Mount Vernon Baptist Church
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Mount Vernon Baptist Church was built in 1909-10. The original building was a red brick sanctuary which still exists. As years went on, additions were made, such as expansion to the sanctuary in 1947 and creation of the fellowship hall in 1973.
Images
Mt. Vernon Baptist Church as it appears today.
This church replaced the original barn.
the second church
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
The original congregation of Mount Vernon Baptist Church was established in the summer of 1843 by several people fomo the Mount Salem Baptist Church and Union Baptist Church. The founding pastor of the original congregation was Reverend James Mitchell, and the earliest gathering of the church was held in a log barn until 1859 when the barn was torn down and a new building replaced it for the next fifty years.
In 1909, a new pastor named Reverend J. F. Cook built a new little red brick church which remains the modern day sanctuary to the church. In 1917, space was added for the choir and baptism pool in the sanctuary. It would not be until 1947 when the first major addition to the church came about and included Sunday school classrooms, restrooms, a kitchen, and basement.
In 1956, construction of a two-story addition behind the original sanctuary provided more space for Sunday school classrooms and a nursery. Then in 1973, the congregation agreed to begin the third and largest expansion at the time. It provided the current fellowship hall, which is used for many church events. In 1999, groundbreaking occurred for expansion, with members of the church with the longest tenure being the first to begin the project.
In May 2009 a new sanctuary was constructed due to the increasing population of the church. Ambitions to renovate the existing sanctuary were planned for 2010, marking the 100th anniversary of the historic sanctuary. The newly completed sanctuary was dedicated on July 4th, 2010.1
In 1909, a new pastor named Reverend J. F. Cook built a new little red brick church which remains the modern day sanctuary to the church. In 1917, space was added for the choir and baptism pool in the sanctuary. It would not be until 1947 when the first major addition to the church came about and included Sunday school classrooms, restrooms, a kitchen, and basement.
In 1956, construction of a two-story addition behind the original sanctuary provided more space for Sunday school classrooms and a nursery. Then in 1973, the congregation agreed to begin the third and largest expansion at the time. It provided the current fellowship hall, which is used for many church events. In 1999, groundbreaking occurred for expansion, with members of the church with the longest tenure being the first to begin the project.
In May 2009 a new sanctuary was constructed due to the increasing population of the church. Ambitions to renovate the existing sanctuary were planned for 2010, marking the 100th anniversary of the historic sanctuary. The newly completed sanctuary was dedicated on July 4th, 2010.1
Sources
1 "History." Mount Vernon Baptist Church RSS. Accessed May 3, 2015. http://www.mvbaptistchurch.org/about/history.