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

Zion Poplars Baptist Church

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 25, 2010

1. Zion Poplars Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. Zion Poplars Baptist Church houses one of the oldest independent African-American congregations in Gloucester County. It is named for seven united poplar trees under which the founding members first met for worship in 1866. The church was erected one and a half miles to the south in 1894 in the Gothic Revival architectural style, with both Victorian and classical detailing. During the 1930s the church was moved 110 feet because of road construction. The interior exhibits the creative craftsmanship of Frank Braxton, a former slave. The church was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Reources. (Marker Number NW-16.)

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 1866.

Location. 37° 24.419′ N, 76° 31.792′ W. Marker is in Gloucester, Virginia, in Gloucester County. It is on George Washington Memorial Highway (U.S. 17) 0.8 miles south of Belroi Road (Virginia Route 616), on the right when traveling south. 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 walking distance of this marker: Pvt. James Daniel Gardner (approx. half a mile away); Gloucester in the Civil War (approx. half a mile away); To the Confederate Dead of Gloucester (approx. half a mile away); Court House (approx. half a mile away); In Memoriam John Clayton (approx. half a mile away); Boutetourt #7 A.F. & A.M. Lodge (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named In Memoriam John Clayton (approx. 0.6 miles away); Gloucester Courthouse (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gloucester.

Also see . . . Zion Poplars Baptist Church. National Register of Historic Places (Submitted on August 4, 2010.)

US-17 (facing south) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 25, 2010

2. US-17 (facing south)

Zion Poplars Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, July 31, 2010

3. Zion Poplars Baptist Church

Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,242 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 25, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on August 4, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.