Our Church History

Our Church History


Travelers Rest Baptist Church
6823 Partlow Road
Spotsylvania, VA 22553
(540) 582-5491

Rev. Clyde H. Coleman

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1901-2001

100th Anniversary

A Brief History

During the early 1800’s, through the sparsely settled countryside travelers riding by stagecoach meandered through our community located in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Weary from the ride, the stagecoach would stop at a site in Snell, so the travelers could rest and have a cold drink of water. Some sources indicate that the Travelers Rest Inn was located at this site during this era.

In the latter part of the 1800s, elders in the community felt the need for a Baptist church in which to worship. Unable to build a building, they built an “arbor” at this traveler’s rest stop. The arbor was built on the northeast corner of State roads 738 and 208. The church family first worshipped our Lord and Master in a grove of pine trees on that corner. Families walked or came by wagon to church every Sunday. The arbor was built from slab boards, probably being milled from one of the nearby sawmills. Boards were placed on short logs to serve as church pews. The flat roof was covered with brush

In 1901, exciting things began to happen. A church was organized. The church was aptly named Travelers Rest Baptist Church, having been the spot for weary travelers to rest. Selected as trustees were Pastor Joseph F. Billingsley, Silas B. Perry and David F. Altenburg. A Building Committee composed of Mr. Billingsley, A. B. Cunningham, John J. Perry and Edward W. Altenburg, was appointed to secure funds to build a House of Worship. In 1902, construction of a building began on land (the old Gibson Homestead) donated by Mr. John J. Perry by deed dated June 13, 1901. This building served the congregation for 52 years years. Mr. Perry also served as the first Church Sunday School Superintendent. The Reverend Joseph Billingsley, who served as pastor and was also a carpenter, oversaw Church construction. He designed and helped build the structure. The church pews were handmade by Mr. Alex Lively and Mr. William Holliday, local residents. Church membership in 1901 included Joseph H. and Judith D. Billingsley, David Altenburg, Eddie Altenburg, Cora Altenburg, John J. Perry, Adie Perry, May Craig, Cora Coleman, Elizabeth Rose, Lucy Rose, Lucette Haislip, George Rose, Edward Walstead, and Page Finney.

August 1903 was the first recorded revival, “a series of special services”.

July 1906, members voted to hold church meetings – one every three months beginning October 1906. In February 1909, they voted for preaching on the third Sundays at 11:30 a.m.

Tidbits about the Pastor’s salary over the years – in January 1905, Pastor Billingsley received $17.25 for a year. In 1916, an envelope system was instituted to help pay the salary. In 1918, the salary was raised to $100 a year. In 1920, Brothers Jack Wilson, Clarence Evans and T. A. Lively were appointed to go among the members and collect the pastor’s salary for 1919.

By 1920 church membership had grown to 85 (38 male, 47 female). On April 16, 1921, five members not in good standing were erased from the church membership.

In 1945 church collections for the third quarter totaled $134.56. Bryant Taylor was employed as janitor for 50 cents a Sunday.

Early 1952, thoughts emerged to build a new church building. On March 16, 1952, a recommendation of the Building Committee was accepted as presented by W. A. Massey, Chairman to construct a new building to replace the existing building. It was recommended by the Church “to build a new building and to get busy to raise funds to finance the construction of a new building”. (Twenty-eight persons voted for a new building and 9 voted against, wanting to repair the existing building). In a deed entered into June 10, 1952, B. G. and Annie E. Jones, Sr. donated additional land and ground was broken for a new church facility. In 1954, the congregation, led by Rev. James E. Duncan, Jr., moved into the partially completed building to worship our Lord.

In the late 1990’s, membership continued to grow causing the need to expand. In October 1994, at a business meeting, it was voted to raise funds to construct an addition. Ed Varner was elected Building Fund Treasurer.

Other important dates in our history:

First Bible School led by Gladys Brooks.
In 1965, a special meeting was called to decide to build a driveway on a piece of land given by Lawrence Huff.
1967 – Maple shade trees planted.
1970 – parking lot paved.
1971 – back addition added to church and bricked.
1972 –Education Fund started, first contribution by Howard Miller.
1978 – voted to have Gideon Sunday once a year giving entire offering to Gideons.
1982 – pavilion built.
1983 – Lee Hefner ordained to ministry.
1984 – voted to landscape new cemetery.
1988 – voted to install sound system in church.
199__ - Licensed Herbert Cadle to preach.
199__ - first Church Cook Book printed.
1997 – voted to affiliate with Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia.
1997 - 50+ club organized by Jack & Donna Haskins.


BAPTISM

The first recorded baptism was September 1902. Over the years, baptisms have been held at various sites --on the banks of Holladay’s Pond (1921), Towles Mill Pond, Po River at the Snell Bridge, Fairview Baptist Church (1952) and Goshen Baptist Church. Our new church building included a baptistery and the first person baptized in 195___ was Joanna Kishpaugh Sekuterski, age ___. The women of the Church raised funds for the baptistery. In 1971 a memorial to Michael Seay was established, and the youth raised funds by selling pens to offset the costs of the baptistery painting.

PASTORS

Throughout the past one hundred years, six pastors have served the served the Lord from our Church.

Reverend Joseph Billingsley
August 1901 – January 1912
(October 1906, D. F. Altenburg chosen as Sexton/$8/year)

Rev. George Donahoe
January 1912 – September 1918

Rev. Charles Saunders
1919 – August 1939

(Old records do not reveal an ordained minister from 1939 – 1943. Mr. James Carver, from Towels Mill Road, led worship services during this period)

Rev. Frank Soden
September 1943 – July 1949

Rev. James E. Duncan, Jr.
July 1952 – September 1954

Rev. Clyde H. Coleman
September 1954 - present

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Listed below are some highlights showing the various church committees and officers who faithfully served during the past 100 years.

CHURCH MEMBERSHIPS – COMMITTEES

ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS:

On September 28, 1902, Joseph F. Billingsley & David Altenburg were elected as delegates to represent our church in the formation of a new association scheduled for October 7, 1902 at Mt. Herman Baptist, Caroline County.

July 16, 1944 – joined Goshen Association.

1957 – joined Fredericksburg Association (charter member).

COMMITTEE ON HOME MISSIONS

June 1911 - Dora Walstead, Minnie Miller and Ida Lively.

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN MISSIONS

June 1911 – Mrs. A. V. Wilson, Pearl Altenburg and Myrtle Hart.

CEMETERY COMMITTEE

April 1944 – Ural Finney, Richard Brooks, Eva Gardner and H. L. Taylor.

WOMENS MISSIONARY UNION (WMU)

Nannie Strickler, Edna Taylor (1945), Gladys Brooks, Marian Byies (1957), Pauline Moody, Lilly Miller (1980s) and Barbara Lussenden (current). The WMU in January 1957 decided to buy two communion chairs for the church pulpit, each member donating $4. Kitty Wheeler served as secretary November 1956 thru August 1957.

VISITING COMMITTEE

May 1904 – John Perry, Chairman

SOCIAL COMMITTEE

May 1904 – Brother Altenburg, Chairman

BUILDING COMMITTEE - PROJECT

1901 – Joseph F. Billinglsey, A. B. Cunningham, John J. Perry, Edward W. Altenburg, T. A. Lively – First Building Committee.

1906 – Edward Walstead, David F. Altenburg, T. A. Lively – Committee re-organized, ceiling not completed yet. September 1918 – R. B. Carnohan (succeeded Mr. Lively)

1952 -- Arritt Massey, chairman, committee to consider building new church.

1944 -- H. L. Taylor, Aubrey Hockaday, Ural Finney, George Johnson, Clarence Evans, to purchase shingles to repair church/build tables for Homecoming 1944.

1994 - Ed Warner, Douglas Johnson, Mitch Dickinson, Alvin Carroll, Lily Dickinson Davis, John Coleman – to build addition to present building.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

December 1907 – John J. Perry, Edd Walstead, George Johnson.

CHURCH OFFICERS

TREASURERS

To 1904 John J. Perry 1904 D. Altenburg
1943 Aubrey Hockaday 1954 F. Richard Brooks
1958 George Johnson 1977 Shirley Robinson
Paige Johnson Sorrell

TRUSTEES

1901 - Joseph F. Billingsley, Silas B. Perry, David F. Altenburg
1944 – P. D. Finney, Jack Wilson
1946 – George F. Johnson, R. F. Brooks
1958 – W. A. Massey, George Johnson, H. L. Taylor
1977 – Clarence Seay
1982 – Everett (Bert) Jones, Jr.
1986 – Richard Harlow Sorrell

CLERKS

1901 – John J. Perry 1902 – Edie Altenburg
1903 – A. V. Wilson 1905 – W. H. Miller
1914 – Thomas A. Lively 1916 – Clarence Evans
1918 - Thomas A. Lively 1928 – Clarence Evans
1943 – Horace Taylor 1958 - Wallace Ray
1992 – Janie Wampler

SECRETARYS

1901 – Adie V. Perry; since around the 1950’s, other whom have served include: Jean (Dickinson) Satterwhite, Shirley Combs, Pauline (Hockaday) Moody; and Janet N. Roberts.

DEACONS

June 1902 John J. Perry; David Altenburg
October 1905 Page D. Finney, J. C. Pulliam, T. A. Lively
September 1928 Jack Wilson
November 1928 Allie Dillard
October 1943 Aubrey Hockaday, Horace Taylor, George Johnson
E. B. Finney
April 1947 John Chandler; Leonard Reynolds
1947 – 1956 (Records not inclusive) Deacons included Willie Johnson, W. Arritt Massey; Clarence Haislip, Fred Carter, Lynwood Hart; Herbert Jerrell, Clarence Evans
1956 Clarence Seay
1966 Harry Byies, Wallace Ray, Junior Payne, Clarence Haislip, Linwood Hart
1975 James Edward Patton
1979 Everett “Bert” Jones, Jr., Lewis Wayne Hall; Gillis Wampler; Delbert Lussenden, Morris “Sonny” Sutton; Richard Sorrell, John Coleman, Ed Varner
1998 Jack Haskins, Alvin Carroll

JUNIOR DEACONS

1946 - four persons served as Junior Deacons: Bryant Taylor, Stuart Taylor, Carl Roberts, Jr., and Kenneth Morris.


SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS

1901 – John J. Perry 1952 – W. Arritt Massey
1986 – Timothy Coleman 1994 – Sonny Sutton


MUSIC LEADERS

Over the past years, the following persons served as music leaders: A. P. & Hattie Land -- Choir and organist, Ms. Rena Matthews – organist, Barbara Seay – pianist, Clarence Seay – Choir Director, Tina Wheeler – New Life Singers and youth choir director, and Donna Haskins, 50+ Choir.

TRAINING UNION

In the late 1950’s, the Church held Training Union classes. Directors included Barbara Seay and Lewis Hall. H. J. Payne served as Assistant Director.


EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE

Our church, along with Mine Road, Fellowship, Hebron and Good Hope Baptist Churches began celebrating Easter Sunrise Service on a rotating basis approximately 50 years ago. This practice continues today between Mine Road, Fellowship, Hebron and Travelers Rest.



This history has been compiled through research of various old records. If you have addition or corrections, please give them to the Pastor.