chairman.; B. B. Bullington, Vice
Chairman; John A. Gleason, Secretary; AcyL. Adams, E. B.
Blankinship, Frank Bryant, Joseph M. Coates, William A.
Coleman, John W. Ferguson, Jr., Rex Gardner, Mrs. J. Ray
Harris, Mrs. C. W. Hawkins, Mrs. S. M. Hubbard, Hale
McGraw, Albert E. Simms and Howard B. Smith.
In January 1965, Garland M. Gay was employed as
architect. Plans were submitted to five contractors and the bids
were opened in September 1965. Even the lowest bid of
$448,000 was far in excess of the estimated cost. After careful
consideration, on Sunday, November 7, 1965, there was a joint
recommendation from the Building and Finance Committees
that the project be postponed until more funds could be accumulated.
During the following months there was a lot of activity
and effort made to restudy and change plans for some areas and
to eliminate some proposed remodeling to reduce the cost.
During this time, however, the Building Committee recommended that the sanctuary be repainted and the carpet cleaned,
to have it in good condition to be attached to the new wing!
On April 9, 1967, after six years of study and work, the
Building and Finance Committees recommended that the new
wing be constructed. Briefly, the recommendation was: (1)
that the Building Committee be authorized to enter into a
construction contract for a total cost of $455,000, (2) that the
Trustees be authorized to borrow funds not to exceed
$325,000, and (3) that the Finance Committee be instructed to
47
devise plans to encourage contributions of at least $73,000.
The English Construction Company of Altavista was awarded
the contract in accordance with a revised quotation, bringing
the total estimated cost, including furnishings and fixtures, to
$455,040. It was necessary to borrow $298,000. The cornerstone was laid on Thanksgiving Day in 1967, and the final
addition completed six months later.
AERIAL VIEW OF CHURCH, SHOWING NEW WING.
Looking toward the 75th Anniversary of the church, the
Pastor was authorized on April 23, 1969, to appoint an Anniversary Committee. The committee was later named as follows: John W. Ferguson, Jr., Chairman; Nate L. Adams, Mrs.
B. B. Bullington, Joseph M. Coates, William A. Coleman, Miss
Edith Kruger, Mrs. Jack Middleton, Mrs. H. I. Slaydon, F.
Donald Smith, Mrs. C. H. Spencer, Mrs. H. T. Thornhill, Miss
Charlotte Walker, Aubrey M. Wiley, Jr., and W. D. Wingfield.
The committee was divided into six subcommittees and began
48
planning immediately for the observance of the great occasion.
Special services and activities were planned for seven Sundays
from November 29, 1970, through February 1971. Two former
pastors were honored and enjoyed on "Willingham Day" on
November 29 and "Carlton Day" on January 3, 1971. January
I0 was designated as "Homecoming Day" and observed as
Anniversary Sunday, as it was the closest Sunday to the actual
date of January 12, the date the church was constituted. Features of this day were the distribution of the 75th Anniversary
historical booklet, a congregational dinner, an afternoon
concert of sacred music by Dr. Phillip Landgrave of Louisville, Kentucky, and a sermon by the pastor.
There were four other special Sundays: January 17,
"Virginia Baptist Day," sermon by Dr. Richard M. Stephenson,
Executive Secretary of the Baptist General Association of
Virginia, and a solo by Mr. Allen Brown, Secretary of the
Virginia Baptist Church Music Department; January 31,
"Overseas Missions Day," sermon by Dr. Baker James
Cauthen, Executive Secretary of the SBC Foreign Mission
Board; February 14, "National Missions Day," sermon by Dr.
Arthur E. Rutledge, Executive Secretary of SBC Home Mission Board; and February 28, "Southern Baptist Day," sermon
by Dr. Porter W. Routh, Executive Secretary of the Southern
Baptist Convention.
Marking the Tenth Anniversary of his pastorate, Mr.
and Mrs. Simms were honored at a reception on February 8,
1970. In appreciation of their devoted and untiring leadership
and service, they were given a trip to Tokyo, Japan, to attend
the Baptist World Alliance meeting. While on this trip from
July 10 to August 1 they saw much of the Baptist mission
work in the Orient and visited many places of interest, including Hiroshima, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Honolulu. The four
excellent programs presented on Sunday evenings after their
return were a blessing and inspiration to all who shared in
them.
49
Daniel O'Dell began his ministry as the first designated
Associate Pastor in August 1971. He had special duties in
areas of Education and Youth activities. He continued to serve
effectively in this capacity for five years. He resigned on
November 30, 1976, when the Foreign Mission Board appointed him and his wife, Janet, as missionaries for
Guadeloupe. A Commissioning Service was held for them on
November 28, with Dr. George Hays, Area Secretary for East
Asia for the Foreign Mission Board bringing the message.
Mr. Simms was invited by the SBC Foreign Mission
Board to participate in a two-week Evangelistic Crusade in
Jamaica, March 5-17, 1972. The church approved an appropriation to pay the expenses involved.
In February 1973, Linwood Campbell became the
second organist for the church since 1929, succeeding Mrs. J .
L. Staples who was organist for forty-four years. "Lin" resigned on July 31, 1987, after fourteen years of outstanding
service.
In order to provide a needed and expanded ministry and
have transportation for various activities of the church, a drive
got underway in August 1973 to purchase a van. When the
goal for funds was reached, the van was ordered in July 1974.
(A second van was purchased in 1985, and a 25-passenger bus
in 1989. Later, the older van was sold.)
Mr. Simms read a statement of resignation on March
10, 1974, ending his pastorate on May 1. His was a remarkable pastorate of fourteen years, the longest of the Rivermont
Avenue Baptist pastors. He moved to Richmond to become
Administrator for the proposed retirement center, Lakewood
Manor, to be constructed by Virginia Baptists. He coordinated
the construction and the many interests involved in this new
project and continued as the Administrator after its completion
until he retired in January 1983.
50
Later in March after Mr. Simms announced his resignation, a Pulpit Committee was elected composed of: Joseph M.
Coates, Mrs. Chiles Gridlin, Mrs. John A. Gleason, Miss
Carolyn Harris, Mrs. L. 0. Miles, Richard Pugh and James W.
Sublett. This committee secured supply ministers for many
Sundays, relieving Mr. O'DelL who assumed many added
responsibilities after the Pastor's resignation. In July the
Reverend Edward 0. Temple, Jr., Chaplain at Lynchburg
General Hospital, was employed as Interim Pastor.
In January 1975, on recommendation of the Finance
Committee, an advance payment of $5,444.74, in addition to
the regular monthly payment, was made on the building debt in
order to save several thousands of dollars in interest. After this
payment, the balance was $205,932.72.
Harry Tilman Dixon, Jr
1975- 1987
On April 20, 1975, Harry Tilman Dixon, Jr., a native
of South Boston, Virginia, came as the eleventh pastor. He was
educated at the University of Richmond, the Southeastern Baptist
Theological Seminary and the Union Theological Seminary. He
came to Rivermont Avenue from the Huguenot Road Baptist
Church in Richmond.
In September of that year the church purchased the
property at 1318 Bedford Avenue for $18,000. Though the
house has been rented at times, it has also served as a base of
operation for a Lynchburg Baptist Association ministry, and as
the residence of church staff members.
To provide a time to consolidate some of the church
activities, Family Night suppers began in January 1976. At
first, they were held twice a month but later changed to a
weekly function. They continue to be held weekly, except for
51
the three summer months, and are well attended and popular
with the whole family.
In March 1976, Dr. Dixon was invited by the SBC
Foreign Mission Board to participate in a preaching-teaching
mission in Rhodesia, Africa, August 8-29. The church approved the financing required for him to accept this opportunity. He worked with the missionaries under the African
Baptist Convention in the Salisbury and Triangle areas of
Rhodesia.
Patrick R. Malone was called on February 1 , 1977, to
be the Minister of Music and Youth. He filled this position
until January 13, 1982, when he resigned to pursue a doctoral
degree in music education at Florida State University School of
Music.
A very beautiful gift of thirty-seven Mal mark English
handbells was given to the church by Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Dixon,
Sr. in March 1977, in loving memory of Deanna Frances
Dixon, Dr. and Mrs. Dixon's daughter. The bells have added
beauty to many worship services through the years.
Children's Church began in September 1977, to provide
learning and a time of worship for children ages four through
Grade 3. This continues to be a fine program enjoyed by the
children.
The first pictorial directory was distributed in September 1977. (The second one in 1984, the third in 1989.)
Richard H. Banks began his ministry as Associate
Pastor and Minister of Education on January 8, 1978. He
resigned in August 1981, to become Associate Pastor of First
Baptist Church in Anchorage, Alaska.
52
In August 1978, a Commissioning Service was held for
Carolyn Harris, who was appointed by the SBC Foreign Mission Board to serve as a Missionary Journeyman for two years
in Bophuthatswana, South Africa, where she served on the
nursing faculty at the Moroka Hospital. In May, 1983, she was
appointed a career missionary to Zimbabwe, Africa. After a
long delay awaiting the necessary work permit from South
Africa, a special service of dedication and a reception for her
was held before her departure for Harare on June I0, 1984.
She served at Sanyati Baptist Hospital and taught at the Baptist
Theological Seminaryof Zimbabwe. Carolyn returned to the
USA due to illness in June 1992, and had to leave missionary
service as a result of health problems.
To protect the stained-glass windows in the sanctuary
and the outside rose window, the church appropriated
$5,213.98 in September 1978, to cover the windows with
Lexan, a clear protective covering. Also, at this time, a dimmer system for the sanctuary lighting was provided by donated
funds and 330 new hymnals were given.
In April 1980, the church received a bequest of $5,000
from the estate of Frances Thornhill. At the suggestion of the
special committee appointed to determine an appropriate and
worthy use of the money, a K. Kawai grand piano for use in the
sanctuary was purchased and an appropriate engraved brass
plate affixed to identify the gift.
Edward B. Blankinship, an exceptionally fine musician,
who blessed the church for forty-five years as a volunteer
violinist, was recognized with his picture on the cover of The
Religious Herald. Not only was he a gifted violinist, he
handcrafted violins, clocks, and beautiful furniture. In January
1986, he presented the church with a handmade cabinet for our
synthesizer, which was the last of the beautiful things he made.
53
The first Chrismon tree was placed in the foyer in
December 1981, bearing sixty Chrismons, all beautifully
handmade in counted cross stitch. These have continued to be
a lovely part of the Christmas decorations.
A major project got underway in April 1982, with a
recommendation from the Properties Committee to paint the
sanctuary and three vestibules, remove, repair and refinish all
pews, and install new carpet and underlayment in the sanctuary. A gift made by Mrs. Margaret Saferight as a memorial to
her son, Donald, paid for all work on the pews. An engraved
plaque is mounted on the wall at the back of the sanctuary
noting this memorial. An anonymous gift paid for the carpet
and a portion of the painting expense.
On September 26, 1982, after several months of study
and consideration, the Personnel and Finance Committees
made two recommendations which were approved: ( 1) to call
Brent Rector, a native of Mt. Airy, North Carolina, as Minister
of Education; (2) to call Michael Patch, a native of Richmond,
as Minister of Music. Both began their service on November
I, 1982. (Brent Rector resigned on December 22, 1987, to go
to the First Baptist Church, Fayetteville, North Carolina; Mike
Patch resigned in November 1989, to go to the Cool Spring
Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Virginia.)
On recommendation of the Audio-Visuals Committee in
September 1983, a new sound system for the sanctuary was
installed at a cost of $11,973. In 1992, the system was upgraded at a cost of $9,200, a gift from Mr. and Mrs. James P.
Wilkerson, Jr. in memory of their parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Wilkerson, Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. A. Francis Wilson.
The fourth note-burning ceremony was held on October
7, 1984, to celebrate the liquidation of the debt on the
Rivermont Avenue Educational Building. The Reverend Albert
54
E. Simms, who was pastor when the building was constructed,
was invited to participate in the service and deliver the morning
sermon. The church had borrowed $298,000 for twenty years.
The first payment was due in December 1968 and the last one
in September 1984 four years and three months in advance.
In October 1985, the church grounds were landscaped
with funds from memorial gifts for Edward Duffner, Mrs.
Cornelia Knight, and Carson Masencup. In 1987 there was
further improvement with the lovely garden planted on
Bedford Avenue as a memorial to John A. Gleason, given by
his wife, Catherine.
In January 1986, for the first time, property suitable for a
parking lot was put on the market. In a meeting on January
15, the church approved a recommendation from the Properties
and Finance Committees and adopted a resolution to negotiate
for the purchase of properties at 1361 and 1365 Rivermont
Avenue. Options were secured on the property and preliminary
arrangements were made to finance the purchase and the
development of the lot. Dr. Dixon and B. B. Bullington met
with the City Planning Commission to present the parking
needs of the church and show site plans for the property.
However, the Commission turned down the request for a
conditional use permit. The decision was made to pursue the
matter further and appeal to the City Council. The Council
also voted against the church's request because of opposition
voiced by a group of citizens who claimed a parking lot would
destroy the attractiveness of Rivermont Avenue which they
desired to be made a historic area. This promising opportunity
to secure property for parking had to be terminated. This
history will show that it was five years later before other
suitable property became available.
At this same meeting on January 15, approval was
given to have the Moller organ put in good condition and in
55
August the Lewis and Hitchcock Organ Company began the
repairs and renovations which took several weeks and cost
$32,500.
In April 1986, a congregational survey got underway in
preparation for a study of the church's needs by Dr. Bob Dale,
a Southeastern Theological Seminary professor and Church
Growth Analyst. The Dream Committee recommended by Dr.
Dale, was formulated by the Church Council and the following
nine members were announced in July: Mrs. Marjorie
Howard, Mrs. Rebecca Cridlin, Mrs. Betsy Middleton, Mrs.
Rosa Williamson, Mrs. Jean Pipes, Cecil Abbott, Mark
Fairchild, Cecil Puckette, and Jeff Wilder, with the three
ministers (Dixon, Rector and Patch) serving as ex officio
members. At a weekend retreat, this committee made plans to
initiate many of the helpful recommendations made by Dr.
Dale, including securing greeters for the main entrances on
Sunday, starting the monthly senior luncheons (Live Embers)
and pursuing the requirements for the proposed preschool
education program.
The church ventured into the computer world in May
1986, with the purchase of an IDM-XT Computer and related
software which was delivered in July.
The church regretfully accepted Dr. Dixon's resignation
on September 20, 1987, closing his pastorate of nearly twelve
years to go to the Talbot Park Baptist Church in Norfolk,
Virginia.
In September the church elected a Pastor Search Committee composed of: William A Coleman, Mrs. Catherine
Gleason, Mrs. Jean Pipes, Cecil Puckette, Hugo Spencer, Fred
Waddell, and Harvey Young.
In October, the Reverend Edward Temple began as
Interim Pastor. He had previously served in this capacity for
56
nine months in 1974-1975. He was assisted by the Reverend
Nathanael B. Habel as minister of pastoral visitation. In March
Darrel Cook, a senior at VPI and president of the Baptist
Student Union, was hired to direct youth activities for ten
weeks in the summer.
On Palm Sunday morning, March 27, 1988, the church
was shocked and deeply saddened to hear that Ed Temple had
died suddenly. He was a caring and compassionate man with a
special sense of humor which made him loved by all who knew
him. In Nick Habel's sermon that Palm Sunday, he said, "If
there is ever a time when a church needs to hear the message of
Easter, it is now." It was indeed a sad day for the congregation.
Dr. Marvin Gold, Chaplain at Virginia Baptist Hospital
and member of Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church, began as
Interim Pastor on April 10, 1988.
The 1 0 0 t h Anniversary of the WMU was commemorated in the morning worship service on May 15, 1988. Information and recognitions were given by Ardith Williams Coates,
Director of WMU at Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church.
Steven Clay Cromer
1988-1993
On Sunday, June 19, 1988, the congregation voted
unanimously to call Steven Clay Cromer as the twelfth pastor
to begin on July 31, 1988. A native of Maryland, reared in
South Carolina, he was educated at Wofford College and the
Southeastern Theological Seminary. He came to Lynchburg
from the Memorial Baptist Church, Pulaski, Virginia.
Of course a very warm reception was planned for
Reverend Cromer, his wife Geneva, and their three young sons
-but certainly not the very hot one they received! It was an
57
extremely hot day and the air conditioning units on the roof were
not functioning. It was determined later that the units had been
damaged by lightning. New units were installed on
August 8. at a cost of $12,690. with $5.350 covered by insurance.
In August, plans were announced to begin the first
Master Life Discipleship Training Class. Special emphasis was
put on discipleship training through "Master Life" classes and
the practical and stimulating "Equipped for Living Courses"
offered on Sunday evenings taught by the Pastor, Mark Bush,
Mike Patch and Jeff Wilder.
On November 27, 1988, the church called Mark Bush to
serve as Minister of Education and Youth. He served in this
position till the end of February, 1992, when he resigned to
pursue a career in another field. He and his wife, Cheryl, have
continued to be useful and faithful members of Rivermont
Avenue Baptist Church.
Early Learning Center
The Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church Early Learning
Center opened on April 3, 1989. Sometimes called the ABC
Early Learning Center, it is more often referred to as the "Early
Learning Center" or simply "ELC." The school opened with six
children and a staff of two. Fay Epperson, the present Director,
was the only teacher and Loretta Hines was her assistant. The
ELC developed from a recommendation made
by Dr. Bob Dale in 1986. The Dream Committee named by the
Church Council at that time pursued the requirements for a
preschool education program. In the Fall of 1987, at the
request of the Dream Committee, a Preschool Study Committee was appointed to investigate the possibility of establishing
such a program at Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church. Serving
on this committee were: Mrs. Beverly Patch, Mrs. Lee Ware,
58
Mrs. Carolyn Wiley, Mrs. Debbie Wilder, Al Coleman, Mrs.
Verba McKinney and Mrs. Pam Jones. The committee began
the long, detailed procedure of determining and meeting the
requirements to present a petition to the Lynchburg City Council for approval to open the school. On April 14, 1988, the City
Council granted permission to open the center. The next phase
was to prepare the facilities to meet requirements for fire alarms,
fencing, shrubs, etc., which took most of the summer to
complete.
On August 18, 1988, a newly appointed Church Weekday Education Committee met to determine the type of pro- gram
to be offered, the hours for the daily operation, and outline a
plan to promote the project. For a time, there seemed to be a
lack of interest and response on the part of the member- ship as
a whole, but in February 1989, the church allocated funds for
the first year's operation and the Center was finally opened.
By the end of July there were 15 children enrolled and
by the end of 1989 the enrollment was up to 40 and an additional teacher was hired. The Center has continued to enjoy a
steady growth, reaching an enrollment of 66 children in 1995,
with 20 children returning for the summer. ELC is a successful
and popular school developed for 2- to 5-year-olds, a summer
program for former students and their siblings 6 to 12 years
old, and a new before-and-after school program for former
students and siblings of current students, with Robb Moore,
Minister of Church and Community Life, as the teacher. ELC
has also been involved with children in the Carey House, the
Genesis Home and the Miriam House, ministering to their
parents as well. The capable staff of ten is assisted in many
ways by volunteers from the church family and others.
In November 1991, the Weekday Scholarship Committee was made a 9-member rotating church committee to assist
ELC and oversee its operation.
59
The Jean Pipes Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in October 1989, by Miss Mary Louise Habel and the
Adult Discussion Class to provide assistance to needy students
in the school.
The above information shows the growth and success
of the Early Learning Center. In a very fine way, it is fulfilling
its mission of "providing a learning environment of the highest
caliber, set in an atmosphere of consistent, affectionate care for
the children enrolled..."
Children's sermons as part of the morning worship hour
began on June 18, 1989, this continues to be a popular and
meaningful time for the 7- to 10-year-olds, as well as for the
entire congregation.
In July, the Brotherhood (Baptist Men) was reactivated
after fifteen years, with limited programs to be planned for the
men but with special emphasis and support to be given to the
Royal Ambassadors.
On July 23, 1989, approval was given for the much
needed air-conditioning for the kitchen, at a cost of $4,120.
On November 25, 1989, several constitutional changes
were approved. Briefly, they were as follows: (1) The Youth
Council is to be called the Youth Ministry Council(2) a
Personnel Committee, composed of nine members on a 3-year
rotating basis as other standing committees, is to be nominated
by the Church Nominating Committee; (3) the Finance Committee is to be renamed the Stewardship Committee(4) an
Equipped for Living Director is to replace the Church Study
Course Secretary; (5) the number of deacons and deaconesses
was reduced from 35 each to 24 each, with the terms for
service reduced from five to three years.
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The church voted unanimously on January 21, 1990, to
call Wayne Bulson to be Minister of Music. A graduate of
Concord College and the SBC Theological Seminary, he came
to Lynchburg from the Pinehurst Baptist Church in Richmond.
He began his ministry on February 18, with full endorsement of
the staff, the Personnel and Music Committees and the Choir.
He continues to provide outstanding leadership to the music
program of the church. His many fine talents are reflected in
the excellent programs he directs. His wife, Sharon, has been
the church organist since October 1991, after serving as interim
organist for several months. Her talents are exceptional as
organist and pianist. The church is twice-blessed to have the
Bulsons!
On June 6, 1990, a proposed change to the constitution
was approved to ordain any church-elected deaconesses,
desiring it, in some public service arranged by the pastor. The
first deaconesses ordained on September 30, 1990 were: Mrs.
John Bryant, Marjorie 0. Hubbard, Christine P. Oliver,
Katherine M. Thomas, Lee Lewis Ware, Shirley C. Habel,
Mildred L. Maddox, Sylvia M. Taylor, Kitty Waddell, Jane L.
Whitehead.
On the approved recommendation of the Properties and
Stewardship Committees, the stained-glass windows in the
corner tower were repaired in July 1990, at a cost of $7,320.
First Baptist Church, "Mother Church" of Rivermont
Avenue Baptist Church, celebrated its 175th Anniversary on
September 9, 1990. "Name-banners" were made by the
"Daughter Churches" for display at the service. After a time of
displaying them in several churches, they were returned to the
First Baptist Church. The lovely banner for Rivermont Avenue
Baptist Church was designed and made by Helen Hawkins,
assisted by Gilrna Freerks.
61
A big need of the church was taken care of in October
1991, when a contract was signed for the installation of a new
roof on the educational building at a cost of $22,000.
Parking Lot
The corner parking lot at 1300 Rivermont Avenue was
opened for use in October 1991. The opportunity to secure this
property came in May when the store building on the property
was offered for sale at $100,000. It was determined that the
property would provide at least 40-50 parking spaces. The
church approved the purchase, providing approval was given
by the City Council to build the parking lot. However, at this
time, there were several other needs of the church under consideration. Consequently, Pastor Cromer appointed a committee to come up with a fund-raising plan. The committee was
composed of Beth Rash, Wallace Thacker, Harvey Young, Lisa
Hutchins, Thurman Wallace, Judy Smith and Larry Jackson.
This committee announced the theme "Building Tomorrow Together" for the effort to raise funds for the proposed projects
and renovations with a goal of $250,000. Though the dream
goal was not reached, the $151,000 pledged to be given over a
3-year period made it possible to do most of the projections
and be able to secure a good 10-year note for the parking lot
project.
The Properties Committee began working on the site
plans for the lot and the detailed information to submit to the
City Planning Commission. Much work had to be done by B.
B. Bullington, Chairman of the Properties Committee and
Coordinator of the project, with the valuable engineering
assistance of Irving McGhee, to get the approval of City
Council, which was necessary before the purchase could be
finalized.
The approval was finally granted in August 1991, and
work on the lot proceeded immediately. The store building
62
contained asbestos and its removal was a slow and expensive
operation. However, a concerted effort was made to construct
the facility, which provides 56 parking spaces, and get it into
use as soon as possible. A very helpful contribution of the
grading and surfacing of the lot was given by C. W. Lawhorne,
Jr. By vote of the church, he was sent a letter of appreciation
for his generosity.
In February 1992, work began on the Habitat for
Humanity house for Lisa Rose on Bedford Avenue. This was a
joint effort of several churches, including Rivermont Avenue
Baptist Church, Centenary United Methodist Church,
Rivermont Baptist Church and Rivermont Presbyterian
Church. Kitty Thomas ably served as coordinator for
Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church, with a great number of the
members participating in the project. The house was dedicated
on May 31. In October 1993, this church again participated in
the building of a Habitat House.
Several building improvements were completed in
October 1992. A security system was installed for the
Rivermont Avenue office entrance. The sanctuary was repainted. The baptistry window scripture was relettered in gold
leaf, provided by the Sublett family from memorial funds given
for James W. Sublett. This gift is noted by the installation of
an appropriate brass plate.
The new music suite was dedicated on July 11, 1993.
The formal service of dedication was followed by the installation of a wall plaque with the wording: "The B. B. Bullington
Music Suite, in Recognition of his Ministry of service to
Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church, Dedicated July 11, 1993."
A covered-dish luncheon followed which was a surprise "roast
and toast" affair honoring "B. B." Plans for moving the music
63
department from the ground floor to the main floor began in
October 1990. Due to more pressing needs, work did not get
underway until early in 1993. Very extensive renovations were
required in the area which was formerly the pastor's study, the
business office, and youth room (earlier the S. S. Beginner
Department). Two heat pumps were installed and one restroom
and one lavatory were reactivated. The renovations and furnishings were provided by funds from the "Building
Tomorrow...Together" pledges.
The last of the improvements paid for by the "Building
Tomorrow...Together" funds was the renovation of Fellowship
Hall. In October 1993, the old asbestos flooring was removed
and new vinyl flooring laid, a drop-ceiling and new lighting
was installed, and the hall repainted.
In a letter to the membership on June 28, 1993, Steven
Cromer announced his resignation as pastor to go to the First
Baptist Church in Darlington, South Carolina. His ministry
concluded on July 25.
In July, Jim Rinker, Chairman of Deacons, reported that
the Diaconate had chosen fifteen members to present to the
church from which a Pastor Search Committee was to be
formed, with the seven receiving the most votes to be the
committee and the other eight held in reserve as alternates.
The seven elected by a unanimous voter were: AI Coleman,
William A. Coleman, Catherine Gleason, Neal O'Brien, Fred
Waddell, Jane Whitehead and David Wilson. This committee
immediately secured supply ministers for August and two
Sundays in September. The Reverend Hugh Bumgarner was
called as Interim Pastor to begin on September 15.
During the following interim period of nearly sixteen
months all regular services and activities of the church were
carried on under the able leadership of Reverend Bumgarner
64
and Wayne Bulson. It was very helpful that David Simmons, a
midterm senior at Liberty University who had been the Summer Youth Leader since June. was able to remain until December.
In April 1994, Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church joined
twenty-five Lynchburg Baptist Association churches for a
World Missions Conference. On May 1 several Foreign and
Home Missionaries spoke during the Sunday School hour and
in the morning and evening worship services.
The first action of the church looking toward the
church's Centennial took place in a business meeting on May
25, 1994, when plans were made to form a Centennial Committee. Also in this meeting, it was decided to appoint a
Computer Committee to study the necessary steps to computerize the record keeping.
During this time, two staff changes were made. Doug
Everett was employed in August as custodian. Essie Coleman
resigned as financial secretary after twenty-five years of efficient and dedicated service. A covered-dish luncheon was held
in her honor on September 18. The present financial secretary,
Shirley Snead, was employed to take over the duties of that
important position.
In October 1994, the Blankinship Scholarship Fund was
established in memory of Edward and Evelyn Blankinship by
their children, Steve and Jo Ellen.
On September7, 1994. the Reminder announced that a
"Red Letter Day" was coming on the weekend of October 1-2.
The piqued curiosity of the members was more than satisfied on
September 21 when the Pastor Search Committee announced
that a prospective pastor would be presented in a meeting of
the diaconate on Saturday, October 1. to be fol65
lowed by a church-wide dinner for the candidate, the Reverend
James E. Baucom, Jr., his wife, Debbie, and young daughter,
Marlee. A trial sermon was delivered on Sunday morning. As
announced on September 21, the church was called into conference following the worship service at which time the Reverend
Baucom was approved by a unanimous vote. The church was
informed on October 12 that he had accepted the call.
James Edward Baucom, Jr.
1994- Present
James Edward Baucom, Jr., became the thirteenth pastor
on November 6, 1994. A native of Martinsville, Virginia, he
received his education at the University of Richmond and
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is presently
pursuing doctoral studies at Princeton Theological Seminary,
Princeton, New Jersey. He came to Lynchburg from the Warsaw Baptist Church, Warsaw, Virginia.
On Sunday, November 13, an installation service was
held with the Pastor's father, Dr. James E. Baucom, Sr., from
Emerywood Baptist Church, High Point, North Carolina,
bringing the sermon. Words of greeting to the new pastor were
given by William E. McRorie, City Vice Mayor, Corinne
Banton, Lynchburg Baptist Moderator, and Rivermont Avenue
Baptist Church Deacon Chairman, Albert Nichols. It was an
impressive service and a joyful time of worship.
The year 1995 was a time of exciting growth and
renewed enthusiasm. With the addition of 49 new members,
more than in any year since 1966, it has been a joy to see the
new faces and have the pleasure of welcoming them into the
church family. Average worship attendance for 1994-1995 was
the highest since 1984-1985 and 1995 brought the first actual
growth in membership since 1961.
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In addition to all the regular activities of the church
which were carried on in a commendable way with new vigor,
the following special events in 1995 are noted.
"Praise Aerobics," an exercise time combined with
devotion and prayer, began in March. Debbie Baucom planned
the program and leads the group. It has proved to be a popular
time for both the young and not so young who believe that
proper care of our bodies is a good and proper way to better
honor and serve the Lord.
Holy Week was observed with special services of
worship and praise. On Palm Sunday there was a Children's
Palm Procession in the morning worship service. At 4:30 in
the afternoon the choir presented a cantata in celebration of
Easter, Alone on the Altar. This excellent program featured five
soloists and fourteen-piece orchestra comprised of several
Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church members and other outside
professionals. On Maundy Thursday, Rivermont Avenue
Baptist church hosted a Community Lord's Supper, with
ministers from Centenary United Methodist, Rivermont Presbyterian, and Rivermont Baptist Churches participating in the
service. On Good Friday a service of meditation and silence
featured a video, At the Foot of the Cross, a graphic portrayal
of the crucifixion of the Lord. In the Easter morning worship
service a baptismal service was held.
A special time of worship took place on Sunday, May
7, in a "Hymn Festival," held at Rivermont Presbyterian
Church. Musicians and ministers from the following churches
led the service: Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church, Centenary
United Methodist, Rivermont Baptist, Wingfield Baptist and
Rivermont Presbyterian.
Another significant happening on May 7 was the
beginning of Robert G. Moore, III's ministry with Rivermont
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Avenue Baptist Church as Minister of Church and Community
Life. He is a native of Martinsville, Virginia and a graduate of
the University of Richmond, where he was granted one of two
annual full four-year scholarships for his strong leadership,
scholarship and character. He has used his fine talents and
experience in planning many activities to reach out to the
community of the church neighborhood and to plan a full
schedule of activities for the Youth-including trips, mission
projects, retreats and attendance at the Youth Evangelism
Conference in Richmond in August. He has established a
Youth Hotline at his residence to provide information and the
opportunity for the Youth to leave messages at anytime. On
November 4, he was married to Heather Krajewski and the
church honored them with a reception on Sunday, November
12.
After months of preparation, "Musicians on Mission"
left for Guadeloupe on September 26, 1995, for a week of
witnessing through song and testimonies. The team included
the following: Wayne Bulson, Director; Mark Andrist, Accom
panist; Cheryl Bush, Mark Bush, Ardith Coates, Joe Coates,
Lisa Coleman, Karen Douglas, Doug Everett, Mark Fairchild,
Margie Howard, Robb Moore, Carolyn Proffitt, Jay Proffitt,
Sylvia Taylor, Kitty Waddell, Jeff Wilder, (Cooks) Sheila
Andrews, Lee Formo, Sharon Proffitt, Fred Waddell. They
were commissioned by the church in the morning worship
service on September 24.
This trip developed from a request in September 1994,
to the SBC Foreign Mission Board from the missionaries and
church leaders in Guadeloupe for a choir to give a concert tour
to present the gospel in music. In a business meeting in Octo
ber, the Music Committee presented a request to the church for
permission and support to accept this opportunity. While it
was felt that no financial support could be given from any
budgeted funds. it was the consensus of the members present
68
that it was a fine mission opportunity. Permission was given
for voluntary donations to be received and for fund-raising
activities to be planned by the choir to raise the necessary
funds. estimated to be about S 18.000. Several persons in the
meeting made pledges to give the project a boost. It was
decided by the Music Committee and the Choir Council that no
further solicitation for funds would take place until after the
pledges were in for the 1995 budget and the Lottie Moon
offerings were made.
Several successful fund-raising events followed, including two Sunday morning breakfasts, a Silent Auction, and a big
yard sale. By August 23,$17,640.15 had been accumulated
and all plans were "go."
The team returned on October 4 after a very rewarding
experience. Their report to the church on October 15 was well
prepared and interesting and included the music and testimonials presented in Guadeloupe which blessed all who heard it.
With more than $500 left unspent in the Guadeloupe
"Musicians on Mission Fund," the church approved a recommendation on October 18. 1995, to use this money to seed a
Volunteer Missions Scholarship Fund to subsidize missionary
opportunities offered by SBC, CBF, BGAV partnership missions, or other agencies affiliated with the church. The fund is
to be financed by special gifts and offerings and administered by
the Pastor, presidents of WMU and Baptist Men and the Church
Treasurer. Following are some of the hands-on missionary
projects participated in beyond the local level by Rivermont
Avenue Baptist Church members in recent years: In October
1989, Ardith Williams Coates joined a Virginia Baptist Sunday
School Training Team for two and a half weeks in Tanzania,
Africa; in January 1990, a 14-member team from Rivermont
Avenue Baptist Church worked for one week with Missionaries
Dan and Jan O'Dell to help rebuild a church in
69
Guadeloupe damaged by Hurricane Hugo; in 1994; the Reverend Lee Stocks and his wife, Doris, participated in a FMB
project in Costa Rica; in 1994 and 1995, Dr. David Wilson and
his wife. Ann, were part of a SBC sponsored t eam in Venezuela. They were joined in 1995 by Pharmacist Wallace Thacker;
in 1994 and 1995, groups of Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church
Youth made trips to Washington, D.C. to distribute blankets,
clothing and toiletries to the homeless, working with the
Johenning Baptist Center there.
With 1995 drawing to a close, the holiday season was a
busy and joyous time, beginning with the Thanksgiving Eve
Service and the Baptist Men's Thanksgiving Day meal for the
community. With the "Hanging of the Greens" Service on
December 3, the sanctuary was beautifully decorated with
Victorian arrangements in keeping with the Centennial celebration ahead. Special musical programs were presented by the
Young Musicians Center, and climaxed on December 17 by the
Adult Choir's beautiful presentation of "An Old Fashioned
Christmas," assisted by both guest and Rivermont Avenue
Baptist Church instrumentalists. The season closed with a
beautiful service of carols and candles on Sunday, December
24.
The end of the first one hundred years for Rivermont
Avenue Baptist church was now at hand. The time had come
to turn to 1996 and celebrate the Centennial with praise and
thanksgiving to God for the blessings bestowed on this church.
70
EPILOGUE
Now, where are we? As we look ahead, what do we
see? We have been informed, inspired and encouraged
through the many special programs and activities focused on
our past and our present. We might have reason to think that
the future is in our able hands, that we can now go ahead and
do even greater things.
Look closely! We see a door ahead! No latch? Listen
carefully! We hear familiar words, "Ask, and it will be given
you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to
you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matt 7:7-8). That
is the only way to go, asking and seeking God's guidance and
wisdom as we move into the next century. With persistent
prayer, the door will be opened and we will be shown the way.
Without claiming this promise of our Lord, we will accomplish little.
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RIVERMONT AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH
VISION FOR THE FUTURE
by
Centennial Strategic Planning Committee Chairperson
Ron Rash
The reader of this history of Rivermont Avenue Baptist
Church quickly reaches the conclusion that this is a church that
has made a significant impact on the Lynchburg Community.
One hundred years of ministry, caring, serving, and nurturing is
impressive for any organization. We all admire the Christian
faithfulness and commitment of those who have gone before us.
Our membership wanted to take time to celebrate the
past "One Hundred Years of Caring," but we also wanted to
focus on our future. Thus, a Centennial Strategic Planning
Committee was established by the congregation in 1996 to
establish a Vision for the next 100 years. A church-wide
survey focused the committee on six critical areas to be addressed in Strategic Planning. Retreats, meetings and the
involvement of almost half of the congregation through subcommittees, resulted in a focus on Goals, Objectives and
Strategies for six key areas of concern.
This process has expanded our strengths as a missiondriven, people-centered community of faith. We all realize that
the assets with which we have been blessed, both in facilities
and people, must be used wisely to share the gospel and saving
grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Our focus for the next 1 00 years will enhance
Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church's appeal as a regional
church, making a difference in the larger Lynchburg community. Through our intentional commitment to discipleship,
maintenance and expansion of our facilities and properties,
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continued emphasis on fellowship and relational groups,
improved parking, acquisition of properties that enhance our
mission, emphasis on age group ministries, and volunteer
activities and hands-on missions (our six areas of concern), we
will continue to be prepared for tomorrow.
At the threshold of the next I 00 years, Rivermont
Avenue Baptist Church stands steadfast as a Lighthouse to our
Community, sending rays of Christ's hope and love to a dark
world.
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church
MAJOR EVENTS AND ACTIONS
January - October 1996
Jan.17
Mustard Seed Campaign approved for aboveand-beyond regular giving to finance purchase
of property and building renovations. Initial
faith goal of $70,000.
Jan.21
Centennial Commencement - Special worship
service featuring historical vignettes, sermon
by Pastor James E. Baucom, Jr. and unveiling of the centennial logo.
Highlight of the celebration - Special worship
services and luncheons honoring our three
living former pastors, their families, and
members of their staffs.
February
Historical Museum opened.
Mar.8-9
Host the third annual meeting of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia. Speakers:
Dr. Russell Dilday, Dean, George W. Truett
Theological Seminary at Baylor University; Dr.
Thomas Graves, President, Baptist Theological
Seminary, Richmond, Virginia; Dr. Keith Parks,
CBF Global Missions Coordinator.
Mar.24
AI Simms Day - Sermon by the Rev. Albert E.
Simms. Staff members participating: Miss
Virginia Harvey, William D. Wingfield, and
Rex Gardner.
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Easter presentation of Celebrate Life by sanctuary choir and drama team.
Apr.14
Tim Dixon Day Sermon by Dr. Harry T.
Dixon. Staff members participating: Rich
ard Banks, Mark Bush. Guest violinist,
Steve Blankinship, son of E.B. Blankinship.
Apr. 21
Hymnal Dedication Service for the new "Christian Praise Hymnals."
Apr. 28
The first weekly 8:30a.m. Sunday morning
seeker service was held.
May19
Steve Cromer Day Sermon by the Rev.
Steven C. Cromer. Staff members participating: Wayne Bulson, Mark Bush.
Sept. 4
Free for Fall Block Party sponsored by RABC
and Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.
Sept. 7
Concert by the nationally acclaimed 6:30 Band,
a Lynchburg Kaleidoscope event sponsored by
RABC.
Sept. 8
6:30 Band to participate in casual morning
worship service.
Oct. 6
Opening date for the University of Christ, a new
school of Christian discipleship, with multiple
courses for children, youth, and adults. Sessions on Sunday evenings, 6:00-7:30 pm.
Oct.13
Reconciliation Day - Joint worship with Mt.
Carmel Baptist Church on Cabell Street, loca75
Oct. 20
Centennial Finale. Speaker- Dr. Cecil
Sherman, Professor, Baptist Theological
Seminary, Richmond, Virginia.
Congregational Vote on Strategic Planning
Objectives
STRATEGIC PLANNING
"Prepare yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing
things among you" (Joshua 3:5).
On March 16 the Centennial Strategic Planning Committee
held an all-day retreat at Smith Mountain Lake. From this time
of prayer and preparation, the following basic plan was developed:
On April 21, a church-wide survey was made to determine the
six areas of concern in our church. The following areas resulted: ( 1) Discipleship Training, (2) Facilities and Properties,
(3) Fellowship and Relational Groups, (4) Property Acquisition
and Parking, (5) Senior Adult Ministries, and (6) Volunteer/
Hands-On Missions.
On May 12, the "Amazing Things Banquet" was held at Eagle
Eyrie as a kickoff for the strategic planning process.
Sub-Committees for the six categories of concern met on May
21 to set goals, on June 19 to determine objectives, and on July
24 to work out strategies.
At a retreat on September 28, all proposals to be made were
finalized in preparation for the congregational vote on October
20.
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CENTENNIAL YEAR ACTIONS OF NOTE
Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church acquired three pieces of
property - 1307 Bedford Avenue, 50 I McDonald Street (these
two dwellings to be demolished), and 1315 Ruffner Place.
The Youth Suite on the third tloor of the Bedford Avenue wing
was extensively remodeled, including air-conditioning and new
windows.
Memorabilia provided for the centennial: T-shirts and
sweatshirts with the logo, cookbooks, and a "Centennial Devotional Guide" prepared by the women of the church.
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APPENDIX
(The following lists are as complete as possible from available
records)
TRUSTEES
The following have served as Trustees: G. A. Coleman, James
T. Bowman, F. C. Harris, Dr. W. B. Thornhill, T. W. Gilliam,
M. B. Noel, H. H. Harris, F. C. Harris, S. I. Carter, P.R.
Massie, George E. Flippin, John P. Hughes II, W. C. Blair, Nate
Adams, W. Ewart Royall, John A. Gleason. Serving in 1996:
John W. Ferguson, Jr., Mrs. John A. (Catherine) Gleason and
Richard Pugh.
CHURCH CLERKS
H. P. Roberts (clerk for organizational session 111211896);
Aubrey Harvey (acting clerk for first Business Meeting 1/13/
1896); P. S. Flippin (1896); L. J. Figg (1897-1898); G. R.
Baldock (1899); G. W. Simpkins (part of 1899); A. W. Farrar
(1900); A. W. Abbitt (1901-1905); W. H. Farrar (1906-1912);
Lewis Thompson (1913-1914); G. C. McGehee (1915-1920);
C. F. Layne (1921-1923, 1937-1938); Luther LeGrand (1924,
1931-1933); W. A. Ambrose (1925-1928); C. W. Callahan .
(1929-1930); S.C. Maddox (1931); Edward Duffner (19341936); Robert E. Rose (1939-1958); Mrs. B.B. (Jo) Bullington
(1959-1978); Mrs. J. Ray (Marion) Harris (1979-1980, 19911995); Mrs. Merle Lee (1981 ); Mrs. Marjorie Lucado (19821990); Serving in 1996: Mrs. Marion Harris and Mark
Fairchild, Assistant Clerk.
CHURCH TREASURERS (General Fund)
R. T. Watts, Jr. (1896-1899); G. R. Baldock (1900-1903); P. G.
Cosby ( 1904-1905); H. H. Harris ( 1906-1907); R. S. Jenkins
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R. T. Watts, Jr. (1896-1899); G. R. Baldock (1900-1903); P. G.
Cosby ( 1904-1905); H. H. Harris ( 1906-1907); R. S. Jenkins
(1909-1910, 1912); P. C. Royster (1911, 1921-1923); W. E.
Bowling (1924); Dr. W. H. Johnson (1928-1944); Mrs. T. A.
Woodson (1945-1946); Robert E. Rose (1947-1956); Joseph
M. Coates (1957-1967); Edward B. Blankinship (1968-1972);
John W. Ferguson, Jr. ( 1973-1985); Fred G. Waddell ( 19861992; 1994); Cecil Puckette (1993). Serving in 1996: Fred G.
Waddell. Other treasurers of special funds rendered valuable
service to the church. Among them were: Building Funds: P.S.
Adkerson, Richard A. Harris and Hubert Thornhill; Mission
Funds: Dr. J. A. Reese, Mrs. T. A. Woodson. For many years
before the church office was opened C. Roach Thomas was
Financial Secretary.
ORDINATIONS
The following ministers have been ordained in the church: E.
J. Wright (ordination date unknown, licensed 9/27Ill); N.
Gordon Cosby (3112/39); J. Harvey Nichols, Jr. (6/25/41);
Richard A. Harris, Jr. (5/29/55); John Chafee (12/30/56); S.
Woodell Elliott 7114/63); Howard B. Smith, Jr. (7/25/65); and
Roger Wilcher (12/29174).
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