Poplar Springs Baptist Church

Poplar Springs Baptist Church. . , On this site our church building was destroyed by fire on January 13, 2004. The brick and cornerstone used to build this monument was all that was left., Poplar Springs Baptist Church has not always been known by this name., In 1910 several Slovak families from Czechoslovakia moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia. In their desire to continue Sunday worship, they held services in the homes of the Stefan Ukrop family, the Juraj Ukrop family and the Jan Chudy family., In 1912 the group became a Baptist mission. Financial support was received from the Virginia Baptist State Mission Board., On March 30, 1913 the mission voted to become the First Slovak Baptist Church., Stefan Ukrop, Juraj [George] Ukrop, and Jan [John] Chudy gave 3 acres of land to build a church. The first frame church was constructed and dedicated in November of 1914., In 1932 the name was changed to Poplar Springs Slovak Baptist Church. This name was inspired by the Poplar Springs Railroad Station that was nearby and active at the time the church was organized., In 1938 some of the services for the first time were conducted in English. By the mid 1940's services were conducted both in Slovak and English. In 1950 the name of the church was changed to Poplar Springs Baptist Church., Membership grew. Construction began on a new church building in 1951 immediately behind the old building, which was removed when the new structure was completed. A dedication service was held on March 23, 1952 for the new brick structure of Poplar Springs Baptist Church., Membership continued to grow and the church expanded in many areas. The sanctuary was enlarged; the educational wing was added (1956): a pastorium was built (1966), and a preschool building was built (1978)., Poplar Springs Baptist Church has always been a mission minded church. We support missions and missionaries: we have helped establish two churches, and we have a residence to provide temporary housing for foreign missionaries., The dedicated Christian work of Poplar Springs Baptist Church did not end with the burning of our church building. We continue to minister in the Christian Life Center (built 1994) and in the future plan to rebuild on the site located just east of this memorial., Charter members: Mr. and Mrs. Stefan Ukrop, Mr. and Mrs. Juraj Ukrop,Mr. and Mrs. Jan Chudy, Mr. and Mrs. Jan Boris, Mrs. Anna Valachova, Mr. and Mrs. Juraj Zelinsky, Mr. and Mrs. Michal Dovala, Mr. and Mrs. Stefan Slosjarik, Mrs. Zuza Meget, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Gregor, Miss Mary Sochar, Miss Annie Ukrop, Mr. and Mrs. Stefan Figuli; daughters, Pauline and Margaret, Rev. and Mrs. Andrew Slabey, Sr.