Bethlehem Baptist Church, Gum Springs, Virginia
Title
Bethlehem Baptist Church, Gum Springs, Virginia
Description
Once enslaved Samuel K. Taylor found freedom in Gum Springs where he began preaching in people's homes. In 1865, the community constructed a building which served as both church and school.
Text of Historical Marker: According to tradition, the earliest congregation, which would become the Bethlehem Baptist Church, was organized circa 1863 by Samuel K. Taylor, a former slave, who preached in the homes of the African-American residents of Gum Springs. Shortly after the Civil War ended the first building was used as both a house of worship and school. The cornerstone was laid for a new church in April 1884. Third and fourth edifices were built respectively in 1930 and 1993. The church grew with the African American community and continues to be an important center of religious activity in Gum Springs.
Text of Historical Marker: According to tradition, the earliest congregation, which would become the Bethlehem Baptist Church, was organized circa 1863 by Samuel K. Taylor, a former slave, who preached in the homes of the African-American residents of Gum Springs. Shortly after the Civil War ended the first building was used as both a house of worship and school. The cornerstone was laid for a new church in April 1884. Third and fourth edifices were built respectively in 1930 and 1993. The church grew with the African American community and continues to be an important center of religious activity in Gum Springs.
Collection
Citation
“Bethlehem Baptist Church, Gum Springs, Virginia,” Fairfax County African American History Inventory, accessed October 24, 2026, https://fairfaxaahi.centerformasonslegacies.com/items/show/226.