Historic Mt. Olive Baptist Church Calls Rev. Bryant to the Pulpit

Historic Mt. Olive Baptist Church Calls Rev. Bryant to the Pulpit

By Linda Roberts

I love the people of this church,” he says, noting that the community supports the church and the church supports the community.

Rev. Reginald E. Bryant was 16 years old and not an ordained minister when he felt called to preach his first sermon. At the time he was nervous and wondered who would listen to his message.

Rev. Reginald E. Bryant at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Rectortown.

Photo by Linda Roberts

Many years later, sitting in his study at Mt. Olive Baptist Church at Rectortown, Bryant says, “I know now it didn’t matter then who listened as long as I did his will and spoke his word.”

His mother always said that God had something for him to do. Her words proved true as years later and after a circuitous route, Bryant was back in the pulpit with his own church, preaching the gospel to the members of the historic Mt. Olive Baptist.

Bryant refers to himself as a “bi-vocational” pastor. At his weekday profession as a ROTC teacher in Spotsylvania County he interacts with students, while on weekends and some evenings he can be found in Fauquier County at Mt. Olive.

“I’m a retired soldier,” states Bryant who was born in California and served in the Army at 19 different locations before settling in Spotsylvania County. Retiring after 33 years in the military, with his last post at the Pentagon, Bryant served as a career communications commander, operating networks for the Army. Married, he is the father of two adult children and the grandfather of five.

His passion for serving God’s work is evident as Bryant explains his love for the people of Mt. Olive and his calling a year ago to fill their need for a pastor. “I love the people of this church,” he says, noting that the community supports the church and the church supports the community.

In a time when church membership is suffering due to the distractions of modern life and the effects of COVID, Bryant says that Mt. Olive is not only surviving, but also thriving. Its 70-plus active members enjoy weekday Bible study and prayer meetings and a Sunday program that includes Sunday School for all ages followed by an 11 a.m. worship service.

“Our mission is to reconcile, restore, rebuild and renew,” says Bryant, who calls attention to the church’s weekly bulletin. Everyone is welcome here, he says, pointing out that “you’ll be blessed and so will we.”

Mt. Olive has a rich history that dates back to the early 1800s when its founders met in Rectortown homes to worship. By 1867 construction had begun on the first church building just down the road from the presentday church, which is close to the northwest corner of Rectortown. Sadly, before this early building was completed, it was destroyed by fire. Not to be discouraged, local people began work on the construction of a new church on the same site.

On Sept. 17, 1911 the cornerstone was laid for the present-day Mt. Olive Church building. The church continued to grow as a kitchen and dining room were added and programs were established that included, among other initiatives, a Ushur Board, Sunday School Club, a chorus and junior choir, a Baptist Training Union, a Missionary Society and Missionary Circle for the youth.

Growth continued at Mt. Olive under the leadership of its members and its many pastors. Adjacent land was purchased to build restroom facilities and a baptismal pool and an educational wing was dedicated in 1982. Mt. Olive is also active with outreach to a number of organizations.

According to the historical records of Mt. Olive, compiled with the assistance of Wilhelmina Smith, the congregation of Mt. Olive states: “We are proud to Remember Yesterday, We are glad to Rejoice Today and We have the faith to Reach For Tomorrow. Contact Mt. Olive at mtoliverectortown.org.