Nestled in a beautiful, wooded setting, The First United Baptist Church is conveniently located on Route 17, the main arterial highway in historic Gloucester County, Virginia, a fast growing area of approximately 38,000 people. The church is easily accessible to several metropolitan cities in the Tidewater area.
The First United Baptist Church is the result of a merger between Union Prospect Baptist Church and Berea Baptist Church. Its illustrious history dates to 1868, when freed black Christians left Providence Baptist Church to form their own church. They purchased the Old Glebe Meeting House and organized the First Baptist Church for Colored People. After a time, the group separated; one group remained on the Old Glebe Meeting House grounds and became the Union Prospect Baptist Church, and the other group left First Baptist and became Berea Baptist Church. Both Union Prospect and Berea were off springs of the First Baptist Church, which originated from the Old Glebe Meeting House, also known as the Old Glebe Building and Glebe Hill.
In the early 1960’s, Union Prospect and Berea Churches shared their pastors, the Reverend William Anderson and later the Reverend H. B. M. Faunteroy, who encouraged church members to consolidate the two churches which met on alternate Sundays. On December 29, 1961, Union Prospect Baptist Church and Berea Baptist Church became The First United Baptist Church with Reverend H. B. M. Faunteroy as pastor. The major project of the new church was the construction of a new church building to include a modern sanctuary, educational facilities for the Sunday School and outreach programs and facilities for church organizations.
With faith and an unfaltering trust in God and generous contributions from members and friends, a beautiful edifice was built and dedicated to God on December 14, 1969. With God’s help and through the faith and determination of the congregation, the church paid off a 20-year congregational mortgage loan in approximately ten years and nine months. On November 1, l987, we broke ground for a Fellowship Hall and burned the mortgage for that building on November 27, 1992.
Our church has been wonderfully blessed with spirit-directed and dedicated members who give generously of their time, talents, and finance to promote the mission of the church, which is to win souls for Christ, to reach out to assist church and community members, to preach and teach as directed by the Holy Spirit and to advance God’s kingdom. Subsequently God has equipped and enabled us to provide many services which include:
- Worship Service weekly except 5th Sundays
- Sunday School and Bible Study weekly Ongoing training through Virginia Union University
- Riverside Bay Agency
- TFUBC Christian Education Ministry
- Outreach to Walter Reed Convalescent Center, Red Cross and other organizations
- Outreach to members, community, and foreign missions
- Outreach through social media
- An active and growing Children Church
- Participation with Gloucester Union Relief Association of Missionary Baptist and the Deacons Union and Women Auxiliary
- Participation with First Baptist, First Morning Star and Church of The Living Word to provide Vacation Bible School
- Services to other churches and organizations throughout the community and surrounding area
- Transportation by church van when needed
- Medical services through our Medical Ministry which has trained staff
- Assistance through TFUBC Scholarship Fund
Although we are a small church—approximately 150 members on roll with 60 active members and approximately 40 regular attendees—we have a big heart and a cooperative spirit in glorifying God. The membership is composed of many committed members who gladly share their talents, skills, and expertise and work cooperatively and enthusiastically together.
God has provided TFUBC with an outdoor pavilion, a van, additional bathrooms, an expanded modern kitchen, up to date music equipment, an audio-visual system, up-to-date computers, video-security system, heart start defibrillator and a state-of-the-arts playground.
Many of these members make up the ministries of the church, including the Joint Ministry of Deacons and Trustees, Deaconesses, Sunday School, Christian Education, Usher, Music, Fellowship, Medical and Men and Women ministries.
Among the many activities of the church, Homecoming, Church Anniversary, Men’s Day, Women’s Day and Family and Friends Day are the major ones. Two of our greatest challenges currently are to strengthen the Youth Department and to increase our membership.
Since December 29, 1961, The First United Baptist Church has been blessed with six pastors: namely: Reverends H. B. M. Faunteroy (1961 – 1964), N. T. Jones (1967 – 1982), P. D. Wells (1983 – 1995), Thurman L. Williams (1997 – 2005), Allen M. Davis (2007 – 2012) and Edgar Randolph Graham (October 2013 – present). During the absence of a pastor the church continued to grow, and the Deacons Ministry arranged for preachers to provide services during that time.
With God’s help and guidance, The First United Baptist Church will continue to praise God and to labor in His vineyard to advance His kingdom on earth. Our theme song is entitled “Unity,” which serves as our hymn of benediction each Sunday.
Our records are too large and rich in history to give credit to all individuals who contributed to the formation of The First United Baptist Church. We thank our forefathers and mothers who labored in love, prayers, work, and finances to bring us to where we are today. So, to each one of them, we give thanks to God who gives us the victory. May God continue to bless all of us as we continue to do His Will.