This book is intended to reveal some of the personalities and events that have shaped the history of Shiloh Baptist Church, spanning three centuries. It is not intended to be a complete history of the church nor is it a history of the Baptist denomination. It covers a period of time when God and the church were the center of every activity of our lives. It is a story of Shiloh’s people who steadfastly gave their best, obeyed Holy Scripture, cared for the congregation and community, and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, expanding His Kingdom.

 

The first church building was built in 1856 and 1857. Shiloh had broken away from Hanover Baptist Church after a lengthy debate on temperance. The present church building was built in 1950. There have been two additions, including a Family Life Center, which was under construction during the 150th anniversary celebration of Shiloh and finally completed to carry on Shiloh’s tradition of building and growing.

 

Shiloh’s history begins with the pre-Civil War days and the strict Victorian Era and ends with the open society of the 21st century. Events that transformed America, such as the Industrial Revolution and two major world wars, impacted the church as well as the culture and customs of the various time periods.

 

Imagine life in rural King George County in 1856. The Civil War had not begun. People rode to church in a horse-drawn buggy. Their Sunday-best clothing was homemade, washed on a washboard, and pressed with flatirons. There was no electricity. A woodstove kept the congregation warm, and an outside privy met their comfort needs. The church minutes were written with pen and ink.

 

To keep the church going, people performed arduous tasks. They did their own repairs of the church; some covered the expenses until the congregation collected enough money.

 

It became clear throughout this project that God saw to it that Shiloh had the right leaders and the right servants at the right time to follow His Word and lead us into the 21st century. We are eternally grateful for these church officials who diligently scripted month after month, year after year, decade after decade the church minutes, our only concrete connection to the early beginnings of Shiloh. We are thankful for all the men and women who gave their best to the Lord and helped preserve our heritage.

 

I ask forgiveness if I misinterpreted the writings of our forefathers who so eloquently scripted 19th century minutes or if I misrepresented the writings of our later clerks who penned the Shiloh minutes. With all its flaws and imperfections, I encourage you to sit back and enjoy this easy read.

 

This book is dedicated to the memory of those who have gone on to their eternal reward.