History (Est. 1881)
According to the recorded minutes of old clerk books and information passed down from generation to generation; we have learned that Good Hope Baptist Church was organized from the Ephesus Baptist Church in 1881. During the winter months the members held services in the homes of members and during the summer months they had services under big oak trees.
Later they held services in an old Log Church near the home of Paul Brown and Darinda Courtney on the road leading from Johnville Farm to Dunnsville.
In 1892, William Campbell deeded one-half acre of land to the trustees of Good Hope; namely Edward Brown, William T. Holmes and Solomon Redman; and sold them another half acre for $20.00 (twenty dollars) which was situated across the road from the lot of Charles H. Wicks (Hicks as recorded, but families familiar with the source and persons know the name to be Wicks) and on which there was a temporary church. It is believed that this temporary church was known as the “Old Franklin School House” where Muscoe Garnett a white man taught the colored children. Near this site a “True Reformers Hall” and a “Tribe of Judah Hall” on Sunday and Elementary School Grades 1 thru 7 were taught during the week. The records show where Good Hope Baptist Church paid $10.00 (ten dollars) rent for the use of “Tribe of Judah Hall”.
Construction was begun on a frame church building under the supervison of Charlie Coles and aided by brothers George Lewis Corbin, Lewis Tunstall, James Johnson, Callie Vaughan and Alfred Rollins.
We were told that brother Charlie Coles hand carved all of the railings of the gallery in the old frame church building. These railings were removed and saved when the old building was demolished in March 1988.
According to the records $27.00 (twenty-seven dollars) was paid for the pews of the church.
The preachers were paid according to the amount of the collection. Records reveal that on several occasions the church paid fifty cents, one dollar or two dollars to the preachers.
In 1893 there were sixty-eight male members and sixty-three female members, classified as male, female, ladies and girls.
In the years of 1902 and 1903 the sexton was paid was ten and fifteen cents for his services, but in 1909 the sexton was paid seven dollars and seventy-five cents for his services for the year.
In 1903 the records show that money was placed in the “Poor Treasurer” as it was called then and later was called the Missionary Society.
It was in 1903 and 1904 that the church paid William Campbell then dollars each of the two years for the additional ½ acre of land.
On January 16, 1910 it is recorded that the church paid Deane Hundley $12.00 (twelve dollars) for fire insurance on the building from 1909 to 1912 which would pay $500.00 (five hundred) if the church burned down – stating that the policy would expire in 1912.
Records show that several persons preached at the church before a pastor was elected. Some of the persons who preached were – Spergin Johnson, Dan Quarles, Moses Hence, Cootney Coles, Lewis Tunstall and A. B. Brown. The first pastor being A. B. Bundy followed by Mark H. Sparks, who served as pastor for forty-two years from 1904-1946.
In 1907 the church was painted and in 1908 paid Charles Robinson $4.50, Lewis Tunstall $4.00, Ned Clarke $3.50 and Nelson Page $.75 for a total of $12.75 for the job.
The records reveal that in 1911 the church agreed to pay the pastor $115.00 for the year. Quoting from the records “we were able to give him $99.00 and he gave $10.25 back to the church and that left a balance of $16.00 owed to the pastor on his 1911 salary.
The church paid Harry Ware $1.92 and $4.16 on two different occasions for bricks and paid Solomon Redman $.50 for hauling the bricks in 1912.
The first Usher Board was organized under Louise Boyd St. John
Washington who served as the president for over forty years; followed by Lula Robinson Muse and Ella Mae Thornton as leaders of the “Door Keepers in the house of the Lord”.
In 1951 the church purchased the two room school and one acre of land from Francis Johnson which was located just to the right side back of the church. We used that building to serve dinner when we had All Day Services, to sell pig feet and chicken dinners and other Community and Civic Meetings.
There has been a Senior Choir, a Youth Choir, a Children’s Choir and a Gospel Chorus singing without music and with a pianist from the beginning to the present.
The first Vacation Bible School was held in 1958 with Clara H. Bayton as principal; George Roane, Pastor; Samuel Jackson, Superintendent of Sunday School and Julia Washingon, Clara Washington, Gertrude Beazley, Louis Washington, Emma L. Corbin, Henrietta Hill, Lula MUSE, Emma Thornton and Elaine Jackson served as workers. In 1960 Good Hope pledged $500.00 to Tidewater Memorial Hospital for which there is a Brass Engraved Plate placed on a door in the hospital.
The first Family Honors Day Program was held on April 18, 1965 with Marie H. Harrison as chairperson.
In 1966 Elaine Johnson presented the Christian and American Flags to the church.
The leaders of the church were dedicated to providing Christian training and experiences to the youth, with such activities as B.Y.P.U (Baptist Young People’s Union) which met on Sunday afternoons, Children’s Day Program and Youth Choir.
During the period between 1881 and 1973 candidates for baptism were baptized in the “Essex Mill Pond”, The Rappahannock River at Ware Wharf and at the Angel Visit Baptist Church where they had a pool.
In 1972 construction on the present building was begun and on January 7, 1973, an extremely cold day, devotional services were held in the frame church after which the Pastor, Olyver P. Clayton, The Trustees and Deacons with the choir singing and the congregation marched to the New Building for the First Services. Out of this New Church, Good Hope has had two sons to go into the Ministry, (Rev. Ronnie Sidney and Rev. Alvin Oakley).
The struggle was hard , but with God’s help, and with God on our side realizing that through “Him” all things are possible. In July 1985 the mortgage was paid off ahead of schedule. Each of these persons made the final paymen; Ann Bayton, Wilhelmina Baughan, Jennie P. Carter, B. F. Harrison, Ryland Holmes, Shirley Redman, Elizabeth Jackson, Lallie Quarles, Pastor George S. Taylor, Glossie Vaughan, Jennie Vaughan, Lewis Vaughan and Meredith Vaughan in the amount of $10.25 each.
The frame church building constructed in 1892 was demolished in March 1988. The foundation was poured for the New Fellowship Hall in January 1989.
We labored together, we have prayed together and whatever accomplishments have been made in these One Hundred and Eight Years we attritube to a strong belief and faith in God our Heavenly Father.
We stand on the threshold of another era and a New Beginning launching forward giving God the Praises and the Thanks for His Most Bountiful Blessings.
Today as we look back at our roots and note some of the steps, the efforts put forth and the sacrifices made by the founders of this church; we can better appreciate those who contributed to our beginning. It is only by looking back and realizing how we started and where we have come from, can we know the vital role and founders played in our growth, because it is the results of their determination and dedication that has brought us to this point today.
Rev. I. V. Smith was elected as Pastor on August 9, 2020. He is native of Hampton Roads, Virginia. He is married to Linda Robinson-Smith. He is a father and grandfather. His passion is studying and preaching the Word of God.