University of Virginia Library

SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH

Salem Baptist church which is located at Sparta, about ten
miles east of Bowling Green, was formed from Upper King and
Queen church in 1802. The "Great Revival" which spread over
Virginia in 1788 stirred Tuckahoe and Upper King and Queen
churches mightily, causing these two congregations to meet
upon the site of old Salem church, which was half-way ground,
under an arbor in a great series of revival meetings. These
meetings were attended by multitudes and great numbers were
baptized, most of whom united with Upper King and Queen
church, then under the pastoral care of the Rev. Theodrick Noel.
The arbor, which had been the scence of the remarkable revival,
continued to be a regular preaching point, served largely by
Rev. Mr. Noel, and many citizens of the community came into
the church under his preaching. The large number of Baptists
living in the community, who found it inconvenient to attend
Upper King and Queen and Tuckahoe churches, made the establishment
of new congregation necessary, hence Salem church
was constituted on July 10, 1802.

The first house of worship erected by this new congregation
was a frame building without ceiling of any kind and was situated

Andrew Broaddus I.

Andrew Broaddus II.

Andrew Broaddus III.

Salem Church at Sparta

in Caroline about six miles from the spot where the present
Salem church stands. A second house was erected on the same
site which was used until the erection of the splendid brick structure
which now stands in the village of Sparta.

The first pastor of Salem was the Rev. Mr. Noel through whose
efforts the church had come into being. After the resignation of
Mr. Noel, in 1809, the church was served by the Rev. Messrs.
John Sorrel and Spilsby Woolfolk, both natives of Caroline
county. Following the pastorate of Mr. Woolfolk there began a
series of the most remarkable pastorates in the history of the
Baptist church, if not the most remarkable in the history of
Christendom. The Rev. Andrew Broaddus, whose biography
appears elsewhere in this chapter, who had been born and brought
up in the vicinity of the church was called to the pastorate of
Salem in 1820 and accepting he served the church for twenty-eight
years. Immediately upon his death his son, Rev. Andrew
Broaddus II, became pastor and served continuously for forty-eight
years, retiring December 31, 1896 on account of failing
health. Immediately upon his retirement his son, Rev. Andrew
Broaddus III, entered upon the pastorate of this church and
continues in that capacity to this day.

Salem church has given many of her sons to the Gospel
ministry, among whom may be mentioned the Rev. Messrs.
John Sorrel, Spilsby Woolfolk, Andrew Broaddus I, Andrew
Broaddus II, Andrew Broaddus III, Julian Broaddus, Luther
Broaddus, Maurice Broaddus, Mordecai W. Broaddus, Henry G.
Segar, Albert Anderson, Robert W. Cole and Joseph W. Atkinson.