Who We Are

In a community known for its history, the Williamsburg Baptist Church was proud to look forward to its 175^th anniversary in 2003.The church's establishment in 1828 resulted from the efforts of a small group of women who petitioned the Dover Association to send a missionary to Williamsburg because there was no Baptist Church in the community.

The Church first met in the colonial Powder Magazine on Duke of Gloucester Street. When it constructed its own building nearby in 1857, bricks from the Powder Magazine were used for the Greek Revival building's foundation.

During the Civil War, the church served as a military hospital and the building was badly damaged. It was not returned to the congregation until three years after the war.

When the restoration of the colonial capital began in the late 1920's, the Church swapped its Duke of Gloucester Street property for a new site and money to build a new building. Negotiations took five years. One of the objections expressed by Church members was that the new (and present) site on Richmond Road was too far out of town.

That perspective has changed over time and the site is now considered conveniently located just across from the campus of the College of William and Mary and two blocks from Merchants Square and the Historic Area.

As a result, it welcomes a wonderful mix of members, students and visitors at the 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. worship services each Sunday morning.

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