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Wallers Baptist Church
Commissioned December 2, 1769 as Lower Spotsylvania Baptist Church, John Waller founded and became the first pastor of what now is known as Wallers Baptist Church - named in honor of John Waller and his nephew Absalom Waller. Absalom served as the second pastor of Wallers for over 30 years. At its organization, it had 154 members and there were "few, if any less than 1,500 members" during John Waller's pastorate from 1770 to 1793. With over 230 years of continuous service, Wallers has the longest continuous service of any Baptist Church in the state of Virginia.
When reviewing the life of John Waller, we are also reviewing the life of many of the early settlers who came to the young colonies to escape religious persecution in Europe. England, who ruled the colonies, established the Church of England was subject to the law established by the church and dissenters were punished and jailed for their beliefs. This was especially true of the Baptists.
Wallers has been called "a mother church indeed" because it instituted 15 other churches and also the "mother of preachers". Called to the ministry were John Waller, Absolam Waller, John Billingsley, James King, William Waller, Addison Lewis, Joseph Billingsley and E.V. Peyton; also Thomas Pugh, a pastor in Williamsburg, VA. and most recently Calvin Sacra.
The original frame meeting house was replaced was replaced in April 1850 by a new brick structure. Unfortunately, in 1873, a fire damaged it severely and it was rebuilt in 1874. A cemetery was established in July 1898 as a resting place for dearly beloved members. In April 1868, it was resolved that a Sabbath School be organized and in 1953, a new addition was approved for a Sunday School building. This was dedicated in June 1954. In 1979, A large Sunday school addition was erected with a new kitchen and fellowship hall. The need for a parsonage became evident and upon completion, it was first occupied in 1964. A roadside bulletin board was erected in 1967 and in June, 1996 the church approved a new and improved outdoor sign. Wallers had been guided since 1769 by 22 wise and caring pastors. On February 1, 1995, Rev Todd Kube accepted the call to become the 23rd pastor, seeing us in the new millennium.
As we celebrate 230 years of continuous service and move into the new millennium, it is our deepest desire that our heavenly Father will look upon us and say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of the Lord.
When reviewing the life of John Waller, we are also reviewing the life of many of the early settlers who came to the young colonies to escape religious persecution in Europe. England, who ruled the colonies, established the Church of England was subject to the law established by the church and dissenters were punished and jailed for their beliefs. This was especially true of the Baptists.
Wallers has been called "a mother church indeed" because it instituted 15 other churches and also the "mother of preachers". Called to the ministry were John Waller, Absolam Waller, John Billingsley, James King, William Waller, Addison Lewis, Joseph Billingsley and E.V. Peyton; also Thomas Pugh, a pastor in Williamsburg, VA. and most recently Calvin Sacra.
The original frame meeting house was replaced was replaced in April 1850 by a new brick structure. Unfortunately, in 1873, a fire damaged it severely and it was rebuilt in 1874. A cemetery was established in July 1898 as a resting place for dearly beloved members. In April 1868, it was resolved that a Sabbath School be organized and in 1953, a new addition was approved for a Sunday School building. This was dedicated in June 1954. In 1979, A large Sunday school addition was erected with a new kitchen and fellowship hall. The need for a parsonage became evident and upon completion, it was first occupied in 1964. A roadside bulletin board was erected in 1967 and in June, 1996 the church approved a new and improved outdoor sign. Wallers had been guided since 1769 by 22 wise and caring pastors. On February 1, 1995, Rev Todd Kube accepted the call to become the 23rd pastor, seeing us in the new millennium.
As we celebrate 230 years of continuous service and move into the new millennium, it is our deepest desire that our heavenly Father will look upon us and say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of the Lord.