Grafton Baptist Church Harris Grove - Harris Grove, Virginia

Located at the intersection of Old York-Hampton Highway and Hornsbyville Road, Grafton Baptist church has been a meeting place for a body of Christian worshippers for 149 years. This church had its beginning when John Steadman, a white man, gave two acres of land on which a building of worship was erected and used by black and white people of the Baptist faith. A small slab building was erected and used alternately by the two races until some dissatisfaction arose between the two groups.

The white members sold their interest to the black members and moved to Tampico, now Hornsbyville. The black people continued to worship in the slab building until 1889. In that year it was torn down and replaced by a straight-up-and-down board structure.

The membership increased under the leadership of the first recorded ordained pastor, the Reverend Mr. Thomas Knapper. After Reverend Knapper’s death, the Reverend Mr. Thomas Wright of Denbigh, Warwick County, Virginia, became pastor. After many years of faithful service, he was succeeded by the Reverend Mr. Charles A. Green of Yorktown.

During Reverend Green’s thirty-five year administration, the church progressed rapidly, and a modern weatherboard structure replaced the straight-up-and-down board building. Each year the membership increased and Grafton became one of the leading churches in the Tidewater Peninsula Baptist Association. Grafton is still a member and present pastor, Reverend Gholson, retired in 2005 after a four-year term as moderator. During his term, he and the men of this church made repairs and cleaned the grounds of the Children’s Home of Virginia Baptist.

A major setback occurred in 1907 when the church burned to the ground. Until the next church was built, services were held in “Diggs Hall,” also called “Peach Grafton.”

With the combined efforts of the members and the next pastor, the Reverend Mr. R. H. Green, an even better weatherboard structure was erected and the grounds were improved. (This structure is the one that was demolished in 1987 to make way for this present building.) Sometime during this period the church experienced financial trouble, but God provided from among the flock Deacon William Cooke and Trustee John Randall who mortgaged their homes in order to save the church. God provided away; the church was saved, and the mortgages were paid off. (Note: Trustee Randall’s house burned in May 1963, and Deacon Cooke’s house was demolished in May 2003).

Page 2

Home Pastor’s Bio Ministries Forms Calendar Video On Demand Photo Gallery Employment Contact Us Innovative Creations & Web Designs