Brief History of the Founding of the BGAV

In the years immediately following the American Revolution, the Baptists of Virginia banded together to secure and safeguard religious liberty.

Once this right appeared safe, they lost their purpose to meet and by 1821 only three delegates attended their final meeting in Charlottesville. The delegates were: Thornton Stringfellow from Columbia, James Fife from the Goshen and Edward Baptist from Appomattox.

For three days they preached to each other then departed. Fife and Baptist traveled together by horseback along the banks of the Rivanna where they began to share a vision of a new Baptist organization which would be centered upon missions with Virginia as the immediate focus...And thus was born the idea for the General Association.

Fife and Baptist knew that many Baptists in those days were “jealous” or suspicious of organizing and so they decided to choose the time-honored name of “association” instead of convention. They were careful to emphasize that churches would lose nothing of their independent or autonomous nature by joining hands and hearts with other churches to draft a constitution.

The chief wording, written by Baptist, declaring the purpose of the General Association was as follows: “To propagate the Gospel and advance the Redeemer's Kingdom throughout the State.” It also emphasized that the work would be done while “not infringing the rights of individuals or churches.”

On June 3, 1822 an organization meeting was held and the constitution was adopted. Now 175 years later, the constitution still contains in essence the same wording: “The object shall be to furnish the Baptist Churches of Virginia a medium of cooperation for the propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for the advancement of the Redeemers Kingdom by all methods in accord with the Word of God."And the very next sentence reads: “There shall be full recognition of the autonomy of the local churches.” Edward Baptists' concept is still strong after 175 years.

On the morning of Saturday June 7, 1823, fifteen messengers attended the first meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, which was held in the new church house of the Second Baptist Church of Richmond.

Only men attended the first meeting and only one was a layman. Among the notables was Robert Baylor Semple, who was elected moderator and preached the first sermon. His words set a tone and direction for the new Baptist body. From Hebrews 13:16 came his text: “But to do good, and to communicate, forget not: for, with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”

Another noted guest was Luther Rice, the pioneering missionary whose very presence gave the meeting a missions emphasis. In fact, the Association wasted no time in appointing two state missionaries to canvas the state to learn the religious climate and determine where future Baptist churches might be planted.

The young men were Daniel Witt and Jeremiah Bell Jeter who because of their farming backgrounds became known as “the Bedford Plowboys” They were paid $30.00 a month and served for 2 years. They became two of the most prominent ministers among Virginia Baptists.

Want to know more?

For more details on the history of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, please contact:

Fred Anderson, Executive Director
Virginia Baptist Historical Society

PO Box 34
University of Richmond
Richmond, VA 23173

Phone: 804.289.8434
Fax: 804.289.8953