When we reflect on our history we must remember that it goes back farther than 1866. It goes back 2,000 years to that moment when Christ said, "Upon this rock I shall build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it."  The history of the Church flows from the time of the Apostles, through the patristic period (the time of the early church Fathers) and from there to the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Reformation. The reformation, and the separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church is where we can pick up on the latter years of our origins. The  roots of the Gravel Hill church and community were established during the colonial period of Virginia's history.  In that colonial period everyone residing in Virginia was by law a member of a parish in the Church of England.  This was true whether one was Black, White or Indian.  However, even during that period groups that were separating themselves from the Church of  England were beginning to have increasing influence in the Colony.  People like the Presbyterians, Congregationalists, The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and Baptist had differences with the established church and met separately. One of the largest of these groups in 17th Century Virginia (especially in the mid to late 1600's) was the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

            By the mid 1700's one group of Quakers at Curles Neck, moved by the Holy Spirit, came to believe that slavery was wrong.  One member of the Curles Neck Meeting, John Pleasants came under the conviction that he should free his slaves.  He left a provision in his will (of 1771) that all of his slaves above the age of 30 and others when they reached the age of 30 should be freed.  His son, Robert, in executing his father's will, met with some family opposition. But as a leader in Virginia's anti slavery society, he persevered. Litigation continued in the courts for several years, but the case was finally settled when two lawyers, John Wordman, and John Marshall (who later became the first chief justice of the US Supreme Court) successfully argued the case on behalf of Robert Pleasants and the Pleasant slaves, before the High Court of Appeals. In 1789 our ancestors were legally freed. Once our ancestors were established at Gravelly Hill (as it was then called), Robert and the Quakers of Curles Neck established a school where the children of the freedmen were taught reading, writing, ciphering, mechanical arts, and farming. In 1809 Henry Crews and later other men in the Crews family taught the students.

            The faith of the people in this community continued to grow, and during the great revival of the early 19th century, many became devoted Baptists.  Before the civil war, some of our ancestors worshipped at the Baptist Church of Christ at Four Mile Creek (organized by Elijah Baker in 1773).  At the end of the Civil war, our ancestors came out of Four Mile Creek and began worshipping in a bush harbor in this very place where the Gravel Hill Baptist Church is located today.  This one acre parcel of land was donated to the Gravel Hill Baptist Church by Deacon Richard Sykes and his wife Mary Sykes.  The deed was recorded in the Circuit Court of Henrico County on October 5th, 1866.  The first pastor was a white man whose name remains unknown to us. The next minister was a Black man, the Rev. Scott Gwathmey.  During his pastorate, the congregation built a log meeting house.  The first clerk of the church was Deacon Richard A. Adkins.  He served from 1867 to August, 1904 (a total of 37 years).                      

Gravel Hill's deacons during that period included Richard Sykes, Cornelius Adkins, Franklin Crump, Junius Crump, Archie Harris, Leo Haskins, Scott Haskins, Isaiah Pleasants, William H. Pleasants, Wyatt Price, James Rooks, and Harry Scott. The organization and strong conviction of the congregation can be seen in a list of 13 "Church Rules" recorded on May 24, 1873.  For example, Rule one said that if a brother was not present to answer when he name was called from the role at the monthly business meeting (that took place on the Saturday before the 4th Sunday),  "he shall on the next meeting tell the cause of it."  The 2nd rule  stated  that those addressing the moderator, must do so "standing on their feet, and they shall be allowed to speak as long as they are speaking directly to the question under debate." The 3rd rule stipulated that "Everything that is brought before the church must come in Gospel order, and every thing that is done must be by a majority, and no one member shall have the power to keep any person out of the church through prejudice."   Etc. The enforcement of church rules was strict.  For example, Rule 7 said that "If a member gets upon the floor to speak and the moderator should call him to order, and he fail to obey him, they shall be excluded from the fellowship of the church.  Rule 12 said that ".if any member of this church is known to walk disorderly, they shall come before the church and be dealt with.  It appears that Rule 12  makes reference to   2nd Thessalonians 3:6 and 1st Corinthians 5:11 and Ephesians 5:5-7 to justify the practice of excluding "disorderly" members.

            The Rev. Scott Gwathmey was succeeded by the Rev. Daniel James (1886-1889). Later, under the pastorate of the Rev. Robert Jones (1889-1904) a handsome frame church building was erected in 1890.  That building stood until 1961.   Pastors that preached in that building included The Rev. Tunstall Banks, followed by the Rev. Thomas Green (these two served from 1904-1922).  During the tenure of the Rev. W.L. Tuck (1923-1933) an addition was added to the frame church, and candle and oil lamps were replaced by a dynamo lighting system. The church purchased a pump organ.  It was also during this period that Deacon Charlie Brown, Sr. constructed a concrete baptistery out in the church yard.  Before that, baptisms used to take place in the creek that runs through the  land belonging to the Price family.  Those who remembered those earlier times recalled how the congregation would process down through the woods to the creek, singing all the way, with baptismal candidates dressed completely in white.

            The Rev. Obadiah Simms came to the church in 1935 and served until 1939. He was followed by the much loved Rev. Isaac Pearly who served from 1940-1947. During his tenure new flooring and carpeting were installed, and the very pews that are still in use  today were purchased. Then in 1947 a new oil furnace was installed and the church was wired for electricity.  The Rev. Isaac Pearly's death in 1947 was deeply mourned by the congregation.  The Rev. A. Sumpter who followed him, served as pastor for less than a year in 1948.  The Rev. Charles James Washington came to fill in the absence of a regular pastor in 1949, and was installed as the regular pastor in 1950. His 35 year tenure from 1949-1984 is the longest of any Gravel Hill pastor to date. It was during the Pastorate of the Rev. Washington that the present building was constructed on a pay as you go plan.  On the day of our first service in the present building, the congregation ceremoniously processed from the old building into the new led by vested clergy and choir.