Longview Has a Long and Rich History
It was the summer of 1950. Some 30 to 40 residents of a new, developing community called Longview Gardens met in a tent on the site of the very first church and initiated a request for a charter. Among the new ministers who helped guide those early meetings were Roger Crook, Lee Pridgen and Bennie Pledger.
In the fall of 1950, a Quonset hut was erected and the following spring, Don Appleton was called as the first pastor. Several additions to the Quonset hut failed to provide adequate space and services were held in the Longview Gardens Elementary School. A building program was initiated in 1954, that by February of 1956, would produce a new 21,000 square foot version of Longview Baptist Church.
M. Fred Scott, Jr., became the second pastor in January 1957. Under his devoted leadership, the church experienced steady growth.
In September 1966, J. Groce Robinson became pastor. During his ministry a number of building improvements were made and church membership continued to increase.
In October 1971, Robert L. Weatherspoon, Jr. became the fourth pastor of Longview, followed by B. Carroll Owenby in 1980, C. Michael Shook in 1989, Jesse T. Yarbrough in 1992 and James T. Hartley, Jr. in 1994.
There were also a number of interim pastors who served Longview over the years. Some of these men included Broaddus E. Jones, Garland Hendricks, James F. Heaton and Richard Smith.
As the years progressed, the members of Longview Baptist Church saw each other through many of life’s up and downs, strengthening the unique friendships and fellowship that can only be found when God’s children gather together in His house. Church members saw each other through births and deaths, new careers and retirements and a multitude of other things that can only be observed over a long period of being together. However, as we all know, none of us can stop the hands of time or the changes that come about in a community.
It was the 1990s. Many of the charter members of Longview had passed away; many remained. Many of the children whose voices used to fill the halls of the church were now married and had children of their own. As they started their own families and careers, many of these young adults moved away from the Longview Gardens area to find homes in newer, up-and-coming subdivisions throughout the Triangle area. New church membership had reduced dramatically and there was virtually no youth program to speak of. Some key people within the church began talking about the pros and cons of selling the old church building and building a new Longview Baptist Church in a newer and more promising area of Raleigh; an area where young families were searching for a church home. An area that could once again supply those little children’s voices to the church halls as they learned about God’s Word.
A concrete plan was implemented to build a new Longview Baptist Church on New Hope Road in Raleigh. So, as the church members stepped out in faith, the old church in Longview Gardens was sold in 1994, closing the book on a chapter in the story of Longview Baptist Church.
Longview Baptist Church… A New Chapter Begins!
In September of 1994, after the sale of the old church, Longview Baptist Church began holding services in Vena-Wilburn Elementary School’s gymnasium on Marsh Creek Road in Raleigh. Construction on the present church building began in January of 1995, but our arrangement with Vena-Wilburn would continue into May of 1996. Even though we were still in the school gym, with the promise of a new church on the horizon, church membership began to grow. People in the surrounding areas heard about, or saw the progress of, the new Longview Baptist Church on New Hope Road.
Construction on the new church was completed in May of 1996 and the church members were very excited! A beautiful sanctuary, professional sound system, room for growth and much more made the whole process seem well worth the wait. Since that first Sunday in the new Longview Baptist Church, everyone knew it was a "good thing." With God’s guiding hand, our church was once again on the rise! Church membership began to grow like wildfire. Membership increased so much that new space had to be added for classrooms and the new wing was completed in 2000.
Just as in the days gone by, Longview Baptist Church was once again seeing her halls filled with the sound of children’s laughter, friends helping friends and a renewed interest in the learning of God’s word. As it has been said, God works in mysterious ways. When we open our hearts to His will and let Him work in our lives, there is no limit to what can be accomplished.
We at Longview Baptist Church thank God for all that has been accomplished over the last 50 years and look forward to what God has planned for us over the next 50! May He continue to bless our church family…a family that has withstood the test of time…a family that has grown to love one another…a family called Longview Baptist Church.
We welcome you to join our family.
