Jericho Baptist celebrates inauguration
Published 9:01 am Thursday, June 8, 2017
Members of the Jericho Baptist Church congregation listen to gospel singer Luther Barnes during the inauguration on Friday.
Pictured are, from left, Anthony Tucker, Kennedy Barber, Merlene Booker and Hope Patterson.
Gwen Richards, left, and Brenda Richards pose following the service at the church — one that celebrated the church’s new name and renovations.
At left, Mickie Carrington, left, and Perry Carrington sit inside the new media room at Jericho Baptist Church.
At right, pastor Matthew Shannon stands inside the renovated Jericho Baptist Church.
Jericho Baptist Church in Farmville celebrated the inauguration of its new name and renovations May 31-June 2, which included preaching and performances by gospel singer and Grammy nominee Luther Barnes.
According to Deacon Perry Carrington, Barnes’ ensemble drove from Rockingham, North Carolina each night during the three-day celebration.
“I think it was good for the whole community at large because we had people there from other counties and other towns that came out to see the church and Luther Barnes,” Carrington said.
To view additional photos of the inauguration, click here.
Carrington said the church’s original name was Mt. Zion Baptist Church and was originally located on the campus of Longwood University.
“At some point, Longwood used eminent domain to move the church to Race Street,” Carrington said, which resulted in the church being renamed Race Street Baptist. The church would later move to it’s current location on Franklin Street again due to eminent domain.
Carrington said when the planned renovations were underway at Race Street Baptist, it was the Rev. Dr. James Taylor’s vision to rename the church with one that was more biblical, which followed a church meeting where 95 percent of those present voted to change the name to Jericho Baptist Church.
Renovations to the church include an expansion to the sanctuary, a new roof and steeple, new lighting, an extension of the pulpit, new carpeting on the floor, refurbished pews, the addition of a new bathroom to the vestibule, a new front porch with columns and a new HVAC system throughout the church.
“Basically the whole thing was an expansion,” Carrington said.
He said in addition to the renovations, the church added monitors to the sanctuary and a new media room, which has helped bring the church into the 21st century.
