On the left is Sharon Baptist Church, at Central Garage, VA, said to have been rebuilt in the same style from the bricks of this structure.
Having purchased a lot on Eleventh Street, which was bounded on the north and south by two alleys, the church then decided in January 1822 to erect a brick building 50 by 60 feet, based on plans of a church in New Jersey where William Crane had been a member.
On October 26, 1822, the building was dedicated with a sermon by Robert B. Semple.
Slaves and freed blacks were admitted to membership from 1824 until most of the black members formed their own church in 1846.
The first meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia was held in the new church building on June 7, 1823. The newly formed Richmond Female Judson Society provided hostesses for the event.
In 1826, the body called James B. Taylor to serve as pastor. He continued to serve until 1840. After he began, attendance increased dramatically and by 1829, William and Lydia Crane donated the funds to install balconies on three sides of the building.
Next was added a building at the east end of the lot for the Sunday school. It was occupied in 1832.
In June of 1830, a meeting of some of the delegates to the General Association took place at Second Church. They agreed to raise funds for an institution for Christian education. This led to the formation in 1832 of Virginia Baptist Seminary, later called Richmond College, now the University of Richmond.
In 1834, William Sands, a member of Second Church, took over the publishing of the Religious Herald and continued to do so for 22 years.
In 1835, the church sent two of its members as missionaries to Liberia, and William Crane moved to Baltimore and began another Baptist church there.
By 1839, the body needed a more desirable location with a larger building. A lot was found at the southwest corner of Sixth and E (now Main) streets.
Also in 1839, Rev. Taylor left to serve a one year term as chaplain at the University of Virginia. He had done much for Second Baptist and was greatly respected around the state. He resigned after learning that the members had become attached to the interim pastor. E. L. Magoon
Construction began on the new church with plans almost identical to the new structure being erected almost simultaneously by First Baptist. The new building was occupied in May, 1841.
The story continues at Sixth and Main Streets
(This was taken from the recently published The History of Second Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia, 1820-1995 by John S. Moore. Copies are available through the church office.)