In
the year of 1868 on a cold winter day, a group of God’s children
decided they wanted a place to worship. Realizing that they were the
church and that a building was not needed to worship, they held the
first services under the trees known as the “Bush Arbors”. Seeking a
covered and larger area, the church began to meet in the cow barn on the
property of Mr. Gus Williams. The four founders of the church were Deacon Jack Davis and Deacon
Richard Davis, Gus Williams and Jim White.
Providence
has been blessed by many men of God that have served as Pastor. The first Pastor of the church was Reverend Goffney of
Culpeper or Madison County. Reverend Goffney was followed by Reverend
John Ford of Culpeper, Reverend John Duvall , and then Reverend Kato
Roy. Reverend Roy also served as the Pastor of Silver Hill Baptist
Church in Morrisville Virginia. Reverend Roy was later called to pastor
a church in Washington, D.C. After the departure of Reverend Roy,
Reverend Edgar Newton became the pastor and rendered services on the
third Sunday of each month at Providence and services at St. James
Baptist Church on the first Sunday of each month. Reverend Newton was
followed by Reverend Houston Brooks of Alexandria, Virginia until he
left and became the pastor of a church in Rockville, Maryland.
Providence was then lead by Reverends Elmer Tyler , Reverend Wendall
Grant, Reverend Tom Adams, and Reverend Warren Williams. Reverend
Williams went to be with the Lord during his pastorate of Providence.
The leadership then continued with Reverend Leonard Frazier, Reverend
James Jackson, Reverend Earl McKenzie, and Reverend Floyd Haralson. In
May of 2010 Providence called the current pastor Reverend Nathaniel
Harpe to shepherd the disciples. Reverend Harpe remains as the current
pastor and brings a flare and excitement of learning and serving the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Providence
Baptist Church has also been blessed with sons that have received the
calling while serving at this church as disciples of the Lord or were
adopted from while serving other churches. These sons are Ernest
Cottoms, Horace Jackson, Richard Jones and James Overton.
Over
the years, the church has grown from the “Bush arbor and Cow Barn to a
building with a choir stand, pastor’s study, baptismal pool, fellowship
hall, bathrooms, central heating and many other improvements that allow
the fellowship to worship in a manner the founders could have never
imagined.
Just
as years ago, the fellowship’s dedication, hard work, desire to spread
the word of God and most importantly the blessing of the Lord have
allowed the growth of the building. We have truly been blessed by those
forefathers that had the dream of fellowship many years ago. We pray
that we never forget those that sacrificed their desires to achieve the
ultimate desire of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are thankful
for where we are but more importantly we are thankful for where we
started. Let us not let pride rob us of our humble beginnings and let us
always remember we are only here through the grace and mercy of our
Lord and Savior.
Providence
Baptist Church has often been referred to as the “Little White Church”
on the side of the road. We are thankful that we are also known as the
church that may be small in size but not in thoughts, ideas, desire, and
dedication to becoming more Christ like. We pray all that come through
these doors or meet the disciples of Providence will not see us but
rather see the Jesus in us.