THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 25, 1996 TAG: 9610230145
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER C. O'DONNELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 55 lines
After 46 years behind the pulpit, the Rev. John R. Briggs has earned a rest.
Briggs, 78, has preached Sunday morning sermons at Diving Baptist Church in Deep Creek for nearly half a century. He'll retire after Sunday's sermon.
Briggs started his career at Divine Baptist in February 1950. A substitute preacher for many years, Briggs had hoped for a permanent position.
``I was offered another job with a church in Norfolk, but I turned it down,'' said Briggs. ``I didn't want to change my denomination, and besides, I had my eye on this church here.''
It wasn't long before Briggs was offered the position at Divine Baptist. But, as he remembers, the first few months on the job were far from smooth.
``I almost didn't make it when I first came,'' he said. ``The church was different from the one I grew up in, and it took time for the congregation to get used to me and for me to get used to them. But eventually, we fell in love with each other.''
Briggs has numerous memories of his church and his congregation, but one of his fondest came early in his career.
``I didn't have a car when I first started here, and I was commuting from Norfolk on the bus. Then one day, the church presented me with a brand new Chevy,'' said Briggs. ``I kept that car a long time.''
Still, Briggs has a few regrets about his career at Divine Baptist.
``I wish I had kept track of the number of weddings and funerals I presided over while I've been here,'' he said.
Briggs has watched his church grow and progress under his leadership. When he first arrived at Divine Baptist, the church didn't have pews or a separate annex for the choir. Both were added soon after Briggs started work, as were 11 stained-glass windows and a parking lot.
Despite the changes, Briggs said his congregation today is smaller than when he first took the job.
``So many of the older members are now gone, and you just can't replace them,'' said Briggs. ``And there aren't as many young people going to church as there used to be.''
``That's one reason why I'm retiring,'' he said. ``I've given the church the best of my service. I don't think I can relate to the young members as a younger preacher could. I've got sense enough to know that.''
But Briggs doesn't intend to give up preaching. He hopes occasionally to step in as a substitute preacher at Divine Baptist. To keep his fellowship skills intact, he plans to visit other churches regularly.
He admitted, though, that things won't be the same after Sunday.
``It will be hard getting up on Sunday and not have a church to preach in.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
The Rev. John R. Briggs has preached Sunday morning sermons at
Diving Baptist Church in Deep Creek for nearly half a century. by CNB