About Us
The Mount Carmel Baptist Church is located in Historic Church Hill on Richmond’s east end (right across the street from Chimborazo Park). We are a biblically-centered Baptist church where the word of God is preached and taught. We strive to live as the Word of God teaches.
Our mission is TRANSFORMING LIVES. DEVELOPING DISCIPLES. IMPACTING COMMUNITY. and EXPANDING THE KINGDOM.
Where We've Come From
Historical Overview
A council from the Baptist Churches of Richmond was called in October 1887 with Rev. Wells, the Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church serving as chairman, and the church was organized with Rev. White, having been licensed to preach and Rev. Wells naming the church. The Sunday School raised money for the purchase of two lots on which the first building was erected.
The first Sunday in October 1888 was a great day at The Mount Carmel Baptist Church celebrating its first baptism. In December 1889, through adversity and struggle, a new building was dedicated to God at Saint James and Fritz Streets with appropriate services.
A few more years of progress and inspiration and this building became inadequate to accommodate the congregation, so the lot at 1303 North First Street was purchased and in 1904 a new building was erected. On August 19, 1913 after a pastorate of twenty-six years, the Founder and first Pastor died on his sixtieth birthday. In June 1958 we moved to 3200 East Broad Street under the leadership of Dr. E. D. McCreary, Jr., where the congregation currently meets.
The Church has been blessed with God fearing and inspiring Pastors to lead us in our walk with God and they were:
- Rev. William H. White || 1887 - 1913
- Rev. Edward D. Caffee, Sr. || 1914 - 1923
- Rev. Berryman H. Johnson || 1924 - 1927
- Rev. Frederick W. Black, Sr. || 1928 -1937
- Rev. John L. Wood || 1938 -1943
- Rev. Dr. Thomas F. Freeman || 1944 -1951
- Rev. Rosamond C. Kay, Jr. || 1952 -1954
- *Rev. Dr. Edward D. McCreary, Jr. || 1954 -1988
- Rev. Dr. John S. Fountaine || 1990 -1995
- Rev. Dr. William E. Jackson ||1997 - 2001
- Rev. Dr. Stephen Greene Howard || 2003 - 2016
- Rev. Marvin L. Gilliam, Jr. || 2019 - present
*Pastor Emeritus
Our Current Connections
Doing the work of ministry is bigger than just our church! We believe in collaborative partnerships that help align with our mission of TRANSFORMING LIVES. DEVELOPING DISCIPLES. IMPACTING COMMUNITY. and EXPANDING THE KINGDOM.
We are currently affiliated with...
Shiloh Baptist Association
Richmonders Involved in Strengthening our Communities
Baptist General Convention of Virginia
Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention
American Baptist Churches, USA
We currently provide support to the following community organizations...
