Near Heathsville in Northumberland County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

First Baptist Church

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 4, 2021

1. First Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. First Baptist Church, the earliest African American Baptist congregation in Northumberland County, originated in 1866 when black members of Coan Baptist Church began holding worship services at the home of Alexander Day. They later worshiped at Howland Chapel School, built just northeast of here in 1867 with funding from New York-born educator, reformer, and philanthropist Emily Howland. Revivals were held under a nearby brush arbor. Led by the Rev. Daniel Payne, pastor for more than 30 years, the congregation erected its first sanctuary here in 1892. The present Gothic-Revival style sanctuary was completed in 1941 under the guidance of longtime pastor Rev. Henry C. Roane.

Erected 2016 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number O-74.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.

Location. 37° 52.238′ N, 76° 27.399′ W. Marker is near Heathsville, Virginia,

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in Northumberland County. It is on Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 201) just west of Knights Run Road ( Route 642), on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3585 Courthouse Rd, Heathsville VA 22473, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Northern Neck.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

in the Chesapeake Bay Region,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Holley-Graded School (approx. 3.1 miles away); The Small Fish that Made Reedville Rich (approx. 3.1 miles away); Hooray for Steamboats! / Meet Daisy / The Amazon of Its Day (approx. 3.2 miles away);

First Baptist Church Marker with the church visible in the background image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 4, 2021

2. First Baptist Church Marker with the church visible in the background

Necessity and the Mothers of Invention (approx. 3.2 miles away); The Stars Are Falling! The Stars Are Falling! (approx. 3.2 miles away); Who Invented the Crab Pot (approx. 3.2 miles away); Chesapeake Bay Watermen (approx. 3.2 miles away); The Long Road to Today's Library (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Heathsville.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 522 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 5, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.