The New Bridge Baptist Church was organized and founded in October of 1834 and is the oldest Black Baptist Church in Henrico County, Virginia. The four founding members organized a Baptist Church in what is known as the Brook Hill School House. This was the humble beginnings of the New Bridge Baptist Church of Henrico County, Virginia. It is believed that the name of the church originated from the existences of a “new bridge” located in that area which spanned the Chickahominy River. By 1835, the church had grown to thirty-five members. In the years prior to the Civil War, the membership had grown to one hundred; one third of them were slaves. Although white and black members worshipped in the same church at the same time, they were seated separately. Whites worshipped on the floor while blacks, who were slaves, at this point, were not permitted to be seated on the floor but in the balcony. A common practiced was to also separate the two groups for bible study.
     In 1861 the church would have to disband due to the Civil War and political unrest. The church’s meeting house, The Brook Hill School, was in the middle of a battlefield and also served as a hospital for wounded soldiers. When the members felt it was safe to return, they did. The difference was those former slaves desired to be counted as full and equal members in the church. Those recently freed slaves demanded to be allowed to worship on the floor with white members. When the white members refused, the black members left in 1864. These recently freed black members gathered in God’s name and established their own church. Services were held in the bushes and later at Aunt Kitty’s Place. Not much is known about Aunt Kitty’s place. What is known is she was a black woman with means. As the membership of this black church grew more space was needed. The black members would walk or ride by horse drawn wagons to First African Baptist Church at 14th and Broad Street in downtown Richmond Virginia. The commute became too much for these church men and women. In 1894, with the help of the First African Baptist Church, they reorganized under a charter and became the New Bridge Baptist Church. The organizers were Brothers Samuel Garnett, William Hocker, Alfred Fleming, George Morris, Joseph Yates, John Miller, and Zion Roberson. Also, Sisters Amy Garnett, Christine Morris, Lucy Yates, Martha Miller and Sarah Roberson were also listed as organizers.
Little is known as to why they chose the same name as the white New Bridge. Speculation is that the white New Bridge was not in existence during the time the charter was established. Due to their troubled history of remaining viable during this period in history it is plausible that these black members named themselves New Bridge Baptist Church.
     The first Pastor was Rev. John Fauntleroy, originally of the First African Baptist Church. He served as Pastor until he retired. The first candidate for baptism in the new home church was Sister Emma Mitchell.
The Pastors succeeding Rev. Fauntleroy were Revs; J. H. Binford, W.H. Spurlock, A.L. Anderson, Augustas McHerrin, George D. Hill, William Beard, Cessar Scott, William A. Jenkins and our current Pastor, Rev. Dr. Marcus D. Martin.
Rev. Spurlock’s administration rebuilt the overall church program, and a new baptism pool was installed.
Under Rev. McHerrin’s leadership, a Building Fund was established, and the Rev. Wilton Morris was licensed to preach.
Under the pastorate of Rev. Hill, William Burrell was licensed to preach and later became Assistant Pastor to Rev. Hill. The church was remodeled by raising the building and establishing the lower level, including restrooms, classrooms, and a kitchen.
     Rev. Hill also played a prominent role in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement that included the sit-ins and boycott of Thalhimers Department Store in downtown Richmond, Virginia. Rev. Hill and other ministers from the Richmond area were assigned to picket on Thursday. Rev. Hill was in his late seventies or early eighties at this time and could be observed marching in the pouring rain with his umbrella, his head held high, walking straight and tall. Another prominent New Bridge Baptist Church member, Deaconess Nell Draper Winston, also participated in the required training that the student protestors had to go through prior to marching on the Thalhimers Department Store. In anticipation of what they felt the police and spectators might do to the protestors, they practiced pushing each other off of chairs, hitting, kicking, throwing one another to the floor and smacking each other. They stopped short of spitting on each other. This preparation was necessary for these young protectors to know what to expect on the front line of the Civil Rights Movement.
      Rev. Jenkins’s divine appointment was in 1971 until his retirement in 2005. He faithfully served for 34 years exhibiting a spirit of love and unity and through him, God made the seemingly impossible possible. Numerous ministries were developed under Rev. Jenkins’ pastorate. This included the New Bridge website, Youth Revival, Youth Scholarship, Children’s Church, Youth Rap Sessions, Outreach Program, Annual Community Day in August of each year, Kitchen Committee, Praise Dance Ministry, Drama Ministry, Missionary Ministry, Male Chorus, Inspirational Choir, Cub Scouts, Women’s Fellowship Ministry, Men’s Fellowship Ministry, and computer training for adults.
     In 1986, the Booker property adjacent to the church and two lots across the street on Nine Mile Road was purchased by New Bridge Baptist Church.
     Over the years our deacons and trustees have given of themselves to serve, direct and manage in their ministry for the betterment of the church. These names are too numerous to mention; however, continue to be maintained on our church records.
Mrs. Edmonia Bolden, our first female Deacon, was ordained on February 2, 1991, along with Johnnie Frazier, now Evangelist Frazier. Roger Brown, Magnolia Latney, and Joseph Durham were all ordained as Deacons on February 14, 1999.
Rev. Delores McQuinn was licensed to preach in 1988 and was ordained in 1996. She was our first female Associate Pastor. Rev. Lawrence Jordan was licensed to preach on May 16, 1993. He served as Associate Pastor and Youth Minister until the spring of 1999. Evangelist Johnnie Frazier was licensed to preach on August 20, 1995. He played a vital role especially in our Outreach Ministry. Rev. Dorothy Brooks joined our ministerial staff in 2000. She served as President of our Missionary Ministry. In February of 2009, Rev. Brooks’ daughter, Minister Beatrice Archer, was licensed to preached. Deacon Gary Randolph was licensed to preach in 2013 and Desiree Jenkins was licensed to preached on January 26, 2014.
     In 1991, a Building Fund was established and to start this program a successful Building Fund Kickoff Banquet was held at Virginia Union University on April 27,1991. The Committee consisted of Honorary Chairs, Thomas A. Duckenfield, Esquire, Ernest White, Jr. Director, and Carl Robinson, Architect (all deceased). Their spiritual roots began at New Bridge Baptist Church. Dr. Sylvia Statton and Deacon Matthew J. Robinson Jr. were Co-Chairs of that Committee.
     In 1993, a Food Program and Clothes Closet began. At that time hot meals were served, and non-perishable items were given out to the community each week along with an encouraging message. Currently our Food Pantry provides perishable and non-perishable food items to the community every second and fourth Wednesdays of the month.
     In 1995, Rev. Jenkins and Evangelist Frazier created the New Members class. These classes continue to this day as a means of introducing and preparing individual for church membership.
     The New Bridge Child Care Center was established in 1997. Mrs. Shelia V. Muse served as the Director of the childcare center until her retirement in 2012. The motto of the childcare center was “We Promise Not To Just Babysit Your Child.”  We continue to provide pre-school and after-school programs with a spiritual focus and educational curriculum to prepare our children for advanced learning and success. Mr. Travis Bell faithfully serves as the current New Bridge Child Care Center Director.
     In 1998, the Golden Girls and Boys Club, a mature adult ministry was developed. This ministry continues to be an active group providing outreach, fellowship and activities for our more mature members.
     In March of 2002, Rev. E.T Webster joined our Ministerial staff as Minister of Christian Education. Each Wednesday, his profound biblical teachings are held. Mid- Week Worship Services also began during this time and was held prior to bible study.
     In 2004, God blessed us with a beautiful multi-purpose building and Sanctuary, where we currently worship, praise and glorify Him. In June of that year Deacons Judith Greene and Grayland Smith were ordained.
     Rev. Dr. Marcus D. Martin was installed as Pastor of New Bridge Baptist Church in July of 2007 and continues to faithfully serve in this role. With a focus on spiritual development, Pastor Martin continues the work of building and strengthening ministry within the church and outreach in the community. He holds true to his motto “Loving and Leading the People of God.” Under his pastoral leadership the Church expanded in its membership and hundreds of souls found New Bridge Baptist Church as a permanent and or temporary spiritual home. New Bridge Baptist Church has birth multiple dance ministries for the young and older to express praise to God and minister thru the arts.
As the COVID 19 pandemic of 2020 started to spread in our country, Pastor Martin reinvented how New Bridge Baptist Church conducted worship in order to continue to preach the Word of God and keep his congregation safe. Parking Lot service was initiated, along with conference call and Facebook Live as alternatives for members to still have regular access to worship services. As the congregation started to transition back to in-person church services, COVID 19 protocols were put in place to include regular sanitizing of the building, temperature checks, mask and social distancing requirements and sign-in procedures for contact tracing. Pastor Martin also instituted a daily Prayer and Devotion Spirit line for the purpose of providing continued spiritual instruction, encouragement, and prayer during this time of social distancing and isolation for many of the members.
Of significance, under the pastoral leadership of Pastor Martin, New Bridge Baptist Church was able to pay off the mortgage on the church on June 29, 2022.
Current Associate Ministers: Rev. Delores McQuinn, Rev. E.T Webster, Minister Beatrice Archer, Minister Carmen Thornton, and Minister Michelle Latney.
Current Diaconates: Grayland Smith, Joseph Durham, Nell Draper Winston, Johnnie McQuinn, Magnolia Latney, Judith Greene, Roger Brown, Quincy Ellis, Larry Taylor, Betty Brown, Dynetta Claiborne, and Drucilla Marsh.
Current Trustees: Deacon Joseph Durham, Patty Smith, Tyrone Claiborne, Clifton Muse, Gayle Berkeley, Harold Jordan, and Yvonne Daniel.

NBBC History