Beulah Baptist Church

Here follows the inscription written on a nearby historical marker:

Beulah Baptist Church
African Americans escaping slavery found refuge in Alexandria after Union troops occupied the city in 1861. The Rev. Clement “Clem” Robinson established the First Select Colored School in 1862. Hundreds of students registered for day and evening classes and for courses at the associated Beulah Normal and Theological Institute. In Oct. 1863, Robinson organized Beulah Baptist Church, the first African American church founded in Alexandria after Union occupation. The congregation constructed its brick sanctuary here on the edge of the African American neighborhood known as The Bottoms. The school then moved to this site, and education remained central to Beulah’s mission.


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Here follows an excerpt from the Clio Foundation website about Beulah Baptist Church as written by Zack Rakes:

Introduction
The Beulah Baptist Church is a historic Baptist church in Alexandria, Virginia. Built in 1863, the Beulah Baptist Church served as Alexandria’s first African American church after the occupation of the city by the Union army in 1861. Additionally, it was a center of theological education as well as a pioneer for African American education in Alexandria. On June 17th, 1986, it was designated on the Virginia Landmark Register, and on November 6th, 1986, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Backstory and Context
During the American Civil War, many African Americans fled from Southern states in order to gain freedom by heading north. One hot spot for African Americans during this time was Alexandria, Virginia, though as part of Virginia, laws were in place that prohibited the education of African Americans. With the influx of Southern African Americans coming to Alexandria, Black residents of Alexandria banded together to give much-needed social services to these refugees. Reverend Clem Robinson and others started a school for the incoming Blacks in the city in 1862, the First Select Colored School. A year later, Robinson would found the Beulah Baptist Church, which hosted classes for the Colored School. The church was confiscated during the war, and following the end of the war, it was returned upon payment of fees.

As the school at the church gained more steam and support, education was eventually provided without any tuition or educational fees of any kind. Once desegregation was passed, Alexandria founded its public school system in 1870, and Robinson retired in 1875, the school at Beulah Baptist Church closed down. Despite the closure of the school, Beulah Baptist Church would continue to provide educational and religious opportunities for willing, open minds, and this has continued to the present day. On June 17th, 1986, it was designated on the Virginia Landmark Register, and on November 6th, 1986, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.


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Here follows an excerpt from Beulah Baptist Church's website:

Beulah’s Historic Timeline

During the Civil War, the Union Army occupied the City of Alexandria to prevent the Confederate Army from having a route into Washington, D.C., the capital. Since the Union Army was not in the slave trade, Alexandria became a haven for runaway slaves (then referred to as contraband). These contraband, along with captured Confederate soldiers, were housed in the old slave pen area at 1315 Duke Street.

FOUNDING OF BEULAH:
Beulah Baptist Church was the first church founded in Alexandria during the Civil War after Union occupation of the city in 1861. Beulah’s history is significant to Alexandria’s Black community in that the church played a role in educating the City’s first contraband Blacks. Before the Civil War, Virginia law forbade educating “coloreds”. However, during the Civil War, the Union authorities encouraged their education and God sent a freeman, Reverend Clement “Clem” Robinson to take on the task. Hence, the church became the primary source for educating coloreds throughout Alexandria, Virginia.

BEULAH'S FIRST PASTOR AND FOUNDER:
Reverend Clem Robinson, a noted “scholar,” a “Christian gentleman,” and “an able colored Baptist clergyman” was born in Brunswick, Virginia. He grew up with no recollection of his parents but, through the providence of God, migrated to Pennsylvania where he received both a college and theology degree from Ashman Institute in Pennsylvania (known today as Lincoln University). Though he began his distinguished teaching career in Philadelphia, Reverend Clem yearned to return to his native state Virginia, but conditions were not conducive for him to return to Brunswick. Nonetheless, as God had destined, he received the clarion call to go and to settle in Alexandria after the Union occupation.

On January 1, 1862, Reverend Clem Robinson, along with his wife, Ms. Amanda Bowden (Borden) organized the “First Select Colored School” that was on the future site of Beulah Baptist Church for contrabands – a school that was operated and managed completely by the colored people of Alexandria.

THE FIRST SELECT COLORED SCHOOL:
“The First Select Colored School” served over 700 students in its first year. The schools, which included a night school for adults and a Normal and Theological Institute for those with some education, preceded the federal schools set up by the Freedman’s Bureau by many months.

The Beulah Baptist Church was founded the next year, 1863, and remains a vital African American congregation to this day.

In the founding days, Rev. Clem Robinson also taught upper-level students at the “Beulah Normal and Theological Institute,” met at the church and had over 80 students in the first few years. The aim was to educate future teachers and preachers for the Black community, both men, and women. The school placed over 30 missionaries and educators into the field in the first few years.

This pioneering effort preceded any other Black Normal and Theological Institute during the Reconstruction period, including Wayland Seminary (later Virginia Union, 1865), Fisk University (1866), Morehouse College (1867), Howard University (1867), the Hampton Institute (1868), and Spelman College (1881).

Much of the financial aid and support was given by the Free Baptist Mission Society of New York and the American Baptist Home Missionary Society. Located on the southern edge of the historic African American neighborhood known as “The Bottoms,” or “The Berg,” (named after Petersburg) this wet, marshy location on the southern outskirts of downtown became one of the city’s first black neighborhoods.

The First Select Colored School pioneers along with Rev. Clem Robinson were George Seaton, George W Simms, Charles Watson, Anthony S. Perpener, George W Bryant, Hannibal King, George P. Douglas, John Davis, J. McKinney Ware, James Pipe, and Reverend George Washington Parker. They were all free “people of color” African Americans of Alexandria, Virginia.

Reverend George Washington Parker was not only a trustee of “The First Select Colored School,” but he was also a teacher. Reverend Parker with the other trustees was involved in several land deeds in 1865 – 1867 that resulted in land acquisition for the “Third Baptist Church”. He was a teacher and a minister for former slaves during the Civil War. The former slaves became the early members of “Third Baptist Church”. He became the pastor at “Third Baptist Church” from 1863 – 1875. Rev. George Parker also holds the distinction of being the first African American in 1870 to serve on the Alexandria City Council. He owned the Empire House Hotel, located on King Street between Payne and Fayette Streets.

Reverends Clem Robinson and George Parker assisted in the efforts of other pioneers for Black education in Alexandria, like Harriet Jacobs and Julia Wilbur. Rev. Robinson’s school remained in place until 1870, when Alexandria opened its public-school system. The church was also the first black church founded in Alexandria after its Union occupation in 1861.

From its inception, Beulah Baptist Church focused on providing religious and educational services to black residents, including the massive swell of contrabands that fled from Petersburg and slaves who were subsequently freed after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln were taught at this school.

THE CHURCH BEULAH:
As an outgrowth of this school, and in the next year on October 19, 1863, Reverend Clem Robinson organized the Beulah Baptist Church and became its first Pastor. He and Mr. Dye Carter purchased a city lot and constructed the church on 320 South Washington Street.

The founding members were Brothers Edward Carter, Peter Fox, John Clarke, Brother H.L. Harris (who served as Clerk), Reverend Peter Austin, Deacon John and Sister Ballad, Deacons William and Shadrack Jackson, Brother and Sister Randolph, Reverend L. Brooks, Brother William and Sister Victoria Green, Brother Thomas and Sister Maria Lewis, Deacon Henry and Sister Henrietta Williams, Sister Sarah Smith, Sister Annie Winters and Reverend George Washington Parker, a teacher and leader of the First Select Colored School who founded Third Baptist Church, Alexandria.VA from 1863-1875 and was the first African American on the Alexandria City Council during Reconstruction.

It was a proud time for the Beulah Baptist Church. However, that proud time would soon be brought to a halt.

As the Civil War continued the property and the church building was confiscated by the government and returned to the former owners. The church nonetheless was determined not to be defeated; grew and prospered instead and, on July 2, 1877, Reverend Clem Robinson and the officers repurchased the land. Thirteen years later the property was back into the hands of the Beulah Baptist Church. Beulah continued growing and housing the church, a regular day school, an evening school, and a normal and theological school connected to the rear and in the church’s basement. Thousands were educated and ten were ordained as preachers and sent out to minister the Word of God.

Reverend Clem Robinson served for twelve years and his pastorate was ended in 1875. From 1875 to 2017, twelve other men would take the helm as pastor of the Beulah Baptist Church.

From 1875 through the end of the 19th century were:
Reverend H. Clay Robinson (1875-1877)
Reverend Henry Bailey (1878-1886) (former Pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church, Washington D.C.)
Reverend L. C. Scheoff (1886-1887)
Reverend Daniel Morris (1887-1895)
Reverend William Johnson (1896-1902)

Beulah: Into the 20th Century
With the onset of the 20th century, there was a swift increase in membership, building improvements and ministry programs.

Reverend N. T. Moore served for 12 years (1904-1916).

Reverend C. P. Comer (1918-1919) served only one year but organized the first Deaconess Board with Ms. Hannah Lee as Chairlady.

Under Reverend Theodore Cooke (1920-1923), the back of the church was rebuilt, the first electric lighting system was installed, a Hook and Hastings pipe organ was installed, given to Beulah by the Christ Church, Episcopal Alexandria, VA where President George Washington attended. The Hook and Hastings pipe organ is still at the church today.

Reverend B. F. Moss (1924-1930) instituted the first organized system of giving with envelopes.

Reverend Albert Thornton (1931-1953) served for 22 years adding more auxiliaries as well as making more building improvements. Among the auxiliaries organized under his leadership was the Goodwill Men’s Club and the Willing Workers Club. In 1949, the wall on the north side of the church was damaged; however, while in the midst of repairing it the south wall fell. Both repairs were completed with the financial assistance of members of the Deacon Board, Deaconess Board, Trustee Board, Willing Workers Club, Usher Board, the Church Aid Club, and the Ever Ready Sick Club. Having to move out for repairs, worship services were initially held at the Elk’s Home and later at the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Other church programs were held at the First Baptist Church and Third Baptist Church until the basement of the church was reopened in September 1950. The sanctuary was completed in November 1950 and a “Rebuilding Stone” was laid by the Alexandria Lodge No. 48, I.B.P.O.E.W. Reverend Thornton became seriously ill shortly after their return to the church. Reverend N. Howard Stanton of the Nazareth Baptist Church (Orange, VA) was elected to assist with the preaching on the Second and Fourth Sundays of each month.

After the passing of Reverend Thornton, Reverend William H. Brown (1954-1960) served for six years until his passing. The longest-tenured pastor of the church was Rev. Dr. Columbus Watson (1961-2017) who is now our highly esteemed Pastor Emeritus. Reverend Dr. Watson ushered the church into the 21st century serving the church for 58 years (56 years as Pastor) until his retirement on September 30, 2017, and the passing of the baton to his well-able successor, Reverend Professor Quardricos Bernard Driskell, the 14th Pastor of Beulah Baptist Church.

Because of Beulah’s rich history and contributions to the education of “coloreds” in Alexandria, the church is included as part of the tour of the city, including but not limited to, listings in the United States Congressional Record, the National Register of Historic Places, the Virginia State Register, the Alexandria Black History Hall of Fame, sited with a Virginia Historical Marker, etc. Since its founding, Beulah is still located on the very site of its founding South Washington Street serving as a house of worship and school of education.