First Minister Corinth Baptist

 To Unveil Tablet To Church’s First Pastor 

NEW KENT, Va., June 18.—A tablet in memory of the late Rev. John Avery Richardson, founder and first pastor, who served faithfully for 21 years, will be unveiled at Corinth Baptist Church, New Kent Court House, Sunday, June 22.

 The church was organized in 1878. The original church was burned In 1910 and was replaced by the present building in 1912. There will be all-day services at this occasion and dinner will be served on the grounds.

-Suffolk News-Herald,  18 June 1930

From the book, Virginia Baptist Ministers,

JOHN A RICHARDSON 

John A. Richardson was born Sept 6, 1826 His parents who were "highly respected" gave him "all of the advantages of the neighborhood schools." In 1847 he was married to Miss A.E. Timberlake. Of this union three children were born. In 1879 he was married to Miss A.L. Binford, his first wife having died in 1875. Of this second marriage seven children were born. During the Civil War he served in the army with gallantry. Not until after this struggle was he impressed that it was his duty to preach. It is suggested that the thought of God's mercy which had guarded him from so many perils during this time of danger, led him to enter the ministry. After a careful study of the Bible he went to Rev. J.H. Barnes and made known the fact that strong convictions had decided him to unite with the Baptists. He was received into the fellowship of Liberty Church (Dover Association) of which Mr Barnes was pastor, and here on August 26, 1876, he was ordained. In January, 1878, he accepted the care of the Antioch Baptist Church Dover Association. He resigned this church in 1890, but only because the moderator of the Association was seeking to consolidate fields. This change was a distinct sacrifice to him. He left true friends to enter upon work with new and untried brethren; nor was his salary on his new field as large as it had been. From Antioch he went to the pastorate of Emmaus in New Kent County. In 1877 he did missionary work at New Kent Courthouse that led to the building there of the Corinth Baptist Church which was dedicated in November, 1878. He at once became the pastor, and remained in this office until shortly before his death, when he resigned whereupon he was made emeritus pastor. As a preacher he was earnest, sympathetic, forceful, with the missionary spirit. He gave liberally of his own means and was careful that every object of the General Association should be presented to his churches no blanks stood opposite the names of his churches in the list of contributions. Rev. J.T. Tucker who knew his work for twenty years and on whose tribute to him this sketch is mainly based says: "I have never known a serious division to arise in any one of his churches nor the desire of even a few that he should resign To me it seemed that all men loved him." His death took place February 10, 1900. 

- Virginia Baptist Ministers. 4th Series, George Braxton Taylor,    J. P. Bell Company, Incorporated, 1913

His "highly respected" parents were George Washington Richardson and Susan née Goddin.