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The history
of the Seven Pines Baptist Church is a long and cherished one. These are but a few highlights.
In May of 1872, the Seven
Pines Baptist church was founded on a spot between the Southern Railroads and Williamsburg Road under a tree that was struck
by lightning, thus giving it the name the "Lightning Tree". At that time our forefathers put brush around this tree for shelter.
This tree stood until Sandston expanded itself and the tree was removed. This tree stood as a "Beacon Light" at the fork of
the road that led people to Sandston and the former Seven Pines Baptist church on Williamsburg Road.
A log cabin church
was built, and then a frame church was constructed on the site in 1874. The old frame church was demolished; a new church
was erected on its site. The new church, the most beautiful edifice in Henrico county at the time was dedicated on November
14, 1926.
Following the Pastorate of Ernest Dickerson the church made great progress under the leadership of our beloved
pastor Thomas Collins. The progress ceased in 1937 when the building was destroyed by fire. This church, being like the new
testament church, not only had things in common. They were together not like a bunch of isolated marbles that made noise and
scattered in all directions; but like a cluster of grapes, that when the winepress of persecution came squeezing down on them,
this close body of believers bled together. Out of our painful crushing experience came the sweet wine of fellowship. We might
define Fellowship as expressions of genuine Christianity freely shared among God's people.
With a lot of praying, seeking,
and a perhaps a lot of sleepless night; we are worshiping in the present building. This was dedicated in 1947
On September
11,1960 James Linwood Carter was installed as the fifteenth pastor of the church
In 1991 we received our first associate
pastor E.Thomas Webster.
In 1996 we ordained our first female Deacon, Joyce Mason.
On Sunday August 10, 1997 out of
necessity the children's church was formed by the late Cheryl M. Wilkerson and became a regular part of our
morning worship.
On Sunday September 21, 1997 we held our first outdoor service, which is an annual event we look forward
to every year.
We would be remised if we did not thank the late Mr. Arthur Brown for this history whom gave the church
history orally every year until his death in 1963.
After 41 Years
of Service Our Beloved Pastor Rev. James L. Carter retired in December Of 2001.
On April 27,
2004 our two-year search for a new under Shepard came to an end as we elected Rev. Marlon A. Haskell as our pastor elect.
Our motto
was "The straight church in the bend of the highway where everybody is a somebody." But due to physical changes beyond the
churches control it was changed to "the Alpha church At the Omega of the highway where everybody is still a somebody."
Written by Magdalene Brown
Edited by Garland R. Sorrell |
