Glen Allen Baptist Church

Glen Allen Baptist Church (1893)

Glen Allen Baptist Church (2015)

Site Name: Glen Allen Baptist Church

Date of Construction: 1868

Site History:

     After the Civil War a group of 20 Christians met with Reverend Alexander Sands in a brush arbor. There they discussed the idea of creating a Baptist church in the town of Glen Allen. On February 23, 1868 this group of people decided to begin the journey to build Glen Allen Baptist Church. Funds were raised to begin construction of the church on July 4, 1868. The Hopkins family donated a piece of land to the group for the church on part of the Walkerton Estate. Over the course of the year members of the church worked on the construction of the building and by the end of 1868 had completed the infrastructure with very little debt.

Area History:

     The area of Glen Allen got its start as Mountain Road Crossing for the railroad that ran through the town, which was finished in 1836. Glen Allen got its name from the homestead of a local landowner, Mrs. Benjamin Allen. Captain John Cussons was the most noted resident. He was a native Englishman, Confederate scout, author, and entrepreneur. He established a printing business that brought some work to the town and aided in its growth.

     Glen Allen was known to be a developing area outside of Richmond. It had a railroad running through its township that still exists today. The railroad allowed it to be connected to the rest of the country and was advertised to have a 22 minute train ride to Richmond, about the average car ride today. In 1907 the Times Dispatch described the town as “[Having] made a splendid beginning, and there is every indication that its development will be vigorous and constant.”

What about the site has changed?:

     Additions to the main building were continually added over the years as the church grew in membership and attendance. In 1941 and 1949 buildings were constructed around the original church. In late April of 1960 construction of the present sanctuary began. Mid February 1989 marked the beginning of a new education program build and the buildings from 1941 were renovated with a new

media center, chapel and music center. In 1993, on the 125^th anniversary of the church, a Henrico historical marker was placed in front of the church facing Mountain Road. The most recent addition to the church was completed in the winter of 2010 and added their current welcome center, new classrooms and church office space.

What about the surrounding area has changed?:

     In the present era true Glen Allen has lost most of its business and company. Only in the past 10 years have any new stores begun to spring up. With the construction of the new Glen Allen High School in 2010 new business opportunities were explored. 2014 marked the largest increase in infrastructure built in the area for several years. Now, roughly a mile from the center of Glen Allen, what used to be a field and woods is being built to become a new shopping center. Where Glen Allen will continue to expand remains to be discovered.

Reflection: Over the course of this project I've gotten to know the area that I live in much better than ever before. I was surprised at just how much history is actually contained within its humble boundaries. I had no clue that the church, which lies at the front of my neighborhood, was as old as it was. Overall the exposure of my hometown's history was a very pleasing experience.

Author: Parker Matthew

Sources:

“History.” Glen Allen Baptist Church. Accessed Feb. 11, 2015. http://glenallenbaptist.org/about-us/history/.

Mallory, W.  "Lost architecture - forest lodge." Henrico County Historical Society. 2003, November.     Accessed March 19, 2015. http://www.henricohistoricalsociety.org/lostarchitecture.forestlodge.html.

“Glen Allen marker, E-10”. Marker History. 2010. Accessed March 19, 2015. http://www.markerhist  ory.com/glen-allen-marker-e-10/.