CHURCH

FRANKLIN BAPTIST CHURCH ORGANIZED IN 1871

On Sunday, Sept. 19, Franklin Baptist Church marked and celebrated its 150 years of existence. On Sept. 19, 1871, in the village of Franklin, 16 men and women joined together to organize the Franklin Baptist Church — under the able leadership of Alexander W. Norfleet, superintendent of the community Union Sunday School.

Charter members of the church were Erastus B. Barrett, Wiley Councill, Joel H. Cutchins, Jordan Edwards, Junius K. Fox, Kenneth R. Griffin, A. W. Norfleet, Mary R. Barrett, Nancy Councill, Susanna Edwards, Josephine J. Goodman, Ella V. Griffin, Virginia Griffin and India J. Norfleet.

The first gathering place for the newly established church was in the Masonic Hall, then located on the east side of South Main Street between the river wharf and the railroad depot. The small group of worshippers met there until 1872 when they erected their first real house of worship — at the southeast corner of Main Street and Fourth Avenue — on the spot where, later, the Stonewall Hotel stood. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Paul Repiton who served from 1871 to 1873.

In the early 1900s, Franklin Baptist Church was feeling growing pains; therefore, they decided to seek more spacious quarters. Church leaders Robert J. Camp, John R. Knight and Dr. A. P. Cutchin obtained land on the northeastern corner of High Street and Second Avenue. There, in 1903, a new brick facility was built. Perhaps the most beautiful part of the new house of worship was the stained-glass windows, donated to the Church as a memorial to Sallie Cutchins Camp, wife of George Camp II and mother of their children: Mary Eliza, Paul D., John S., Joseph E., James E., Benjamin F., William N., Sarah V., Robert J., and James L.

In 1913, during the pastorate of Rev. J. L. McCutcheon, membership in the Church reached 400; and, once again, the Franklin Baptists needed more space — this time, for their Sunday School Department; soon, 16 rooms were added to the rear of the church — at a cost of $9,000.

One of the most active Bible classes ever assembled in a church must have been the Bruner Men’s Bible Class which was organized in 1908. Over the years, some of Franklin’s most outstanding community leaders were members of this special group. The class was started by Dr. Weston Bruner — one evening

STORY BY CLYDE PARKER

30 western tidewater living CHURCH, from page 29 after a revival meeting at the church.

Although records do not indicate when the first permanent parsonage was bought or erected, it is certain that it was located on the site of a former smaller house at the intersection of High Street and Norfleet Street. The old house was moved to a lot at the northwestern corner of Norfleet and Gay Streets; and, then, a new spacious parsonage was built on the old site.

Pastors of the Franklin Baptist Church have been strong capable men able to help the church develop over the years: A. Paul Repiton, 1871-1873; Thomas G. Wood, 1873-1881; O. F. Flippo, 1881; James E. Jones, 1881; C. V. Waugh, 18821883; M. S. Read, 1883-1889; J. L. McCutcheon, 1890-1896; Gilbert Dobbs, 1896-1899; J. L. Lawless, 1899-1906; J. L. McCutcheon, 1906-1918; M. A. McLean, 1919-1922; R. D. Stephenson, 1922-1946; Randolph L. Gregory, 1947-1951; Ira D. Hudgins, 1951-1983; Michael J. Clingenpeel, 1983-1992; Ira Hudgins (interim), 1992; Roy DeBrand, 1992-2002; Donald Dunlap (interim), 2001; Richard Childress, 2003-2009; Chester Brown (interim), 2009-2010; Brent Kimlick, 20102015; Michael Clingenpeel (interim), 2016-2017; and Charles L. Qualls, 2017 to present.

For a period of time during the early 1940s, Hal J. Lyons served as organist and choir director.

In 1948, during the pastorate of Randolph L. Gregory, the church launched a building program to provide for a recreational hall, new junior and intermediate departments, and a remodeling of the existing Sunday School rooms. This work was dedicated on Sept. 26, 1948, at the time of the 77th anniversary of the church.

Rev. Ira D. Hudgins was called to be pastor of the church on Sept. 1, 1951. In 1953, the interior of the church sanctuary was remodeled and refinished. The space back of the pulpit was enlarged and the choir loft was moved from the left-hand corner of the room to the rear of the pulpit; the baptistry was raised from beneath the floor of the rostrum to a central location above the choir; and air conditioning was installed. Those changes added greatly to the beauty and comfort of the sanctuary.

In 1953, Mrs. John D. Riddick was hired as organist / choir director.

The present house of worship was completed in December of 1960 and was dedicated in 1961. R. Ashby Rawls was Chairman of the Long-Range Planning Committee — the group that first envisioned this magnificent new building. C. C. Gouldman was the first chairman of the building funds committee which helped raise the $600,000 necessary for the construction of the new facility. Members of the building committee were William M. Camp Sr., Edward T. Rogers, William C. Coker, Robert B. Allport Jr., Mrs. R.E.L. Wheless, Mrs. C. C. Gouldman, Robert C. Ray, and Rocher H. Allen.

In 1971, Ronald Cockrill was hired as Director of Music to replace Mrs. Riddick who retired.

In 1984 Rev. Sharon James was hired as Minister of Education and Associate Minister.

In 1986, Rev. Dr. Ira Hudgins was elected Pastor Emeritus of Franklin Baptist Church.

In 1988, Warren and Maureen Howell were hired as minister of music and organist — respectively.

In 1991, renovation of the entire church plant was completed, at a cost of $2,000,000.

In 1992, Rev. Michael Clingenpeel resigned — to become editor of the “Religious Herald” in Richmond; and, then, Pastor Emeritus Ira Hudgins served as Interim Minster until Rev. Roy DeBrand was hired later in the year.

In 1995, Warren and Maureen Howell both resigned.

In 1996, Jim Hyatt was hired as Minister of Music.

In 1999, the flood, resulting from Hurricane Floyd, had a huge impact on Franklin Baptist Church. A good part of the complex was inundated with water. Of course, restoration of church facilities took place — at a cost of $859,000. Services were held, temporarily, in several other locations including the James L. Camp Jr. YMCA, Franklin Presbyterian Church and Franklin High School.

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In 2001, Rev. Donald Dunlap, retired minister of Freemason Street Baptist Church in Norfolk and former associate pastor of Franklin Baptist Church, served as interim minister while Rev. Roy DeBrand was on a sabbatical.

In 2001, Franklin Baptist Church withdrew from the Southern Baptist Convention; and, in 2002, the Church became affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Rev. Jim Hyatt resigned in 2004; subsequently, in 2005, Rev. Steve Gibson was hired as Associate Pastor and Minister of Music.

Another flood, in 2006, caused significant damage to Church facilities.

Rev. Dr. Charles L. Qualls was hired as the 20th senior minister in 2017. Under his leadership, the Church, in 2018, put forth a vision and strategic plan, “Lighting God’s Path,” and created three teams focused on discipleship, worship and missions. He began “Faith on Draft,” an open forum for religious questions and discussions — at Fred’s Restaurant. The COVID-19 pandemic presented an unusual challenge to the Church. In response, in-person worship was suspended in early 2020 in accordance with state and federal mandates. The Church remained active throughout the suspension. And, now, the Church has resumed regular services.