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

Bethel Baptist Church

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 25, 2010

1. Bethel Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. Bethel Baptist Church is one of the oldest African American congregations in Gloucester County. Founded nearby in 1867, it was originally known as the Old Sassafras Stage Church. Members of the congregation built a wooden structure here in 1889, which is the core of the present building. George W. Leigh and Thomas C. Walker, Sr., father of Thomas C. Walker, Jr., served as chairmen of the building committee. During the later years of the 19th century five other churches were organized from this congregation. Thomas C. Walker, Jr. (1862-1953), the first black lawyer in Gloucester County, is buried in the adjoining church cemetery.

Erected 2001 by Department of Historic Reources. (Marker Number NW-20.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • 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 1867.

Location. 37° 24.606′ N, 76° 36.489′ W. Marker is near Gloucester, Virginia, in Gloucester County. It is on Hickory Fork Road (Virginia Route 614) 0.2 miles west of Ark Road (Route 606), on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gloucester VA 23061, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Middle Peninsula

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

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.

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At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Walter Reed Birthplace (approx. 1.9 miles away); a different marker also named Walter Reed Birthplace (approx. 1.9 miles away); Gloucester Agricultural and Industrial School (approx. 2.1 miles away); Cappahosic (approx. 2.4 miles away); Marlfield (approx. 3 miles away); Poplar Spring Church (approx. 3.7 miles away); a different marker also named Poplar Spring Church (approx. 3.7 miles away); Indian Princess Pocahontas (approx. 3.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gloucester.

Also see . . . Bethel Baptist Church. (Submitted on April 25, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Hickory Fork Rd (facing west) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 25, 2010

2. Hickory Fork Rd (facing west)

Bethel Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 25, 2010

3. Bethel Baptist Church

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,661 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 25, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.