1868 to
2004 (136 years)Some time in the year of our Lord, 1868, Reverend Robert
Woodson, Pastor, Zion Baptist Church, Alexandria Virginia, settled near the
Town of Herndon, Virginia.There was no Baptist Church here at that time. He
found, it is said, only one person in the community that was a Baptist. That
person was Mrs. Ellen Thompson
.
Reverend Woodson interested her in organizing a Baptist Church. After much
hard work, his efforts resulted in the organization of Oak Grove Baptist Church
on October 10, 1868. The name Oak Grove was given because this whole area
of land was covered with stately oak trees, whose towering tops pointed heavenward
toward the God whom those few followers had decided to worship in this place.
The church, from the beginning, had among its members some outstanding women
who contributed mightily toward its success. Especially outstanding among
these women was the late Sister Katherine Plummer, who at her death in 1945
left the church her entire estate consisting of land, home and personal property.
Sister Jannie Jackson left her life insurance proceeds to the church.Since
Mrs. Ellen Thompson had worked so faithfully with Reverend Woodson in his
efforts to establish this church, and because she was the first female member
of this church, she became known as the Mother of the Church.Reverend Woodson
the first of 10 Pastors of Oak Grove, served a number of years. He and 3 other
ministers served as Pastor during the first 17 years of Oak Grove’s existence.
The following ministers became ministers after Reverend Woodson in the following
order. Reverend William Smith, of this area and a member of the church (time
served UNKNOWN)
Reverend Wilson Gordon of Alexandria, Virginia (time served UNKNOWN)
Reverend L. H. Bailey of Occoquan, Virginia (time served UNKNOWN)
Reverend James A. Scott of Falls Church, Virginia, 12 years, 1885 – 1897
Reverend S. M. Johnson of Alexandria, Virginia, 28 years, 1897 – 1925
Reverend William R. Manley of Leesburg, Virginia, 4 years, 1925 – 1929
Reverend Edgar Newton of Washington, DC, 12 years, 1929 –1941
Reverend Dr. Edward Thomas of Washington, DC, 6 years, 1941 – 1947
Reverend Clinton L. Rogers of Washington, DC, 28 years, 1947 – 1975
Reverend Dr. Hennie Brown Jr. of Washington, DC, 1976 and is currently serving
most acceptably.
The 1st building was a log structure, which was used for church and public
school. The 2nd was an upright board structure that was eventually torn down.
The 3rd church building was built by the late Trustees Frank Baylor and Oliver
Branham Sr. in 1944 The best materials from the second structure were used
in the construction of the third church building. It was under the pastorate
of Rev. Dr. Edward Thomas that the third church was built and the mortgage
burned. This church was destroyed by fire on January 17, 1957.Under the leadership
of Rev. Clinton L Rogers the 4th church was built in 1959. The 20-year mortgage
on the church was burned in 11 years. Reverends Nehemiah Stotts and Roger
V. Bush served as sons under Rev. Rogers and supported mightily to the additions
of a tower and 4 classrooms to the fourth structure.Oak Grove was without
a pastor from July 1975 until March 1976.
Our 10th Pastor, The Rev. Dr. Hennie Brown was called in December 1975 and
accepted in March 1976. Under Rev. Dr. Brown’s pastorate, Oak Grove has
grown significantly. During November 2000, construction was completed on a
NEW and 5th church sanctuary. The old sanctuary was demolished and in it's
place is additional parking for the growing congregation.While we give thanks
to Almighty God for each member, visitor, and friend of Oak Grove, we want
to pay tribute to our most recent Mother of the Church, Sister Ada Lee. She
had been our longest standing member. The Oak Grove Baptist Church Family
shared the fruits of her labor for 90 years from 1908 to 1998. She was a blessing
to everyone that knew her. She went home to Glory at an earthly age of 106.We
are very proud of our Church and the services we offer to our Church family
and the surrounding community.
The following are some of Oak Grove’s scheduled activities and services
which are open to the Church Family and the general public:
Worship Services each Sunday at 8:00 and 11:00 AM
Sunday School each Sunday at 9:30 AM
Bible Study each Wednesday at 7:00 PM
Prayer Meeting each Wednesday at 8:00 PM
Evangelical Training Association (ETA) courses / Thursdays and Fridays at
7:30-9:30 PM
Vacation Bible School each summer in July.
Some of the local community, state, and national activities and organizations
that we support are:
LINK – Christians helping the local needy
Lott Carey – Foreign Missions Convention
Baptist General Convention of Virginia
Northern Virginia Baptist Association
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Northern Virginia Ministers, Deacons, and Laymen Union
Herndon-Loudoun Sunday School Union
Northern Virginia Baptist Sunday School and Bible Training Union
Pastor Brown has proven himself a faithful servant, a progressive leader,
and a builder that has led us into the new millennium. Many of our Church
Ministries were initiated under his leadership. We thank God for his 25 years
of leadership. God has been good to Oak Grove Baptist Church. We have sailed
the sea of time from 1868 to this present day because our Captain is Jesus
Christ our Lord. With Hope, Faith, and Love we will continue in the Lord.