Historical Sketch Of New
Middle Swamp
Missionary Baptist
Church
The
New Middle Swamp Missionary Baptist Church was founded in 1866 by the late
Reverend Alfred Saunders, who also served as the first pastor of the
church. Others instrumental in the
organization of the church were Reverend Speight and the Reverend Washington
Boone. This church branched off from the
white Middle Swamp Baptist Church when the late Mr. Wiley Riddick, a white
neighbor of Gates County, gave the Negroes an acre of land on which to build a
Baptist church. The first church was a
log building covered with boards. The late
Kater Goodman hauled the first load of timber for this church. Deacons at this time were Brothers John B.
Knight, Sr., Henry Saunders, Chance Goodman, J.K. Smith, Moses Lassiter, and
Joe Haslett.
The
second pastor was called Father Hayes.
The third pastor was the late Reverend Capps. The fourth pastor was the late Reverend George
Lee who served about five years. The
fifth pastor was the late Reverend S.P. Knight who served about five
years. The sixth pastor was the late
Reverend J.W. Archie who served as pastor for a period of five years. The seventh pastor was the late Reverend J.C.
Saunders who served as pastor for about thirty-eight years. The first frame building was built under
Reverend J. C. Saunders’ administration.
In
1910, the present edifice was built under the leadership of the Reverend J. C.
Saunders. During his pastorate, the
following deacons were added: Brothers George Goodman, Timothy Benton, Kater
Goodman, G.T. Ralph, Thomas Wiggins, James A. Riddick, Moses Saunders, Louis
Saunders, and Joshua Lee. About the year
1925 a pool was built in the church.
The
eighth pastor was the late Reverend W.P. Jones, who was called to this church
in 1930. He served for fourteen
years. The following deacons were added:
Brothers M.H. Gary, Willie Barnes, W.T. Riddick, Ross Riddick, and Perry
Baker. In 1932, Professor W.N. Douglas
assisted Reverend Jones in organizing the first choir in the history of the
church. A choir stand was built. In 1937 two new vestibules and a bell tower
were erected. In 1941, a new choir stand
was built over the pool. The Usher Board
gave the church its first piano.
In an attempt to assist the church
with its heavy financial obligations, Mrs. Isabella Vann, a member of the
church, conceived the idea of organizing what is now
called “Women’ s Day”. Since
1941, the Women’s Day activity has remained one of the annual outstanding days
of the year.
In
1943, the Reverend W.P. Jones resigned from the church, leaving the church
treasury in good condition and the church clear of all debts. The
Reverend Chester A. Hart came to pastor this church in 1945. He served as pastor for seventeen years,
resigning in 1961. During his
administration, the church house and total life of the church received
considerable attention.
An
entirely new end was built to the church which houses new toilet
facilities. The church and the adjacent
buildings received a paint job inside and outside. The church top was covered, electric lights
were installed, and an electronic organ was purchased.
A
group known as the “Virginia Group” was organized under Reverend Hart’s
leadership. This group meant much to the
total life of the church in that it maintained a Christian fellowship among
church members living in nearby Virginia cities.
More
deacons were added under Reverend Hart’s administration. In 1953, Brothers Charlie A. Jones, Smith N.
Knight, Monroe Wiggins, James E. Riddick, and Thomas Otha Hardie were
ordained. Later, Brothers Vernon Gary,
Vernon Riddick, and Charlie Jones were added.
The
New Middle Swamp Missionary Baptist Church enjoys the honor of being the mother
of six churches which branched off from her.
These churches are: New Piney Wood Chapel Baptist Church (Drum Hill),
New Piney Grove Baptist Church (Gates), Zion Tabernacle Baptist Church
(Corapeake), Saint Paul Baptist Church (Sunbury), Union Branch Baptist Church
(Corapeake), and Mineral Spring Baptist Church (Whaleyville, Virginia).
The
Reverend Andrew Jackson Cherry assumed the pastorate of this church in 1963
serving as its tenth pastor. The church
underwent several major improvements which included a new outlook on the upkeep
of the church’s cemetery.
In
civic affairs, Reverend Cherry kept the church in the forefront in stimulating
action to improve the Negro’s lot.
The
first deacons ordained under Reverend Cherry were: Brothers Joseph S. Riddick,
Cicero Hinton, James T. Beamon, and William Earl Spruill.
In 1973, the church building was bricked. In 1975, the outdoor bulletin board was
installed and given as a gift by the Senior Usher Board. In 1976, support rails were installed on the
front and side steps. This project was
sponsored by the Virginia Group. Also,
in 1976, work began on the annex of the church building which became known as the Fellowship Hall. The annex includes classroom, kitchen, a
meeting room, choir room, and pastor’s study.
These new additions were dedicated on June 11, 1978.
In
1981, the sanctuary underwent the renovation of its interior which included
relocation and installation of a new baptistery and wall-to-wall carpet. The Hinton Family donated and had installed a
public address system in memory of the late Mr. Stephen Hinton, Mrs. Mattie
Hinton, and Mr. Cicero Hinton. The
Hinton Family was recognized by the church for this outstanding contribution
during Homecoming Services in August, 1981.
New
deacons were ordained in 1983: Brothers James S. Gary, Richard Goodman, William
H. Jones, Charles Lamb, and James L. Dildy.
Many
Sons of the church went into the Christian Ministry. Some of these were: Reverend S.P. Knight, Reverend J.C. Saunders,
Reverend I.S. Riddick, Reverend Alfred Saunders, Reverend P.O. Wolfrey,
Reverend S.R. Hill, Reverend James M. Wiggins, Reverend J.L. Bazemore, Reverend
Moses Bazemore, Reverend William Herbert Riddick, Reverend J.C. Baker, Reverend
John Wiggins, Reverend Alex Parker, Reverend Willard Baker, Reverend W.S.
Baker, Reverend Garrison Saunders, Reverend Shadrick Riddick, Reverend Willie
E. Riddick, Reverend Hal Saunders, Reverend James Baker, Reverend Ronald
Riddick, Reverend Jonathan L. Knight, Reverend Roger Wendell Baker, Reverend
Wesley J. Boone, Reverend Henry L. Jordan, Reverend John C. Wolfrey and
Reverend J. Earl Norfleet.
In 1987, modern revitalization of the church building next
door was begun. The walls were paneled,
floors carpeted, bathrooms installed, and a kitchenette was provided. The exterior was covered with vinyl
siding. Dedication services were held on
Sunday, April 14, 1991. The building was
named “NEW MIDDLE SWAMP COMMUNITY CENTER”. In 1992, church pews were cushioned and
modern lights installed. In
January, 1988, under the leadership of Reverend A. J. Cherry, The Gospel Choir
was organized by Darlene Baker Savage.The choir sang God’s praises for the first time on the second Sunday,
January, 1989. On
July 6, 1992, Pastor Andrew J. Cherry departed this life; therefore, this
pasture of sheep was left without an under shepherd. In January 1993, the New Middle Swamp Missionary Baptist Church family rejoiced in
knowing that God had looked favorably upon us and sent the Reverend Dr. Claude
M. Odom to become the eleventh pastor of this church.
Reverend
Odom ordained his first deacons in 1993: Brothers Albert Bond, Roosevelt Eure,
Dale Saunders, Sr., Joel Savage, and John C. Wolfrey. More deacons were added between 1996 and
2005: Brothers Wesley J. Boone, Henry L.
Jordan, Whedbee Bond, Haywood Norman, Winfred Ralph and the re-ordination of
William E. Spruill. In 2011 Victor
Scales was added to the roster of deacons.
Under
Reverend Odom’s pastorate, the church and its grounds have undergone several
major improvements. In 1994, the
churchyard was paved, the church cemetery was revitalized, the front of the
church was renovated in 2000, the pastor’s study was built and a brick marque
was erected.
In
1995, Deacon Albert Bond, was inspired by God with a vision to organize a male
chorus. Reverend Dr. Odom gave his approval, and the New Middle Swamp Baptist
Church Male Chorus was organized. During
the same year, Vacation Bible School was re-organized, the New Year’s Eve joint
service with New Hope Baptist Church began, Sunday Youth Worship period was
instituted, the New Members Class was established, and the first Monthly
Newsletter and Calendar of Events was published.
In
1997, the church began having worship services four Sundays in the month, and
Saturday Morning Prayer Breakfast was initiated.
Mrs.
Bettina Odom, the First Lady of the church, had the vision to organize single
individuals for spiritual fellowship. In 1999, the Singles Ministry was
formed. During this same year,
renovations to the church’s front entrance were made which include: a new
steeple, additional bathrooms, and a handicap ramp. Reverend Odom made Health Education and the
well-being of senior members of the congregation a vital part of the church
ministry. In June of 1999, the church
presented its first Health Fair.
Deaconess
Mary Bond was inspired with the idea of church women coming together in
fellowship in order to encourage each other, share wisdom, and form a spiritual
sisterhood. Subsequently, the Women’s
Fellowship Ministry was established in 2000 under the leadership of Bettina
Odom.
In
2001, the Down East Nursing Home Ministry began as a means to provide the good
news of Jesus Christ to its residents.
The Christian Education Committee was formed in 2002 with the purpose of
planning activities that provide knowledge, skills, and active participation by
youth in church life. In 2004, Fifth
Sunday morning worship service began.
The
abundance of God’s grace is so apparent in strong pastoral leadership and the
dedicated service of deacons at New Middle Swamp Missionary Baptist
Church. God has equally blessed this
branch of Zion with devoted associate ministers. For the first time in the church’s recorded
history, Reverend Dr. Claude Odom named five Associate Ministers: Reverend Wesley J. Boone in 2004, Reverend
Dr. Henry L. Jordan, in 2005, Reverend Dr. Donald Holley in 2006, Reverend
Ronald Holley in 2009, Reverend John C. Wolfrey in 2010 and Reverend Dr. J.
Earl Norfleet in 2013. Rev. Wesley J.
Boone became Assistant Pastor in June, 2013.
In
2008, Mrs. Avis Holley conceived the idea for a Youth Church after being inspired
by the Holy Spirit. After presenting a
proposal to Reverend Dr. Odom and the official board, the Youth Church began in
September of that same year. In 2008,
the pulpit was updated with new furniture and in 2009 the church’s fellowship
hall was also updated with new tables and chairs.
In
2011, Rev. Odom instituted Senior Day and set aside the third Saturday in May
as a day to give honor and appreciation to the senior congregation.
The
installation of an Audio and Visual System with PowerPoint Presentation and
additional system capabilities for recording church services and activities was
completed in November, 2011.
In
order to engage the young women in an additional worship experience Liturgical
Praise Dance Ministry was started in 2015.
Under
the exceptional leadership of Reverend Dr. Claude M. Odom, New Middle Swamp
Missionary Baptist Church remains current in the civic affairs of the community
and nation. We are proud of this man for
his great spiritual power, gift of relating effectively to all people, and his
ability to keep the church alive during these crucial times. He is dedicated to service of God and man.
Former Pastors
of
New Middle Swamp Missionary Baptist Church