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Interior of Present Church

[[image - black & white photograph of the interior of the sanctuary of the present church]]

[[caption]] "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord" Psalm 122:1 [[/caption]]

Brief History (Continued from page 2)

to offer the Church property at Fourteenth and Broad Streets to the Medical College of Virginia for the sum of $60,000.00 and to secure the purchase of the Barton Heights Baptist Church at Hanes and Norwood Avenues for the sum of $77,500.00.  The old church building has been sold and we have purchased the new church home.  Church officers include:  W. M. Granderson, Deacon Board Chariman; Dr. D. B. Williams, Trustee Board Chairman; W. R. Myers, Treasurer; and Mrs. Maylon B. Taylor, Church Clerk.

On Sunday, June 3, 1956--First African Baptist Church moved into its new location at Norwood and Hanes Avenues.  The entire church building was renovated and decorated at a cost of about $15,000.

The Church School assembled at the old site for a brief preliminary service.  Due to the fact that Mrs. Julia Fitzgerald Thompson was on sick leave, Mr. James Zeigler, Acting Superintendent presided.  The Lord's Prayer was said in unison.  Mr. John Cephas explained the lesson, "Christian Strategy" and he urged us to continue to work for God in love and unity.

Mrs. Marie K. Wright led the singing of hymns "Count Your Blessings" and "God Be with You."  Mizpah by the school.

We then gathered in a circle in the main auditorium upstairs for the parting word by our pastors, Rev. Y. B. Williams.  Hymn "Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross."  Scripture by Rev. D. J. Fitzgerald:  Deuteronomy 1-6:8 "The Lord our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.  Behold, I have set the land before you, go in and posses the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them."

Prayer offered by Deacon Carroll W. Anderson.  Closing hymn "God Be With You."

A picture was taken of the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Society with its newly elected President, Mrs. Wilnett Parker, also a picture of the congregation who came over by auto-cade.  We used 
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