The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-21
CALVARY BAPT|STS SEE
NEW CHURCH DEDICATED
Christian Fellowship Plus Faith
Brings Success In Great Under
takings, Says DIR. Pitt.
OF BEGINNING AND GROWTH
During Last Two Years membership
OF Calvary Church Has Increased
From $50 TO 575-New Church
One of Finest In South

Calvary Baptist Church, located at
Boulevard and Grove Avenues. which.
when completed. will be one OF the
most handsome and up-to-date
houses of worship in the South, was
dedicated at the morning services yes
! terday. The main auditorium has not
yet been completed, but the Sunday
School room, which has been occupied
| for some time and in which the ex-
ercises were held, has a seating ca
pacity of 500. and every seat in the
room was filled.
/ The dedicatory sermon was deliver
ed by DIR. r. I'll. Pitt. editor of the Re-
talk on Christian Fellowship" He
| told of the genesis and growth of
Christian fellowship, asserting that
the success of great undertaking was
due to this plus faith. DIR. Pitt pre-
dicted that this church is destined to
become one of the largest in the
Southern Baptist field
| He spoke in the highest terms OF
| the pastor. Rev. Carter Ashton Jen-
! kens, ID. D., pastor of the church, and
those who have assisted him in his
work for the betetrment of the
church He bestowed eulogies upon
those whose untiring efforts had re-
suited in their present accomplish
ment.
| Report Sale of Old Church.
Dr. r. r. Ray, a member of the
| church, and also of the Foreign Mis-
sion Board. delivered the dedicatory
| prayer. while DIR. J. F. Love. secre-
| tary of the mission board. read Scrip
ture. Professor william j. Clarke. OF
the Virginia Union University, led in
prayer.
A financial report was made by 8.
w. Duke, chairman of the board of
trustees. showing that the sum Of SAL
| 500 had been received from the Inn
manuel Baptist Church for the build
ing formerly occupied by the Calvary
congregation at Grace and Pine
Streets
There were four additions to the
| church membership at yesterday
service, making ITO in all that have
been received into the church since
| This makes a membership of $40,
| which is the largest In the history OF
/ the church.
| The Sunday School room, which Is
4 now being used for this and church
purposes cost $4,000. When the
main auditorium is completed the
| church will have seating capacity OF
/ 500 people, and will not only be the
! largest. but the most commodious one
| in Virginia. and one of the largest In
! this section of the country. Some
Sunday School experts have pro-
nounced the church to be one OF the
best in the United States.
The large growth of Calvary Bap-
fist Church is due largely to the pas
tor. DIR. Jenkens. He assumed charge
of the pastorate just two years aGo
last May. and his record has been
nothing less than remarkable. Wneh
he took the reins of the church there
was membership of $50. while the
average attendance at the church ser.
| vices was something like a hundred
Firm In Spirit and Purpose.
When he took charge the church
was greatly discouraged. the mem
| bership having gradually dwindied.
while the church was in DEBT. HOW
ever. when he became pastor thc
members became more encouraged
and now the members are botn new
in spirit and purpose. Al the present
time the church has membership OF
SIS. an increase of 42S In TWO years +.
| with prospects of an enlargement IN
the near future. Some of the best
neopie in the West Erid are attenti-
| inc the house of worship and the
prospects are very bright. a.,
DR. Jenkens deserves much creui'
for his accomplishment, He came 70
| Richmond in May, 1913. from spur
geon Memorial Baptist Church. NOT,
folk. where he had also accomphsneu,
great things. There were seve,aI
people from various sections OF the
state attending the services yester-
dav. among them being MIR. and MRS.
A o Newcome. of Norfolk. who at.
/ tended the church In that city oi
I which DIR. Jenkens was pastor.