HJR 269

Commending Winn's Baptist Church.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 10, 2026
Agreed to by the Senate, March 12, 2026
WHEREAS, for 250 years, Winn's Baptist Church has provided opportunities for joyful worship, enhanced local life in Hanover County through generous community outreach, and preserved the history and heritage of the Commonwealth as one of the oldest Baptist churches in the area; and
WHEREAS, Winn's Baptist Church was originally known as Chickahominy Meetinghouse and Chickahominy Baptist Church and is believed to be the first Baptist church in Hanover County; the church was established in 1776 by a group of Baptist preachers with an initial congregation of approximately 50 members, many of whom had come from Goochland Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, John Clay, the father of American statesman Henry Clay, served as the first pastor of Winn's Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Winn's Baptist Church met in a small frame church, which was considered one of the oldest frame churches in continuous use in the Commonwealth until it was destroyed by fire in 1910; a new building was dedicated in July 1910, and the present church stands on the same plot of land, which had been donated by John Winn in 1869; and
WHEREAS, in the 1800s, membership of Winn's Baptist Church began to decline when several members joined a new sect of the Baptist faith, and membership continued to decline during the Civil War, but the congregation endured and remained an important pillar of local life in Hanover County; and
WHEREAS, Winn's Baptist Church dedicated its current building on October 11, 1981, and in 2000, the church aligned with the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, in its 250-year history, Winn's Baptist Church has enjoyed the steady leadership of 44 pastors, including three interim pastors; the current pastor, Jeff Brauer, who was elected in 2001, remains the second-longest serving pastor behind Benjamin Bowles (1785–1815); and
WHEREAS, Winn's Baptist Church's focus on evangelism, missions, and dedication to the word of the Bible have not wavered over the course of its history, and the congregation remains committed to its core mission while serving as a “city on the hill” for the community; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Winn's Baptist Church on the occasion of its 250th anniversary; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Winn's Baptist Church as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the church's storied history and legacy of contributions to Hanover County and the Commonwealth.