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2012 SESSION

12105060D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 366
Offered February 13, 2012
Commending Grove Baptist Church.
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Patrons-- Cole, Lingamfelter and Webert; Senator: Vogel
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WHEREAS, historic Grove Baptist Church in Fauquier County’s Goldvein community celebrated its 200th anniversary on October 9, 2011; and

WHEREAS, the beginnings of Grove Baptist Church can be traced to a local house, which many believe to have been the home of Dinah and James Thompson, where, in the late eighteenth century, itinerant preachers regularly were invited to proclaim a message of faith; soon a community of believers was established with this house as the group’s place of worship; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Skinker, a wealthy bachelor who lived in the area, deeded land and a building to the Baptist community in 1795, stipulating that the site would always be owned by Baptist elders; the building was located in a grove of trees, thus providing a fitting name for the church; and

WHEREAS, Grove Baptist Church came into existence on October 12, 1811, when 55 members of nearby Hartwood Baptist Church were sent to form Grove Baptist Church; it would be established at the site that Thomas Skinker deeded to the Baptists, and two of those 55 members were Dinah and James Thompson; and

WHEREAS, two centuries later, Grove Baptist Church still stands at the same site, the attractive and sturdy stone building has survived through the decades, weathering war-time ravages and storms; over time the church has acquired more land and added more buildings; and

WHEREAS, Grove Baptist Church has reflected the growth of Fauquier County; in its early days, the congregation gathered only for worship and fellowship, then a Sunday school was established in 1859; and

WHEREAS, the church, which was occupied by soldiers during the Civil War, was badly damaged, and restoring and rebuilding Grove Baptist Church took years; the first donation, collected in 1866, was $30.50, and the renovation was completed in 1900; and

WHEREAS, major upgrades occurred at Grove Baptist Church during the last century, including the installation of electricity in 1941, an elevated pulpit and choir area above a baptistery in 1969, and the addition of a steeple with chimes and installation of central heating and air conditioning in 1980 and 1981; and

WHEREAS, the first musical instrument purchased for Grove Baptist Church was a drum in 1884; in subsequent years, hymnals, pianos, and organs became a vital part of worship, and, today, an advanced sound system is installed at the church; and

WHEREAS, for much of its history, the church stayed small with a total cumulative membership of approximately 1,500 worshippers; the first building expansion was in 1964 with the opening of a newly constructed Educational Building; and

WHEREAS, inside Grove Baptist Church, visitors see a beautiful wooden cross over the pulpit, a special wooden music stand, and wooden offering plates all of which were made from a tree that once stood outside the church—part of the original grove; and

WHEREAS, like many other small congregations, Grove Baptist Church shared its pastor with other local churches and not until 1965 did Grove Baptist Church hire a full-time pastor; Grove Baptist Church continues to grow and thrive in the twenty-first century and a Fellowship Hall was built in 2004; and

WHEREAS, from this shady site, members of Grove Baptist Church have proclaimed the word of God, gone out to preach the Gospel, and helped to form other Baptist congregations; today the church has a teen ministry, a seniors program, and an AWANA children’s ministry; and

WHEREAS, the current pastor of Grove Baptist Church, Ronald Roach, who has served since 1986, is the 19th pastor in 200 years; the church encourages people to “Enter to worship, Depart to Serve”; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Grove Baptist Church on its 200th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Grove Baptist Church as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect and best wishes in its next centuries of worship and service.