HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 736 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled January 10, 2007 Commending St. Peter Baptist Church on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.  ---------- Patron-- McEachin ----------

WHEREAS, St. Peter Baptist Church in Glen Allen is recognized for its 125 years of outstanding service to its members and the Greater Richmond community; and

WHEREAS, St. Peter Baptist Church was established in 1882 by Peter Dickerson, Simon Jackson, and Abraham Starkes along with several other members of the Mount Olive Baptist Church who gathered together to organize a Sunday school; and

WHEREAS, John and Mary Clacker, a couple in Richmond who were impressed with the Christian work the fledgling church was performing in the community, donated land and the small congregation erected a one-room weatherboard building to house its meetings; and

WHEREAS, the Reverend Timothy Harris became the church’s first pastor and the congregation continued to grow in size and spirit, and several gifted ministers were called to lead the inspirational church in its early years including the Reverends Charles L. Brown, J. R. West, G. L. Rollings, W. H. Thomas, J. W. Kemp, and J. E. Fountain; and

WHEREAS, between 1922 and 1927, St. Peter Baptist Church was completely renovated as a stucco building with a large sanctuary, rostrum, and choir stand and modernized with electric lights and additional meeting rooms; and

WHEREAS, all of the spiritual leaders who have served St. Peter Baptist Church throughout its 125-year history have been immensely dedicated and able pastors who have provided visionary leadership, devout worship, meaningful Christian education, and enthusiastic ministry and community missions; and

WHEREAS, on August 12, 1961, the devoted congregation of St. Peter Baptist Church held a special service to dedicate its new beautiful church building, which ushered in a new era of service and worship in Glen Allen and the surrounding localities; and

WHEREAS, in 1985, the Reverend Dr. Kirkland R. Walton, an honor graduate who was one of the first graduates of the Virginia Union University School of Theology to receive a doctor of ministry degree, was called to lead St. Peter Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, under Pastor Walton’s spiritual guidance and visionary leadership, St. Peter Baptist Church has expanded its numerous outstanding missions and outreach programs, as well as added an educational wing, offices, and a child development center to the church complex; and

WHEREAS, throughout its long history, St. Peter Baptist Church has provided its devoted congregation, its neighbors, and the community a place to worship, to help others, and to grow in faith and service; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend St. Peter Baptist Church in Glen Allen on the occasion of its 125th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Reverend Dr. Kirkland R. Walton on behalf of the congregation of St. Peter Baptist Church as an expression of the General Assembly's best wishes for a joyful anniversary celebration and future success in its ministry.