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‘Old-fashioned' celebration for old church
Indian Head Baptist turns 90 later this year
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photo
The Indian Head Baptist Church is "celebrating 90 years of service to the Lord" from 1919 to 2009.
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In 1920, a small, country church stood on Raymond Avenue in Indian Head.
Although that church appears much different today, Indian Head Baptist Church members plan to celebrate the 90th anniversary with an "old fashioned picnic on the grounds" at noon on Oct. 3, said Judy Gerber, planning co-chairwoman.
Guests are invited to bring a blanket or chairs to sit on and enjoy the informal picnic.
"There will be free food, games conducted by the Boy Scout troop we support, inspirational music, information on our church and, of course, sharing the word," Gerber said. "We will have a prayer tent set up with our deacons, and our pastor will be roaming around talking to guests."
According to a church history written by Bernice Rison, 75, plans for the church first originated in 1918 when Walter Henry Thomas, the principal of Lackey High School, led organized Sunday school. Rison works at the church heritage room and converts church records to digital media.
"The mission was organized as a church with 56 charter members on May 6, 1920," Rison wrote.
Thomas, son of a Baptist preacher, purchased the church building in 1920.
"Someone told me that the church was moved from somewhere around Pomonkey down here," said Clarence Connor, 75. Connor has attended the church since he was 3.
The church was much different then. It was closer to the road and was "a typical church building for those days — just a long building with [an] A-roof on it and a steeple on the front with some steps and a door going into the sanctuary," he said.
"When you went in the door you first came to the pews and as you go to the front there was the pulpit with some benches for the choir and for the deacons to sit on. … It was a very simple church with plain wooden pews."
After World War I, the church closed in August 1925 due to low attendance and remained closed for two years, Rison wrote.
According to "Charles County, Maryland: A History" by the Charles County Bicentennial Committee, in December 1927, the Rev. J.W. Banks, pastor at Marbury Baptist Church, "offered to preach for nothing at Indian Head until a pastor could be called, and for many years the churches shared a pastor."
In the 1940s, the Rev. Calvin LeGates decided to erect a new church building.
When the church was torn down, Samuel Bushey, 93, purchased the wood from the old church for $60 and used it to build the home where he still lives today. He also helped put the steeple on the new church, he said.
Bushey has attended the church since he was a boy.
The laying of the cornerstone service took place on Nov. 24, 1946.
Church records show that a Bible, picture, membership roll, history of the church, annual report dated October 1946 and minutes of the Southern District Association were placed in the cornerstone.
The service was followed by a turkey dinner in the new basement.
The first service in the new sanctuary was on the third Sunday of June 1948.
In the 1950s, the church started two missions — one at Potomac Heights in April 1954 and one at Bryans Road sometime in 1957.
The church purchased an adjacent property in 1952 and in 1966 construction began for an educational building which included renovation of the sanctuary and basement of the church, Rison wrote.
"Our main focus is on people and sharing the gospel with people," said Connor, an ordained deacon since 1973. "It always has been and always will be."
Currently, the church has "adopted a community in Indian Head where we conduct backyard Bible clubs for kids," Pastor Jeff Dwyer said. "We [also] host Safe Nights where we open our church to the homeless for a week."
If you go
Indian Head Baptist Church will celebrate its 90th anniversary at noon Oct. 3 at the church, 27 Raymond Ave., Indian Head.
Make reservations to the church office at 301-743-3707 or ihbc@verizon.net.
