Angel Visit Baptist Church

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Dunnsville, Essex, Virginia, United States
Surnames/tags: black heritage, Black Churches

Angel Visit Baptist Church was founded early 1866 by colored members of Ephesus Baptist Church, Dunnsville, Virginia. At the time of Angel Visit's establishment, there was only one other black church in Essex County and none south of the town of Tappahannock. Angel Visit founding members lived in communities from Tappahannock to Laneview, the southernmost portion of Essex County.​

A deed dated July12, 1867, notes the purchase of one and a half acres of land at a cost of $45. The land was located Route 17 just north of Ozena. Shortly thereafter, the first church was built.

The Church Cemetery Category:Angel_Visit_Baptist_Church_Cemetery,_Dunnsville,_Virginia was established about 1920.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/36858c_3cac2b84dc274a4fa6b7926c4c7d48f8~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_197,h_227,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/36858c_3cac2b84dc274a4fa6b7926c4c7d48f8~mv2.jpeg

Pastors

• The founding pastor of Angel Visit was the Reverend Washington Holmes.​
• 1869-1891The Reverend Beverly Sparks was the second pastor of Angel Visit
• 1891-1908 Reverend Augustus G. Bundy served as the third pastor of Angel Visit. During his tenure a larger church was built to replace the original one.
• 1908-1911 The Reverend Grant Haynes was Angel Visit's fourth pastor,
• 1911-1929 Reverend William Yates. The church was destroyed by fire in 1917, and in1919 a new church was erected. The Reverend Yates suffered a massive stroke in January of 1929.
• 1929-1930 the Reverend Lilbon Trigg White, who was pastor of Trinity Baptist Church at Center Cross, served as Angel Visit's acting pastor.
• Jan 1930-1978 Reverend William Amos Young was installed.
• 1979-1984 Reverend Dr. Leo Cordell Wagner, Jr. served as pastor
• 1986-1987 Reverend Dr. Theron D. Williams served as pastor
• 1988-2002 Reverend Vernon C. Crump III
• 2003 - Reverend Dr. Carla E. Lightfoot was elected as the tenth pastor of Angel Visit, the first woman to hold that position.

See also: 150 year Celebration