Virginia is rich with history.
The history of the Commonwealth of Virginia begins with the fledgling efforts of the "New World" as it discovered an indentity seperate from England. The Commonwealth became one of the orginal thirteen colonies. It is also central to the forming of Baptist roots in the early days. In 1826 a group of Baptist came together to futher the cause of Christ by uniting their resources and formed the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Later in 1845 Baptist churches of the BGAV also joined with a broader group and formed the Southern Baptist Convention. The two main reasons for forming the SBC were developing a better plan for mission work and the issue of slavery. The SBC has overcome the latter reason for uniting together while missions is still the heart of her existance.
The early pioneer leaders of the Baptist work is Virginia is unique. The records of the work is not found in secular libraries but rather in the log books of the local jails. Names like John Ireland, John Weatherford, and Samuel Harris are recorded as they were incarcerated for preaching without an official stamp of approval from the King of England. Two of these men worked and lived in the nearby area.