Date:  2016

Image Number:  CG1140cdCG2016

Comments:  Antioch Baptist Church is located in Fluvanna County about 13 miles northeast of Scottsville near the intersection of Antioch Road and Rolling Road.  The church was organized in 1858 by 18 charter members, and five acres of land were deeded to the church trustees by John H. and Mary H. Burgess for a church site.  Shortly after that donation, a church was built, and in 1901, the old church building gave way to the central part of the present church building shown above.  The Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery adjoins the church.

Directions from Scottsville Museum to Antioch Baptist Church, 4422 Antioch Road, Scottsville: Drive east on VA-6 for 8.5 miles and turn left onto South Street. Drive 0.8 mile and turn left onto Rolling Rd. South and then immediately bear right onto VA 620/Rolling Rd. S. in 3.5 miles the road name changes to Rolling Rd. South. In 0.3 mile keep right onto VA-620/Rolling Rd. South and take the first left onto Antioch Road.

Antioch Baptist Church is one of the many old churches in this vicinity that played a strong and vital part in the lives of the families, who have made their homes near its grounds.  Years ago, when settlers first came to build homes and establish families, one of the first things they did was to establish a place to worship.  As communities spread out and sprang up too far from a church, another one closer was built.

In an early Antioch Church book, we read: "Whereas R.A. Kent, John T.C. Scruggs, William I. Hughes, James Kent, Jesse R. Hughes, Joseph T.C. Jones, T.H. Wood, and others, determined after due and prayerful consideration, believing it likely to promote the glory of God, to receive by letter from several churches of which they have heretofore been members, and constitute a new church to be known as Antioch Baptist Church, in the County of Fluvanna, State of Virginia, did on the 15th day of November 1858, call Elders James Kent, V.T. Settle, and P.C. Hoge to sit as a Presbytery to consider and to decide as to the propriety of such a step.  These, after an impartial examination of the facts and circumstances, decided to proceed with the organization, having first called Elder Kent to the chair, and appointed Elder Settle as secretary.  Whereupon the presbytery proceeded to receive and number the applicants to extend the right hand of fellowship to all who were thus received, and then on motion to elect John T. Kent, Robert A. Kent, Jesse R. Hughes, Joseph C. Scruggs, W.I. Hughes, and T.C. Jones as Deacons, and N.E. Scruggs as Clerk of the Church.

On November 15, 1858, John H. and Mary H. Burgess, husband and wife, deeded five acres of land to Church trustees John T. Kent, William H. Sadler, and W.I. Hughes.  The deed states, "land on which there is now a Baptist Church."  There is also a statement which tells us there sas a "schoolhouse on the southwest corner of said land."

The first report made by the church to the Albemarle Association in 1859 states that the church had 46 members and 62 enrolled in the Sunday School, but there is no record of just how many of these were charter members.  Nor do we know how many of these were colored members for many years.  In 1872, there were two letters granted to colored persons and as late as 1891, one colored member is reported in the associational letter.

Although no complete lists of the clerks of the church exist in those early years, we do know however, that Robert A. Kent was clerk in 1859.  During 19=872 to 1878 (and possibly earlier) John P. Sadler served as clerk of the church.  Then followed in order Robert Radzi Sadler, 1873 to 1879; John R. Omohundro, 1879 to 1883; W.J. Sadler, 1883-1890; A.E.T. Scruggs, 1890 to 1892; J.H. Phillips, 1892 to 1923.  Of course, there have been several later clerks of the church, ending with Fred Lockwood, who is serving at the present time.

The first pastor was the Rev. Peter C. Hoge, who served the congregation from 1858 to 1876.

The minutes of the church during the early years show a more strict interpretation of proper behavior than is made now.  Many recalcitrant members were banned from the church for such improprieties as dancing or following pleasurable activities on the Sabbath, later to be reinstated on repentance and promises of better behavior.

In 1901, the old church gave way to the present white frame building, or rather the central part of it.  This new building (shown at left), dedicated in 1902 during the pastorate of the Rev. George F. Cook, was built with J.E. Sadler as chief carpenter.  Morton J. Sadler donated the glass transom over the door.

The two wings built to house Sunday school rooms were added between 1910 and 1911.  Additional Sunday school rooms were built to the rear of the church in 1964.  Antioch went on a "full time" basis in 1963 with the Rev. John be. Mann Sr., becoming the first "full time" pastor.  At this time, the church has completed a modern parsonage.

The town of Scottsville has a number of churches, but back when people depended on their feet or at best their horses for transport, it was important that a church be located not too far away.  One of our local churches was established in 1858 at the crossroad of Secretary's Rolling Road (Route 620) and what is now Antioch Road, that runs to Scottsville about five miles away.  The original church was a plain oblong building with a gallery at the back for Black parishioners.  At that time, Black people were not allowed to have their own churches.  Once Emancipation was in effect, Antioch's Black parishioners relocated to a church just east of T.C. Johnson's store on Rolling Road.

Wilson Harrison recently brought us the above photo of the church with its congregation posing in front of it.  The photo must date from before 1901 when the church was rebuilt.  One can also date the photo by the women's clothes and hairstyles---definitely late 19th century.

The church could not afford a full-time pastor, and it was always a struggle to raise money to pay even a part-time one, who also served other churches.  One interesting religious position was the "colporter."  This person traveled around selling Bibles, hymnals, and religious books.  William Sadler, who held this position before he became ordained as a minister in 1920, said the main purpose was not selling books, but going into homes and holding prayer services, preaching when asked, and "generally encouraging the work of the Lord."

One issue in the early church was the matter of church discipline.  In 1979, a sister was charged with dancing, and she refused to make any promise to "desist in the future."  A year later, however, she saw the light and confessed her sorrow for what she had done and said she had determined "by God's will" not to dance again.  Also of concern was drinking alcohol and using profane language.

Church membership varied from 100 to 270 over the years, and today in 2021, it is still a thriving community.  The Antioch Baptist Church cemetery has been catalogued here on our Museum website, and in that listing you will recognize many local names; see: Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery.

The source for this report is The Church on Secretary's Rolling Road: A History of Antioch Baptist Church, 1859-1983 compiled by Robert F. Ellis.