 Alexander Baptist Church was constituted on August 15, 1943 with 28 charter members. Rev. Merrell P. Callaway was called as Alexander's first pastor in September, 1943. He resigned in January 1945 to become a missionary to Syria.
Dr. T.W. Callaway accepted an interim pastoralship and he served until October 1945. Dr. Callaway was asked to accept the position as the permanent pastor but declined so that he could teach at the Mt. Preachers School in Kentucky.
In November 1945, Rev. James Burke became the second pastor of Alexander. Rev. Burke resigned in November 1946 to resume his studies at Bible School. Dr. T.W. Callaway very graciously consented to return and act as the supply pastor until the church could secure another pastor.
Rev. H.L. Tolbert was asked to serve and he accepted and became Alexander's third pastor on March 1, 1947. Rev. Tolbert retired in 1975. In February 1976, Rev. Ray O. Jones became the fourth pastor until Rev. Alan G. Moor was called in October 1984. Rev. Moor, the fifth pastor, served until he retired on February 25, 1996.
Roscoe Musselwhite accepted the position as interim pastor in March 1996 and served until May 25, 1997. On June 1, 1997 Dr. Archie Corbin was called as the sixth pastor. Pastor Corbin served for 11 years until he resigned on June 08, 2008 to pursue a new assignment.
The
church members first met in the Moffett Elementary School building in
1943. In 1955, the members of Alexander Baptist moved into their new
building at 3801 Turnpike Road in Portsmouth, Virginia. Over
time, the building became inadequate for the expansion of the growing
Sunday School and Worship services, so the congregation approved the
purchase of the land adjoining the church.
Plans were formulated to enlarge the Sunday School facilities and to build a larger sanctuary. The
new sanctuary building was constructed by Meredith Construction Company
and on September 15, 1968, the first services were held in the new
sanctuary. In June 1988, a new Family Life Center went under
construction and the former Fellowship Hall was converted into office
suites. On September 9, 1989, the members of Alexander held a Sunday School Worker's Appreciation Banquet as their first activity in the new facility.
The
Family Life Center was used regularly thereafter for all Homecomings
and other activities such as housing various youth groups while on
mission trips in the area. The
Family Life Center also held many ministry events such as a
neighborhood basketball outreach, housing the homeless and an athletic
ministry on a weekly basis.
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