First Virginia Avenue Baptist Church

According to the most reliable records, The First Virginia Avenue Missionary Baptist Church, Incorporated, was organized under the name of The Nebulan Baptist Church in 1884, instead of the previously reported years. The organizers were: Reverend Jake Oldham, Reverend Charles C. Bates, Reverend H. M. L. Mitchem, Richard Hyman and John Jackson. The meeting was held in the front room of James Jackson’s home, located on Orleans Avenue, presently known as Dumesnil Street. The Church moved from that site to an old school house (Parkland Colored School) on Orleans Avenue. We moved a third time to 36th Street and Virginia Avenue. In 1886, the Sunday School Department was organized under the pastorage of Reverend J. W. Washington.