The Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are glad.    Psalm 126:3

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In 1865, Isaac Wrenn, Bolling Fowler, Dabney Tinsley, and Frederick James were led by the Holy Spirit to establish the Second Union Baptist Church.  A brush arbor was erected to serve as the first church building located near an establishment known as Bryce’s Store, a short distance from the church’s present location. Second Union Baptist Church was formed out of Perkins Church after the Civil War.

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In 1880, the Church called as its first leader Reverend John Mosby.  Reverend Mosby was given a vision for the church.  The Church purchased an acre of land on which a log structure was erected.  The Church continued to grow spiritually and numerically including the appointment of 19 men as Trustees. After 18 years of unwavering service, Reverend Mosby resigned in 1898. 

Reverend Robert James White was installed as the second pastor in 1899. 

During the next 32 years, many souls were saved and the log structure soon proved inadequate and was torn down. The sanctuary portion of the present church was built, which became the first edifice of Second Union Baptist Church. Also, under Reverend White’s leadership a Finance and Budget Committee was instituted and pulpit furniture, church pews, and insurance on the church and its contents were purchased.  In the field of ministry, six ministers were licensed to preach: Reverend Edward Cooper, Reverend Mason Tyler, Reverend Maxwell Evans, Reverend Dabney Tinsley, Reverend Thomas Christian, and Reverend Maxie Robinson. Reverend White served the church diligently until his death in 1931.

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From 1931 through 1953, the Church flourished under the sacrificial leadership of Reverend Houston B. Perry, who worked untiringly to make Second Union Baptist Church a growing church, both physically and spiritually.  In addition, the Church made great strides in terms of its membership and financial condition. A well was dug, and a Baptistery and electricity were installed. The Senior and Junior Missionary Circles, the Sunday School, the Senior Choir, the Helping Hand Club, the Progressive Club, and the Usher Board were instituted.  With God’s divine blessings three rooms were added onto the existing edifice and a half-acre of land was purchased, earmarked for cemetery use.

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 Reverend Perry was called to pastor another congregation in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, leaving the Church without a spiritual leader until the Lord called Reverend Herman R. Clarke in March of 1954.

Reverend Clarke was influential in reorganizing the Deacons and Trustees Club and revitalizing the Music Department with the addition of three choirs: Youth, Sunbeam, and Junior Choirs and the organization of the Starlight Gospel Chorus. The commencement of Prayer and Praise Service began and the Improvement Club was started. Improvements were made to the interior of the church, and an additional half-acre of land was bought for cemetery use. The Church acquired the Second Union School to be used as an Educational Building from the Goochland County School Board. A continuous building fund was established, and due to steady increase in membership, the Sunday Worship Services were expanded to the second and fourth Sundays of each month.  Reverend Joseph Haden, Sr. was licensed and ordained into the Gospel ministry under Reverend Clarke’s tutelage. Regretfully, Reverend Clarke resigned on December 12, 1970.

After much prayer, the Lord blessed Second Union Baptist Church on March 18, 1973 with its fifth pastor, the Reverend Dr. Donald L. Trent, Sr., who served 40 years, a period longer than any of his predecessors. Under his dynamic leadership, he strived to lead the congregation from membership to discipleship; the Church grew spiritually and numerically. 

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Reverend Trent’s prophetic vision resulted in a variety of challenges for Christian service. Being motivated by his spiritual guidance and leadership, the Church continued to witness to the wider community as evident through  outreach ministries such as the Ministry of Visitation: Sinners, Inactive, Hospital, and Convalescent, Communion Ministry, Tape Ministry, Sick and Shut-In Ministry/Home Visitation, Civic and Community Affairs Ministry, Ministry of Incarceration and a Mentoring Program was started at Byrd Elementary.

Reverend Trent was instrumental in organizing the music ministry and adding new auxiliaries for the expansion of God’s work, namely the D. L. Trent Choir, the Male Choir, the Deaconess Ministry, the Women’s Ministry, the Sick List Ministry, the Praise Dance Ministry, the Boys to Positive Men’s Ministry, the Scholarship Committee, a Memorial Day Committee, the Youth and Children in Unity, weekly Adult & Children’s Bible Study, Children’s Church Ministry, the Second Union Baptist Church library, Fourth Sunday Youth Ministry, annual Family and Friend’s Day had its origin under his leadership, Vacation Bible School, Spring Revival, Sunday Morning Prayer and Praise Service was initiated, as well as the Morning Worship Service was extended to full-time, a summer youth program and a tutorial program were offered under his leadership.

Moreover, approximately 10 Sunday school teachers and five Bible Study teachers were added to the staff. 

Under Reverend Trent’s divine leadership, the Lord blessed Second Union to make tremendous strides materially including the addition of three classrooms and restrooms, the exterior of the church was bricked, a Fellowship Hall was attached to the existing sanctuary, the Pastor’s Office was redecorated, and the choir loft and pulpit were enlarged. The parking lot was widened and asphalted and a storage building was erected. Front and side entrances to the cemetery were constructed. In addition approximately 37 acres of land was purchased allowing for future building expansions and additional cemetery space. Moreover, local and state politicians, religious, and community leaders joined with the members of Second Union Baptist Church to dedicate the Second Union School as a historical landmark in Goochland, Virginia.

Reverend Trent became our first full-time Pastor on January 1, 2003. Under his pastorate, eleven ministers were licensed including nine ordained, 13 deacons have been ordained, and nine trustees have been appointed to the Evangelism Ministry.

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On November 10, 2013, the Lord blessed Second Union Baptist Church with its sixth pastor, Pastor Stevie Trent, Sr., son of the late Reverend Dr. Donald L. Trent, Sr. Pastor Stevie Trent, Sr. has made revisions to our morning service to improve the flow and receipt of the Word of God.  He has initiated Casual Sunday on 4th Sundays, the audio visual ministry has been improved with new speakers to help aid in the delivering of the Word, and the music ministry purchased new drums. As we continue to grow and allow our theme, “God Is Doing A New Thing” to manifest at Second Union Baptist Church there will be many more changes ahead.

Yes, Second Union Baptist Church is a church on the move with over 525 congregants. 

So, there we are --149 years of faithfully working and witnessing for the Lord, our God. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.   

Hebrews 12: 1-2