{"id":62,"date":"2017-09-29T00:05:13","date_gmt":"2017-09-29T00:05:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/secondlibertybaptist.church\/?page_id=62"},"modified":"2020-06-06T19:05:37","modified_gmt":"2020-06-06T19:05:37","slug":"history-of-second-liberty-baptist","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/secondlibertybaptist.church\/about-us\/about-us\/history-of-second-liberty-baptist\/","title":{"rendered":"Our History"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The History of Second Liberty Baptist Church spans over several generations of Christian ministry. During these 140 years, we have persevered through obstacles and turmoil, but have stood fast, becoming a recognized, respected and resourceful presence in New Kent County.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1865 \u2013 1900<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/span>The inception of Second Liberty Baptist Church dates back to 1866, two years before the 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution legally abolished slavery. During this time, Blacks who lived in the St. Peters\u2019 District of New Kent were required to worship at Emmaus Baptist Church. Blacks were restricted to the balcony, which was common at that time. Our journey actually begins in 1865 when, some of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the Black members listed on Emmaus\u2019 church roll and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>others<\/span><\/span>\u00a0who had moved from Charles City County, started a house to house prayer band. The prayer band grew so large that it could not accommodate everyone. One of the members, Fielding Lewis, donated his property so that a brush arbor could be built and used for worship. Later, William Crump, a member of Emmaus Baptist Church and owner of Crumps\u2019 Mill, donated the timber from which logs were hewn to build the church. <\/span><\/span>
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Rev. William Harvey Patterson, who had been a recognized leader among the Black members of Emmaus, was in the forefront of the movement to organize a new church. Under his leadership in 1866, Rev. James Parkinson and Rev. James Barnes of Emmaus, representatives from Elam Baptist Church in Charles City County and other unnamed representatives formed the council that formally recognized Second Liberty as an independent church. In considering a name for this newly recognized church, the first named that appealed to the members was \u201cLiberty,\u201d since they had indeed received their freedom in more ways than one. However, since a pr<\/span><\/span>edominantly White church at\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Disa<\/span><\/span>cund<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Bridge was already named Liberty, the members chose Second Liberty Baptist Church. And thus, a church was born.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The first seven deacons ordained were Nathaniel Banks, William H.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Brisby<\/span><\/span>, Fielding Lewis, Henry Harrison, David Meredith, Warren\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Winfree<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and Andrew H. Cumber. Andrew H. Cumber later our third pastor. William H.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Brisby<\/span><\/span>\u00a0was also one of three original trustees and was the first church clerk. He served in the Virginia General Assembly from 1869 \u2013 1871 and was also elected as Justice of the Peace for New Kent County. The other two original trustees were Fielding A. Lewis and Warren\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Winfree<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership over Second Liberty begins with the first two pastors, Rev. J.W. Collins and Rev. Thomas Bailey. Together, they served a total of nine consecutive years.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

After their respective tenures, Second Liberty called<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Dr. Andrew Harvey Cumber<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to be her third pastor. By the end of the century, Dr. Cumber had served over thirty of his thirty-eight year tenure, the second longest pastorate. Dr. Cumber was the first professionally trained Black minister in New Kent County. Dr. Cumber was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree from the Richmond Theological Institute, now known as Virginia Union University\u2019s School of Theology.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1901 – 1928<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/span>Succeeding Dr. Cumber was our fourth pastor, Rev. William H. Gray, a theological student at Virginia Union University. Rev. Gray was the grandfather of U.S. Congressman William H. Gray, who went on to head the United Negro College Fund. In 1915, our fifth pastor,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Dr. John Kemp<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>was called to lead this great body of Zion. Dr. Kemp, known for being a great singer, preacher and prayer warrior, was also a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>visionary. Under his leadership, funds were raised to construct a new church edifice. Dr. Kemp pastured both Second Liberty and Elam Baptist Church in Charles City at the same time. In 1921, God led Dr. Kemp to become pastor of Parrish Hill Baptist Church in Charles City County.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Miles Mark Fisher,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Hoyt Professor of Church History at Virginia Union University, was elected as our sixth pastor in 1922. The new church edifice was completed under his administration. Dr. Fisher received international recognition as author of the book Negro Slave Songs in the United States. Like Dr. Kemp, Dr. Fisher also pastured Second Liberty and Elam simultaneously. Dr. Fisher served from 1922 to 1928.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1928 \u2013 1971<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/span>On September 16, 1928, a theological student in his middle year at Virginia Union University accepted the call to become our seventh pastor. This student had, however, also accepted the call to pastor Elam Baptist Church in July of that same year. He decided to pastor both. That theological student was<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Dr. George W. Watkins. Dr. Watkins pastured Second Liberty for 43 years,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the longest in this church\u2019s history. Under\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Dr<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Watkins\u2019 administration, the first Deaconess Board was organized on March 21, 1937.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the<\/span><\/span>\u00a0first three Deaconesses appointed were Sisters Louise Christian, Julia Lewis and Thelma J. Watkins. Also under his pastorate, Rev. Bennie Crump, Jr. \u2013 a son of the church \u2013 was licensed to preach the gospel. As membership increased, Dr. Watkins saw fit to improve our facilities. In 1944, a choir loft, choir room, pastor\u2019s study, basement and men\u2019s and women\u2019s bathrooms were added.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

During Dr. Watkins\u2019 pastorate, members of the church were encouraged to accept positions of leadership throughout the community. As a result, members of Second Liberty served on the local school board, planning commission, board of supervisors, and numerous civic and religious organizations. Of significant importance is the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision of 1964 that resulted in Freedom of Choice in education for all students throughout the United States. The lead plaintiffs, Dr. Calvin C. Green and his son, Conrad, were members of Second Liberty. All of the other plaintiffs were either\u00a0<\/span><\/span>members<\/span><\/span>\u00a0of Second Liberty or former students of Dr. Watkins. Dr. Watkins himself served on the New Kent Planning Commission and was a board member of the Charles City-New Kent Community Action Agency. Because of his hard work in the community, in 1988, Rev. Milton A. Hathaway, then president of the New Kent Civic League, was successful in petitioning the county to change the name of the road on which Dr. Watkins lived, taught and pastured to George W. Watkins Road. Dr. Watkins organized the first Black high school in the county and served as its principal. To commemorate his legacy, the New Kent School Board named the school The George W. Watkins Elementary School. God called Dr. Watkins home in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>1972, but his legacy continues to live on in the hearts and lives of all who knew him and loved him.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1972 \u2013 2004<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/span>On February 18, 1973, an assistant to Dr. Watkins, was called to be Second Liberty\u2019s eighth pastor. That assistant was Rev. James W. Mills, a graduate of the School of Theology at Virginia Union University. He served for 17 \u00bd years. Rev. Mills helped organize the Baptist Ministers\u2019 Union of New Kent and Vicinity. Under Rev. Mills\u2019 administration, Rev. Frank Christian, Sr., Rev. Diane Dixon-Proctor, Rev. Milton A. Hathaway and Rev. Nathaniel T. Lewis were licensed to preach. When his pastorate ended, a son of the church, Rev. Nathaniel Todd Lewis, became the Interim Pastor. Rev. Lewis reconstructed existing ministries and added new ones to empower God\u2019s people to do God\u2019s work. He started training classes and also hired our first Minister of Music. The church\u2019s constitution was also re-written, Family and Friends\u2019 Day was reinstated and Praise Service\/Bible Study were established.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

On May 17, 1991, Second Liberty called<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Rev. Milton Arnold Hathaway<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to be her ninth pastor. He had served as an assistant to Rev. Mills before being called to the pastorate of Union Hope Baptist Church in King William, Virginia. Rev. Hathaway began his pastorate by cultivating the rich and influential history of the church, which he continued to do until his tenure ended in early 2004. Under his administration, the following ministers were licensed to preach the gospel: Rev. Angela Bartlett, Rev. Kenneth Brown, Rev. Cynthia Gaines and Rev. Barbara Taylor. Rev. Hathaway licensed and ordained Rev. Audrey P. Christian and Rev. Olivia Robinson, and ordained Rev.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Zynora<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Manson. Like Dr. Watkins, Rev. Hathaway served on the New Kent Planning Commission and sought to gain equality for Blacks in New Kent County. Rev. Hathaway helped organize a non-profit agency called the New Kent Community Development Corporation. Second Liberty still serves as the site for alternative education serves for students in New Kent County.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2005-2013<\/b><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
In February of 2006, Second Liberty called Rev. Lewis R. Yancey II to be its tenth pastor. Rev. Yancey was installed on the evel of the church’s 140th anniversary. With his guidance, Second Liberty embraced the vision to build and believers in the vision established pledges and plans that would lead to increasing the church’s building fund.<\/div>\n
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During the seven year tenure of Rev. Yancey, Genesis Church was established as full service worship and teaching for youth. The In-Christ Ministries engaged with focus on reaching the community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ with outreach, teaching, and love. Rev. Joy Middleton Taylor was licensed and ordained under the leadership of Rev. Yancey and was installed as the Assistant Pastor in 2009. The Diaconate Ministry grew and evolved historically ordaining women as deacons on April 7, 2012. Deacon Yvonne Jones, Deacon Patricia Paige, and Deacon Clarice Williams were ordained before a public panel and voted in by the church.<\/div>\n
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In July of 2013, Rev. Yancey tendered his resignation to Second Liberty.<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n
2013 – Present
\n<\/b><\/div>\n
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During the absence of a pastor, Second Liberty was not without a leader to guide us, counsel us, pray with us and for us. Rev. Joy Middleton Taylor took the spiritual reins as the Interim Pastor for two years. This woman of God provided for regular and consistent preaching each Sunday where she fed the congregation with the Words of God. Rev. Joy continued meeting with the various ministries and worked towards advancing the mission and vision of the church. She brought interesting conversations, discussions, and readings that made for engaging Bible studies. We are grateful for how she gave of herself to lead and guide the congregation on our spiritual journey.<\/div>\n
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On June 18, 2015 Rev. Sean T. Young was voted in as Pastor-Elect of this great Church. Following his confirmation, Rev. Young became Second Liberty’s eleventh pastor. Rev. Young describes himself as a servant leader, whose ethical principles are Do No Harm and Lead with Love. He walks in the path of those great men and women who came before him and we lift our voices to God for His continued guidance, grace, and mercy as Rev. Young ministers to the people of God.<\/div>\n
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During the twenty-first century, the Second Liberty Baptist Church family has been equipping, evangelizing, and empowering saints to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are transcending into a Church that seeks to grow exponentially and spiritually. We will never forget our humble beginnings. We treasure our rich heritage and stand on the shoulders of those who fought, prayed, and sacrificed so that we might be named Second Liberty. We are excited to see what God has in store for us! We know that the same God that blessed and kept our beloved ancestors who had the vision to create this branch of Zion will bless and keep us for years and years to come.<\/div>\n

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The History of Second Liberty Baptist Church spans over several generations of Christian ministry. During these 140 years, we have persevered through obstacles and turmoil, but have stood fast, becoming a recognized, respected and resourceful presence in New Kent County. 1865 \u2013 1900 The inception of Second Liberty Baptist Church dates back to 1866, two … Continue reading Our History<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-62","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/secondlibertybaptist.church\/about-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/62","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/secondlibertybaptist.church\/about-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/secondlibertybaptist.church\/about-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/secondlibertybaptist.church\/about-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/secondlibertybaptist.church\/about-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/secondlibertybaptist.church\/about-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/62\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":995,"href":"https:\/\/secondlibertybaptist.church\/about-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/62\/revisions\/995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/secondlibertybaptist.church\/about-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}