Second Baptist Church History

The Second Baptist Church East End was organized during the first week in May 1910, with the following persons as the charter members:

Mr. Daniel Peters, Mesdames A.B. Lucy, Rebecca Vaughan, and Minnie Jones.

The first worship service was held the second Sunday in May at the Odd Fellows Hall in the eleven hundred block of Thirty Third Street with Reverend J.E. Tynes, then pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, North Newport News, as guest speaker. The first pastor elected to serve the church was Reverend H.H. McLean of Connecticut. Each Sunday new members were added to this small band of Christian workers. Among the first to join were:

Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Powell, Mr. and Mrs. K. W. Hicks, Mr. Ernest Robinson, Mr. Washington Jones, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Hicks, Mr. and Mrs. T.D. Bradby, Mr. E. B. Tweedy and Mr. Selden Griffin.

The church membership increased so rapidly that it became necessary to build a place of permanent worship.

On the site that our church now stands was a dwelling house and a store. This property was purchased at the cost of $1,435.00. The trustees found it necessary to borrow $300.00 for the down payment and in a very short time this building was begun. The women of the church busied themselves to raise money through entertainment, church socials, programs, bazaars, etc. to help pay off the indebtedness. In the meantime, the Choir, Deacon Board, Trustees Board, Sunday School, Baptist Young People Union (B.Y.P.U.), and Willing Workers Club were organized.

On Easter Sunday morning 1911, not quite twelve months after we started, we were very happy to be permitted by our Heavenly Father to worship in our new building. We enjoyed a wonderful Easter sermon by our pastor and beautiful Easter music sung by the choir. During the month of July 1911, T.D. Bradby and J.W. Davis were appointed deacons. The next month, Brother Peter Vaughan was offered as deacon, having come to us from Macedonia Baptist Church where he served several years. October 1911, Brother T.D. Bradby and Brother J.W. Davis were ordained. Brother Bradby was Church Clerk and Brother Davis was Chairman of the Deacon Board.

When Reverend McLean resigned, we called Reverend T. A. Brown who served only twelve months. Reverend W. S. Sharp was then called and served about eight years. During his administration the mortgage was burned leaving the church clear of debt.

Our next pastor was the Reverend A. A. Watts, a student of Virginia Union University who preached his first sermon the first Sunday in February 1922.

Under Reverend Watts' pastorate, a large fire room was built, a new roof was put on the building; the Missionaries purchased stained windows for the sides and back of the building to correspond with the front. The Magnolia Club, a club composed of young women of the church, organized by the pastor, put in new chandeliers. The Young Men's Club and Ushers had the interior painted, and the missionaries and Magnolia Club bought new carpet for the church. A new heating plant was installed at a cost of more than two thousand dollars. After helping to accomplish these goals, Reverend Watts left Second Baptist to become a pastor in Patterson, New Jersey.

In August 1926, the Reverend O. B. Allen became pastor of Second Baptist Church, During his pastorate, we purchased a parsonage that was nicely renovated at a great expense. While he was pastor, two of our strong deacons, Brothers T. D. Bradby and James T. Hill passed away. They were greatly missed. Reverend Allen left September 1935. While we were without a pastor, the baptismal pool was installed; Caps and gowns were purchased for the choir and hymnals for the church.

In September 1936, Reverend John Tilley became our pastor. Under his care, the church boasted a very efficient Trustee Board, Usher Broad, First Senior Choir, Junior Choir, Gospel Chorus, Missionary Circle, Willing Alters Club, Dorcas Club, Lend a Hand Club, and Pastor Aid. Our Youth were being trained in our Sunday School Baptist Training Union, Junior Missionary Circle and Daily Vacation Bible School.

Reverend L.A. Williams became pastor in June 1940, and remained for three years.

In July 1944, our congregation welcomed Reverend E. D. Harrell as pastor. During his administration, a basement and annex consisting of four rooms were added to the old building at a cost of approximately $14,000.00. Later, two choir stands were erected making it possible for two choirs to serve at the same time.

Reverend O. L. Simms whose pastorate extended from 1952 to 1956 succeeded Reverend Harrell. Under his leadership, the idea of building a new edifice was conceived. Other accomplishments included the purchase of a new parsonage, the installing of an organ, and the establishment of the Deaconess Board. John Vaughan, Clause N. Carter, and Victor Siler became Deacons during Reverend Simms four-year period, and W. Hale Thompson and L. P. Borman became trustees.

Reverend Preston T. Hayes accepted the pastorate of the church in July 1956. Organizations and ministries which came into fulfillment under Reverend Hayes were: The Laymen Fellowship, the Women's Prayer Breakfast, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Blind and Deaf Ministries, Early Morning Worship Services, Cathedral Choir, Therapy Center, Compassionate Listeners, Dial-A-Prayer, Professional Pastoral Counseling, a Board of Christian Education, a Men’s Chorus, Harry Johnson Bible Class, Evans-Smith School of Theology, and a Wednesday Morning and Evening Bible Class. During his ministry, Reverend Hayes was president of the Baptist General Convention from 1977 through 1979. During his tenure, the Division of Men was formed.

Upon the passing of Reverend Hayes, Deacon Charlie Wilson was elected Acting Church Administrator of the church. Under Deacon Wilson's leadership, the Dedication of the Preston T. Hayes Center for Christian Education was realized, the Junior Missionaries were organized, the Mentoring Program began, and the Computer Lab was established.

After months of search, the membership of Second Baptist Church East End elected Reverend Avery E. Miller as pastor. Pastor Miller began his pastorate on March 21, 2004. The membership looks toward the future with a greater determination to serve as an instrument of God's will in the community.

Eleven ministers have served our church to date. They include: Reverend H. H. McLean, Reverend T. A. Brown, Reverend W. S. Sharp, Reverend A. A. Watts, Reverend O. B. Allen, Reverend John Tilley, Reverend L. A. Williams, Reverend E. D. Harrell, Reverend O. L. Simms, Reverend Preston T. Hayes and Reverend Avery E. Miller.