Top Events at West Lynchburg Baptist Church for the last 120 years
Respectively Submitted by The History Committee, 2025
1905: Borrowed $500.00 to build a church ( Richmond St & Oakley Ave)
1905: Paid 1st Pastor Salary @ $20.00 per month (C.E. Kirkwood) 3 Months
1906: Sent $12.00 to the Strawberry Association
1907: Pastor J. Mack Franklin (1907-1912)
1907: Sent $6.00 to Baptist Orphanage
1908: Met as a church to cut wood
1912: Pastor C.E. Kirtner
1914: 2nd building (Corner of Memorial Ave & Eldon St). This building was later sold for $300.00 and removed)
1915: Approved Policy for no games to be played in church or in classrooms
1926: Present Location
1943: Conducted 1st Vacation Bible School on Record
1950: Main Auditorium (Sanctuary) on November 5, 45 years after the founding of this church, the dedication was held
1962: Groundbreaking for the New Educational Building took place in July
1962: Formed Amazing Grace Choir
1963: April 7th, at the cornerstone site on Eldon St, the following articles were placed in the cornerstone, Program of the Day, a study course book, copy of the history of WLBC, copy of church Constitution, Baptist Hymnal, Training Union magazine, WMU Yearbook, and Brotherhood Guide Book
1964: Opened the West Lynchburg Baptist Church Library
1965: Herb Maynard became WLBC’s Minister of Music
1975: Set budget $201,443.00
1980: Purchased 2 Highchairs for use in the Fellowship Hall
1980: Voted James Newman as Pastor
1983: Set the largest Budget to date $354,028.00
1983: Dedicated the Parlor
1985: 80th Anniversary with Dr Russell Cherry/Dedicated the new Chapel
1985: Installed Sanctuary carpet and pews
1986: Added new Bibles in the pews
1990: Celebrated 85th Anniversary
1992: Dedicated new Hymnals
1994: Dedicated the Elevator
1996: Celebrated with Reverend Herb Maynard, Music Minister, Retirement
1998: Operation Christmas Child started at WLBC
1999: Purchase property on Memorial Ave & Shenandoah Street for the Ministry
1999: Displayed a new nativity scene on Memorial Ave
2000: Remodeled Sanctuary
2000: Voted Dr. Stephen Anthony, Pastor
2000: Dedicated Stained Glass Window
2000: Kids in Worship began
2003: Voted Dr. Michael Cox, Pastor
2004: Randy Kent became Minister of Music
2005: 100th Anniversary Celebration
2007: Digital Sign in Front Yard
2007: Digital Chimes to sound from our steeple
2008: Dr. Putt was the interim Pastor
2009: Dr. Putt became Pastor of West Lynchburg Baptist Church
2009: JJ’s Playground was given in memory of a young man named Jason, who passed away while in Iraq
2016: Advancing the Kingdom with the 111th Anniversary of WLBC
2017: New Welcome Center down in the Fellowship Hall
2020: Pastor Chris Jordan and His family started here at WLBC
2024: Y started their Preschool Program here at WLBC
2024: As of this year, Operation Christmas Child had sent out 29,650 boxes from WLBC
2025: Celebrate Recovery started
2025: West Lynchburg Baptist Church celebrated 120 Years