THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 18, 1994 TAG: 9409160213
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Ida Kay's Portsmouth
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Court Street Baptist Church's celebration of its 205th anniversary last Sunday was a time of remembering important history and the vital heritage of the church.
Originally called the Portsmouth-Norfolk Baptist Church and started by six Portsmouthians who belonged to the Shoulders Hill group that became Churchland Baptist, it was the first of the denomination to be established within the two cities.
Thus, it became the ``mother'' of seven congregations that in turn became ``mothers'' of more new churches.
Among the offspring of Court Street is Zion Baptist, a black congregation organized in 1865 at the end of the Civil War.
At Sunday's celebration, the guest speaker was Thomas Edwards, a member of Zion.
``Our ancestors mingled here in the 1800s,'' Edwards said. Court Street provided money for the new black congregation and Richard Cox, a Court Street member, donated the land at the corner of Green and County streets, where Zion still is.
Zion has continued to be an important congregation in the community, reaching out to other churches as well as to the poor and homeless.
So have some of the other Court Street offspring including Park View in Portsmouth, Freemason in Norfolk and Deep Creek in Chesapeake.
Court Street also could be called the ``mother'' of public education here.
The Rev. Thomas Hume, pastor from 1833 to 1854, became the minister at Court Street at age 21. When he arrived, the church had 121 members. When he left 21 years later, 800 members had joined.
Hume led the movement to secure state money for schools and was successful in opening a school for 100 primary students, the first public school here. He served simultaneously as a preacher and as first superintendent of the schools from 1849 to 1851.
So to Court Street we owe our schools and a lot of good churches. This church certainly is more than an architectural jewel in this city of many handsome religious structures.
Court Street also is a model of stability. At Sunday's celebration, the congregation recognized Ms. Margaret Jackson and Ms. Helen Bain Adams, both 75-year members of the church, and Mrs. Garnet Peed, who at 95 is the oldest living active member.
The Rev. Wilbur Kersey has been the pastor for 34 years.
Old, main-line churches, such as Court Street Baptist, have been the backbone of this country. This congregation has been in existence almost as long as the United States.
Throughout the history of this nation, real Baptists - those who believe in autonomy of each congregation and the individuals within it and who believe strongly in separation of church and state - have been the leaders in resisting tyranny of the mind and soul. That was the premise of the denomination.
One minister I know called it ``soul liberty,'' or freedom of conscience in matters of faith.
Traditional Protestants, especially Baptists, need to be aware of their heritage. It is the only bulwark against the radical religious right, which would distort the principles on which the churches were founded more than 200 years ago - and which have been the guiding principles of this nation.
Real Baptists, aware of their beginnings, must stand up to be counted today just as their ancestors did more than two centuries ago. Court Street Baptist Church's celebration of 205 years is a good time for the church members and the community to rededicate themselves to guarding religious freedom. MEMO: Whether you agree or disagree, The Currents would like to hear from you.
Send your thoughts to The Currents, 307 County St., Suite 100,
Portsmouth, Va. 23704-3702 or fax us at 446-2607.
by CNB