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HISTORY of SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH
Historical Highlights
Shiloh History Ministry:
N. Howard Stanton
Lillian S. Patterson, Historian
Winifred Grimes
Ethel Ferguson
Barbara Ferguson
Shiloh Baptist Church has been pointing souls to a better religious, social, and economic life since its beginning in 1863. By so doing, we are living in hope of a far greater life in the Promised Land.
Shiloh Baptist Church has been pointing souls to a better religious, social, and economic life since its beginning in 1863. By so doing, we are living in hope of a far greater life in the Promised Land.
"There are now six churches of colored people in that city, (Alexandria) . . . "The "African Methodist Episcopal" and five Baptist churches. "First Baptist Church" . . . "Second Baptist" or "Beulah Church" . . . The "Fourth Baptist" or "Shiloh" Church was organized about 1863 at "Newton" - L'Ouverture Hospital - the military hospital for colored soldiers, which was located in the yard of "Price & Birch’s old slave prison, used during the war as a prison for deserters . . . The pastor of the "Shiloh" church is Rev. Leland Warring, a colored man, who, like the others, (Rev. C. Robinson and Rev. G. W. Parker) was a teacher during the war. There is still another Baptist colored church, the "Zion Baptist," located in the vicinity of the railroad tunnel. These churches have each a flourishing Sabbath school, in which old and young unite in learning to read and in the study of the Bible.
[An excerpt from the Department of Education Special Report of the Commissioner of Education on the Condition and Improvement of Public Schools of the District of Columbia, submitted to the Senate June 1868, and to the House, with additions, June 13, 1870].
During the Civil War the Union Army occupied the City of Alexandria to prevent the Confederate Army from having a route into Washington, D.C., the Capitol. Since the Union Army was not in the slave trade, Alexandria became a haven for run away slaves (contraband). These contrabands, along with captured Confederate soldiers were housed in the old slave pen area at 1315 Duke Street. It was here that Shiloh Baptist Church began March 29, 1863 as the Old Shiloh Society when fifty former slaves gathered in a U.S. Government mess hall to worship and praise God. When the congregation outgrew the mess hall, it moved to the barracks. Shortly afterward, that building was destroyed by fire. Staunton School temporarily became the next meeting place. The Reverends Charles Rodgers, E. Owens, who were white, and Leland Warring, who was Black, served during the first two years.
Under the continued leadership of Reverend Leland Warring, the congregation worked diligently until the first edifice of Shiloh, a neat frame church, was erected on West Street near Duke Street. On September 26, 1865, the new church was dedicated.
On January 26, 1872, the Alexandria Gazette reported, "the alarm of fire about half past twelve last night was caused by the burning of a framed building near the intersection of Prince and West streets, known as Shiloh church, a colored Baptist meeting house." It is not clear where the congregation met after the fire.
The Reverend Warring's ill health forced him to retire on March 15, 1889 after over 25 years of service and his son, the Reverend Henry H. Warring, became the supply pastor.
It was during the interim, 1889-1890, that Reverend Henry Warring, according to a March 7, 1890 Alexandria Gazette account of “The Origin of the Difficulty that Caused the Split in Shiloh Baptist Church,” was accused by a segment of the membership of misappropriating $15 in fees to the Virginia Baptist State Convention and $10 in travel expenses and not telling the truth about it. The majority of the membership rejected the charges and proceeded to call Reverend Henry Warring to be the pastor. Some of those aggrieved members left Shiloh and were among the founders of Mt. Jezreel Baptist Church.
Work on the second edifice, the structure at 1401 Duke Street, began in 1891 under the pastorate of the Reverend Henry H. Warring, son of the ailing Reverend Leland Warring. The cornerstone was laid with imposing Masonic Ceremonies on August 1, 1891. The new building was completed on October 1, 1893. The building cost $8000 and the furniture $2000. The new church was considered the handsomest in town, with its great bell tower, eight stained glass windows, modern circular oak pews, and a “large reflector, resplendent with glass prisms” swinging from the ceiling.
Dedication Week of Shiloh’s Historic Sanctuary
The Annual Trustee Day in 1983 honored the original trustees of Shiloh Baptist Church with this very fitting commendation. “Seven men along with other determined Christians pooled their resources and purchased the land on which this building (the historic sanctuary at 1401 Duke Street) now stands. To us today this appears as a very small accomplishment because of the cost ($8000), but realizing the fact that at that time, many of the members of the Mission Baptist Church (as Shiloh was known at that time) earned less than fifty cents a day, for a work day that lasted from sun up to sun down. At the time the land was purchased, a trustee had to hold title to property in the city or have equity in property that would assure the seller that the land would be paid for. Those seven men – Thomas H. Ball, Isaac Carter, Milrod Mallory, Jerry B. Payne, Ruben Redd, Silas White and William Diggs, Chairman – with faith in a living God and determination to erect a building dedicated to Christ, inspired all the members of the Mission to work together so their dream could be realized, and it was, during their lifetime”.
It is recorded of the opening day: The new Shiloh Colored Baptist Church was dedicated on Sunday October 22, 1893 in the presence of a large assemblage. There were at least 1500 persons present, among them many white citizens of Alexandria, who had contributed to the erection of the Church, and for whom seats were reserved on the right of the pulpit. The cornerstone was laid with imposing Masonic ceremonies August 1, 1891. The building was completed October 1, 1893. The church was built of ornamental pressed brick. It occupies a space of 45x70 feet. It fronts the south and is situated at the corner of Duke and West Streets. The interior of the church is magnificent. The ceiling is of tessellated iron composition, beautifully painted. In the center of the ceiling swings a large reflector, resplendent with glass prisms, spreading a beautiful light over the auditorium. The walls are frescoed. The color of the whole room is of a light hue. The church has a seating capacity of 900 persons. The pews are of the most modern style and are arranged in circular form. The gallery is located in the south end of the church and affords a clear view of the whole room below. The lecture room is in keeping with the audience room. In the rear of the lecture room are located reception rooms, and a pastor’s study, which communicated with the pulpit. The church is heated by furnaces. In the southwest (southeast) corner of the structure arises a great tower, which affords a view of the whole city. A large bell will call the people to the House of God. Shiloh is the only colored church with such a bell. The eight large memorial windows of the church are of beautifully stained glass and were donated to the church by the following: Fern Leaf Club; Lily of the Valley Club; Rose of Sharon Club; Robert Quander and family; the Samaritan Club of Shiloh; Manhattan Fountain, No. 157; Banneker Fountain No__ of True Reformers; and Willing Workers Club.
The dedication service began at 11:00 a.m., conducted by the pastor, Rev. Henry H. Warring. Rev. S. W. Madden, Alfred Street Baptist Church, gave the prayer, Rev. James H. Lee, Third Baptist Church Washington, D.C. preached the dedicatory sermon and Roberts Chapel M.E. Church choir rendered the music.
At the 3:00 p.m. service, Rev. Fields Cook, Ebenezer Baptist and Rev. S. M. Johnson, Zion Baptist, joined Rev. Warring as they listened to a sermon by Rev. Dr. G.W.P. King, President Wayland Seminary and music by Alfred Street Baptist.
The preacher at the third service of the day was Rev. Daniel Morris, Beulah Baptist Church and Shiloh’s choir presented the music. The church was crowded for each service.
Long before the hour for opening the Monday night service, the church began to fill and by 7:30 p.m. there was standing room only. The choir did a mini concert and Mrs. Julia Waugh Mason-Layton of Washington, delivered an address on the life of Rev. Leland Warring.
One of the highlights of the celebration took place the next Monday evening, October 30, 1893 – the opening of the Shiloh Baptist Church Art and Industrial Fair. The beautifully decorated lecture room (our Fellowship Hall) was filled magnificently with 300 and more exhibits from D.C., Pennsylvania, New York, and many other places, showing the skill and progress of the colored American in all branches of trade and art. The Art Gallery was fitted with a splendid collection of portraits including many Alexandria people. The evening was interspersed with speeches and excellent vocal and instrumental music.
The building and dedicatory exercises (services) of New Shiloh, the Concert exercises, eloquent speeches and the great Fair will ever remain in the historic memory as one of the great events of Alexandria.
The Trustee Board, the Deacon Board, the Sunday School, a church choir, and a missionary circle were formed during the 22 years service of the Reverend Henry Warring. Towards the end of his pastorate in 1913, the congregations of Shiloh and Mt. Jezeerel came together for a reconciliation meeting held at Shiloh. The officers of both churches signed a reconciliation document and they all sang "Blest Be the Tie That Binds".
Under the pastorate of the Reverend McKee (1914-1917), the mothers of the church, later known as deaconess, were organized.
The Reverend J.H. Marshall was the pastor from 1917 until March 1924 when he resigned to accept another pastorate.
The Reverend Frank E. Hearns, called in 1924, officially established the Shiloh Usher Board, created the Willing Workers Club, and spearheaded the purchase of our first electric organ. These were lean times for Shiloh and often Reverend Hearns would forego his salary in order to help pay church expenses. He served Shiloh for 20 years until his death in 1944.
In 1946, after two years of mourning, Shiloh called the Reverend J. Edward Stevens as pastor. The Gospel Chorus, composed of young people, was organized during his pastorate. Reverend Stevens resigned in 1947 for personal reasons.
The Reverend Moses William Beasley was called as pastor in December 1947. Under his administration many distinctions were achieved. In 1948, Shiloh became a member of the National Baptist Convention and the National Congress of Christian Education. The Laymen's Movement, now known as the Men's Fellowship, was organized. In 1955, the Flower Club was organized. Open communion was instituted into the regular morning worship service. A Baptist Training Union was organized; a Minister of Music became a reality; and the Choralite Gospel Chorus was organized in 1956. The Youth Choir, an outgrowth of the Tiny Tots Choir, evolved into a singing group for the Youth Church in 1962. Junior Deacons and Junior Trustees were organized in 1966 and Junior Deaconess in 1974. Junior officers were later integrated into the main boards.
The City of Alexandria Welfare Department operated an integrated Day Care Center at Shiloh from January 1964 to October 1971. In 1972, the Reverend Beasley conducted his first annual Leadership Training Program for all church officers. Shiloh's Food Bank, which served its members and the community, began operation in 1984 and closed in February 1992. In order to familiarize new members with Shiloh, a New Members Orientation class was instituted.
Shiloh became the first church in Alexandria to purchase a bus to meet the transportation needs of its members. Two buses and a van have been purchased since then. Church facilities were improved. The church membership installed a new heating plant and air conditioning, built an addition with modern restrooms, renovated and remodeled the sanctuary and the lower auditorium, dedicated a new organ, piano and walk-in pulpit, installed a modern kitchen. Neighboring properties on West Street were purchased that effectively expanded the parking area. Purchase of the Ballard property at 1323 Duke Street (known as Moses W. Beasley Center) provided greater space for the many church ministries. Reverend Beasley's ministerial staff at various times included the Reverend Richard Garner and late Reverends James O. Powell, Frederick Houwens, Frederick Gibbs, LaReintz Johnson. After 39 years of service, the Reverend Moses W. Beasley retired December 31, 1986.
The Reverend Robert Lewis Taylor was called to serve Shiloh in October 1988. The Scholarship Committee, tutoring, and adult reading classes were formed. A Discipleship Training class was added to give spiritual instruction to new members. The Shiloh Newsletter, the Pastor's Service Club (formerly the Pastor's Aid Society), and weekly Bible Study were reestablished. The Board
of Christian Education became a reality. In 1993, the Shiloh of Alexandria Federal Credit Union (SAFCU) was one of four credit unions chartered that year in the United States.
In 1994, because of clergy and membership incompatibility, Shiloh split into two separate congregations. One congregation worshiped at the George Washington High School with Reverend Taylor, calling itself the Greater Shiloh Baptist Church. The other congregation continued to worship at the church site located at 1401 Duke Street, with Reverend LaReintz Johnson, the senior minister, as Interim Pastor. During this period Minister Jeanette Johnson, granddaughter of Reverend Beasley, became the first woman at Shiloh licensed to preach. Reverend Luther Bailey became Interim Pastor during Reverend Johnson’s illness and death in 1997.
In 1997 the Reverend Lee A. Earl became the eleventh pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church. During the first decade of his pastorate the church's Spiritual growth is evidenced by a larger weekly and midday Bible Study; increased church membership; continued leadership and ministerial training of the many young men and women on the ministerial and administrative staff, and increased community outreach and involvement. The Mission Statement was reformulated and the Value and Vision Statements were added. Each year Reverend Earl developed a vision for his pastorate based on a premise of :”Working Together,” In Love; For His Purpose; For His Kingdom; Doing the Impossible; Caring for One Another; Caring; Growing; Sharing; Strengthening the Family; Growing in Christ. The organizational structure of the church was defined into five ministry areas. During these years of Reverend Earl’s pastorate, our physical growth is evidenced by the increasing of our borders. An office building at 346 Commerce Street, known as the Warring-Hearns Christian Life Education Center; the Armstrong property at the rear of the church, used for parking; the American Statistical Association office building at 1429 Duke St. next door to the church; and townhouses at 223 and 207 S. West Street, increased the Church’s real estate holdings.
For several years, Shiloh partnered with St. Coletta School, a school for children and young adults with physical and mental disabilities, in the use of the Warring-Hearns building. The Beasley Building is to become affordable housing for Senior Citizens. The former TESST office building at 1400 Duke Street, a lease/purchase, now houses Happy Hour Pre-School and the Agape Christian Academy. The office building at 1429 Duke Street now houses the administrative offices, the Church School, the Mable T. Lyles Library, the
Bookstore, the Shiloh of Alexandria Federal Credit Union, and the Shiloh History Museum. The Beasley Center at 1323 Duke St. will become Beasley Square Senior Center (Housing).
In 2006 the church changed from a lease-purchase agreement to a purchase agreement for the Shiloh Worship Center at the rear of 1400 Duke Street. The old Historic Sanctuary at 1401 Duke Street became the Youth Church with Minister Kelon Duke as Youth Minister. The Reverend Joyce Thomas became the first woman at Shiloh completing her seminary studies and ordained in the ministry.
As the second decade of Reverend Earl’s pastorate begins a new vision for the church unfolds which is “Loving others as Christ loves us.” Eliminating the church debt is a major priority; the Warren-Hearns building is sold; ministry areas re-evaluate and internalize the new vision for the church inspired by the word of God. As examples - the Deacon Ministry provides leadership to the Tribal Family ministry effort; the Deaconess Ministry continues to visit and commune with the sick and shut-in; the Church School besides providing weekly study classes continues to participate with the Alexandria Church School Union; the Women’s Ministry fosters Christian fellowship among the membership; the College Ministry provides spiritual and emotional support to college students through open communication and retreats; the Mable T. Lyles Library provides high quality Christian library materials and state of the art technology training; and the Shiloh History Museum continues to preserve the information and artifacts as part of the church legacy.
Shiloh gives approximately ten per cent of its income for missions. Included among Shiloh’s extensive list of local, state, and foreign missions are Hopkins House, Carpenters Shelter, Alexandria Black History Museum, Urban League/Freedom House Museum, United Negro College Fund, Northern Virginia Baptist Center, National Congress of Christian Education, Agape Christian Academy, Sickle Cell Anemia at Howard University, Lott Carey Convention, Uganda Cow Mission as well as other educational and religious missions in Africa.
Now as we enter the second decade of the 21st Century our new, theme is “Loving Others as Christ Loves Us, Making Disciples for the Kingdom”. Shiloh is continuing its commitment to the Baptist Church Covenant in many visible ways. Our pastor continued his education by earning a doctorate in divinity. We religiously educate our children through the growth of the children’s, youth, and tutoring ministries; maintain a vibrant Senior Ministry; contribute cheerfully and
regularly towards its expenses as in the massive efforts to eliminate our debt; support a faithful and evangelical ministry throughout the world on the Uganda missions, in the growth of weekly worship services, the evening and mid-day Bible tudy; relief of the poor and distressed such as the victims of the Katrina Hurricane and Haiti Earthquake; walk together in Christian love as we assist the incarcerated through the TurningPoint Ministry video visitation. We strive to continue to develop and use our skills through the Mexico Leadership conferences.
As our covenant says, we participate in each other’s joys and with tender sympathy bear one another’s burdens and sorrows.
Under the spiritual and compassionate pastorate of Reverend Doctor Lee A. Earl, and our blessed First Lady, Minister Zandra Earl, Shiloh continues to create a legacy on the foundation of its Ancestors. We praise God from whom all our blessings flow!
Updated by Lillian Stanton Patterson, Church Historian, March 2010
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