Bethlehem Baptist Church (Historical Marker)

Here follows the inscription written on this roadside historical marker:

Bethlehem Baptist Church
According to tradition, the earliest congregation, which would become the Bethlehem Baptist Church, was organized circa 1863 by Samuel K. Taylor, a former slave, who preached in the homes of the African-American residents of Gum Springs. Shortly after the Civil War ended the first building was used as both a house of worship and school. The cornerstone was laid for a new church in April 1884. Third and fourth edifices were built respectively in 1930 and 1993. The church grew with the African-American community and continues to be an important center of religious activity in Gum Springs.

Erected 2014 by The Fairfax County History Commission.


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More about this marker. Although the marker is dated 2013 it was installed in 2014.
This brick structure next to the modern edifice was dedicated on the first Sunday in October 1930.
Plaque on 1993 Bethlehem Baptist Church Building:

Organized 1863 Erected 1865
Samuel K. Taylor, Founder and Pastor
Rebuilt April 1884 and July 1930
W.H. Triplett, Pastor
New Edifice Completed Jan. 1993
Anthony A. Parrish, Pastor


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Here follows a summary of the church's history from its website:

History – First Era

Bethlehem Baptist Church was founded in 1863 from the unquenchable ambition of Samuel K. Taylor, an African slave youth. Called to preach after his conversion experience, Reverend Samuel K. Taylor, conducted religious services on Saturday nights and Sundays on the Taylor Plantation in Caroline County, Virginia. Reverend Taylor ran away to Gum Springs, Virginia that same year to begin his calling as pastor of the first African – American Church of Gum Springs. It was here in “Gum Springs” that Reverend Taylor found Christians conducting services in their homes whereas he continued to lead services just as he had done on the plantation.

After the close of the Civil War in 1865, Reverend Taylor and a small group of dedicated Christians erected the first edifice constructed from lumber given by the government used to build stables. This building was named Bethlehem (suggested by Alice Williams) and served as both a church and a school. Reverend Samuel Madden, Pastor of First Baptist Church (presently Alfred Street Baptist Church) served as the itinerant minister baptizing converts, serving communion, and performing other duties until Pastor Taylor was ordained in 1882.

In 1884, the cornerstone was laid for Bethlehem’s second building. During this period the church underwent growth in membership and in the fervor of its religious services and in 1890, five men of Bethlehem, including Pastor Taylor, formed The Joint Stock Club, which was instrumental in the planning of the Gum Springs Community. Pastor Taylor served the congregation for 30 years until his death in October 1912.

In 1913, after serving Bethlehem as Supply Pastor for one year, Reverend William H. Triplett became Bethlehem’s second pastor and one year later, the church building went under renovation. Knowing the importance of community and education, Reverend Triplett and several others were instrumental in acquiring a school bus to transport the children of Gum Springs to Manassas to attend high school (1934).

Under Reverend Triplett’s leadership:
a church choir was organized (the Senior Choir);
the Sunday School was established;
the Willing Workers Club was implemented;
the Usher Board and Missionary Circle were formed;
an eight – room parsonage was constructed (in 1919);
the church installed its own electrical plant; and
the brick structure next to our current edifice was dedicated on the first Sunday in October 1930.
Reverend Triplett served the Bethlehem family for 35 years until his death in May 1948.

History – Second Era

In 1949, Reverend Dr. Havard M. Chapman became the third pastor of Bethlehem. With “improvement” being Dr. Chapman’s watchword, the following occurred under his administration:

renovation and expansion of the physical plant including a Sunday School annex with offices and a choir room;
a large choir loft was constructed behind the pulpit including new seats and a large stained glass window;
stained glass windows were installed throughout the church;
new pews, pulpit furniture, a piano, an air conditioning unit, and an acoustic tile ceiling were installed;
a church steeple was erected;
the recreation building (the second church) was renovated;
the Flower Club was established;
the EverReady Chorus and The Rosebuds (currently the VIP’s) were organized;
the New Members Club (presently the Welcoming Lights), and the Helping Hand Club (presently the Willing Workers) were created.

Due to illness, Pastor Chapman was granted a leave of absence in 1973. When he could no longer fulfill his pastoral duties, Reverend Henry Chase and other associate ministers of Bethlehem stepped in and served us diligently fulfilling the duties of Pastor Chapman in his stead. During this time:

the Sunday School increased;
four deacons were ordained and added to the Deacon Board;
and in April 1973, a Sunday School singing group, The Stars of Bethlehem was organized.

In 1974 Pastor Chapman retired after having served the congregation for 25 years.

In January 1975, Bethlehem extended the call to Reverend James A. Kearse to become our fourth pastor. Under Reverend Kearse’s leadership:
A new parsonage was built
an 8:00 a.m. worship service was implemented;
a Bible Study and Witnessing Class were organized;
three new deacons were ordained and added to the Deacon Board; and
Several new auxiliaries were established:
The Deaconess Board
The Pastoral Choir
Baptist Training Union (BTU)
Nurses Unit

In 1984, Pastor Kearse resigned to go and assist his brother, Pastor Logan Kearse at the Cornerstone Church of God in Christ located in Baltimore, Maryland.

History – Third Era

In 1985, Bethlehem extended the call to Reverend William S. Wilson, Jr. to become
her fifth pastor. Under his leadership the church membership and Sunday School grew, the New Members Club was strengthened and the external grounds lighting was improved. Pastor Wilson also licensed several new ministers. He resigned in 1987.

Succeeding Reverend Wilson was Reverend Anthony A. Parrish, an associate minister, who served as our interim pastor in 1984. Reverend Parrish accepted the call as pastor in 1987. Under Pastor Parrish’s leadership:

several new ministers were ordained;
the Sunday School enrollment increased from 125 members to 450 members;
and the following were established:
a Family Ministry (Families United for Divine Change);
Stewardship Auxiliary; o a church newsletter was established;
The President’s Council was reorganized;
the Laymen’s League;
the Youth Ministry; and
a Director of Music was added.

In 1990, we broke ground for a new church building and in 1993 our current edifice was built. In 1994 Bethlehem took over responsibility for overseeing The Snowden Cemetery. Bethlehem also joined the Northern Virginia Aide Training and Baptist General Convention under Pastor Parrish’s leadership.

In 1996, Pastor Parrish resigned after having served the Bethlehem family for nine years. The church then elected one of her former pastors, the Reverend James A. Kearse to serve as interim pastor. Two years and 10 months later, the Lord answered the prayers of His people and sent to Bethlehem a Shepherd, a Teacher, a Pastor.

On June 24, 1999, Reverend Darrell K. White was elected as the seventh pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church. The Lord has equipped and empowered Pastor White to lead the congregation in kingdom work in this new millennium.

Soon after Pastor White’s arrival, we shred our mortgage (seven years after we obtained it) and we moved from the concept of auxiliaries and clubs to organized ministries such as:

Generational Ministries (Children, Youth, Young Adult, Middle Adult, Golden Years);
Intercessory Prayer;
Evangelism;
Deacon’s Kinfolking Ministry;
Barnabas Ministry (Ambassadors);
Bethlehem Institute of Lay Leadership (BILL);
Bethlehem Institute of Theological Studies (BITS);
Christian Education, inclusive of the Lay School, Sunday (Church) School, BTU, and Bible Study; and a
Technology Ministry.

Under Pastor White’s teachings, and as disciples of Christ, we have restructured our ministry umbrella to represent the following areas of ministry, which each ministry now operates from: Missions, Worship, Evangelism, Stewardship, and Christian Education. The spiritual growth of the congregation has birthed under Pastor White’s guidance:

ordination of Bethlehem’s first female Deacon;
five licentiate ministers were added to the ministry bringing the present total to 16 associate ministers; and
mid-week Bible Study attendance has grown to 250 disciples.

Always seeking ways to improve upon our praise and worship, our order of service was restructured. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Pastor White combined the four adult choirs of the church into one Mass Choir. Ever seeking to offer unto God Bethlehem’s best, the Music ministry has been further enhanced to include:

a Dance Ministry;
a Bell Choir; and
a Gospel Step Team.
Bethlehem’s presence has also increased in the community and state as well as in other parts of the world through:

audio and video technology (tapes) of Bethlehem’s services and the establishment of a church website;
a restructured food bank, which serves over 50 individuals/families each week; and
Virginia Union University’s Evans-Smith Leadership Training Institute now relocated back at Bethlehem with Pastor White serving as the Coordinator.

All of this has been done to increase our service to the community as we minister to God’s people. As Pastor White seeks to further equip himself for ministry we can only conclude that we are on our way to fulfill the “greater works than these” referenced by our Lord Jesus Christ in John 14:12.