We trace our Church’s heritage back to Morattico Baptist Church, which is the “Mother” of all Baptist Churches in the Northern Neck. Morattico Baptist was organized during the American Revolution, January 17, 1778. After the Civil War, black members asked to be dismissed from Morattico to form their own church. Letters of dismissal were granted and several African American baptist churches were formed over a short span of time. In 1898, Sharon Baptist Church was organized. The organizers were Frank Wright, Elize Blackwell, Walker B. Byrd, Maria Blackwell, John Blackwell, George Fisher, Jessie Parks, Edmond Gaskins, Herman Gaskins, William Jones and Moses Waddy. The Reverend Levi Reese Ball, Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, Kilmarnock, Virginia was the organizing minister.
The First meeting place was the Gallain Fishermen’s Hall located across the road from the Old Mount Jean School, which joined the church property. Services were continued there until 1900, when the first church was built. One acre of land was purchased from Joe Gunther, who also gave one acre, this giving us the land to build the church.
The first pastor of the church was the Reverend Daniel Tucker, who served from 1900 to 1922. During his administration, the church grew spiritually and significantly. Reverend Tucker was succeeded by the following pastors: (2) Rev. Allen Montague (1923-1934), (3) Rev. William Brew(1935-1943), (4) William Sebree (Interim), (5) Rev. Wallace Mason (1944-1946), (6) Rev. J.J. Banks (1946-1948), (7) Thomas Sanders (Interim), (8) Rev. Leon Baylor (1948-1956), (9) Rev. Royal Nickens (Interim), (10) Rev. Wilson Tolbert (1957-1968), (11) Rev. Norman Dill (1969-1973), (12) Clarence Carter(1974-1998), (13) Rev. Rodney Waller (2000-2008), (14) Rev. Dale Bunns (2010-Present)
Reverend Dale S. Bunns is the senior pastor of Sharon Baptist Church and has faithfully served this community of faith for the past 9 years. He is the oldest of ten (10) siblings born to Mattie Bunns Basker of Wicomico Church, VA. Dale Bunns is married to Kim Crockett Bunns. They have three (3) lovely children: Jeremy, Bobby (deceased), and Kimberly. They currently live in Fleets Bay, located in Lancaster County, Virginia.
Rev. Dr. Leo Charles Brown, Jr., Pastor of True Vine Community Baptist Church in Tacoma, WA licensed Dale to preach in June 1979. Dale was ordained in October 1986 by Joe E. Fisher, Jr. (United States Army Colonel Retired), Pastor of Sheridan Baptist Church in Augsburg,West Germany.
He was first introduced to the faith at the Mount Olive Baptist Church in Wicomico Church, VA. He received his public education in the Northumberland County Public School system. Dale continued his education and graduated from the following schools: Lutheran Theological Seminary in Seattle, WA (Religion), University of Maryland (Business), Lake Washington School of Technology (Aerospace Specialist), and the School of Prayer in Richmond, VA.
He is a member of the Lancaster/Northumberland Ministerial Association, and has served as Assistant Chaplain at the Haynesville Correctional Center in Haynesville, VA. Pastor Bunns is also involved in many community activities serving as the President of the Lancaster County NAACP and an Advisory Board Member of Linking Hope and Help, Inc.
Copyright 2020 © Sharon Baptist Church