Historic Union Baptist Church in Dover set to officially reopen Sunday

Tornado damaged facility in August 2020

By Mike Finney
Posted 11/11/21

DOVER — A tornado that spawned out of Tropical Storm Isaias on Aug. 4, 2020, slammed into Union Baptist Church in Dover and ripped large sections off the historic building’s roof, rendering it a “condemned property” by the city of Dover fire marshal.

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Historic Union Baptist Church in Dover set to officially reopen Sunday

Tornado damaged facility in August 2020

Posted

DOVER — A tornado that spawned out of Tropical Storm Isaias on Aug. 4, 2020, slammed into Union Baptist Church and ripped large sections off the historic building’s roof, rendering it a “condemned property” by the city fire marshal.

In just a matter of seconds, everything turned upside down at the church property at 883 Lincoln St. and Gibbs Drive in west Dover.

However, with perseverance, hard work and prayers, members of Union Baptist Church — which first organized in Dover in 1902 — will be officially reopening its doors this Sunday.

“Our church has been restored, and on Sunday, November 14, we will celebrate our 119th church anniversary, and at 2:45 p.m., we will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand reopening of our church,” said church member Audrey Evans.

“This will be followed by a worship service at 3:30 p.m., which will have a dual purpose, as we will be introducing and welcoming our new pastor, Dr. Matthew J. Mitchell, to the Dover community.”

For Pastor Mitchell, Union Baptist Church’s reopening affirms the church as a staple in the community — and one with a long legacy.

“It shows the legacy that Union has built,” Pastor Mitchell said Thursday. “At the same time, (the reopening) shows a fresh start, a fresh vision.”

Suddenly, Tropical Storm Isaias seems to be a distant memory for those who attend Union Baptist, which opened its current location Aug. 24, 1969, led by the Rev. James Hazell Williams.

Since sustaining damage, Union’s congregation has been worshiping in other locations, like other churches and schools, before eventually begin able to use its basement after the city deemed it safe to do so.

Even still, Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen and some church members wondered if the church would ever be able to return to its former self.

“The day that the tornado struck, it did quite a bit of damage,” Mayor Christiansen said. “As we assessed the devastation, I got a call about William Henry (Middle School) and Union Baptist and the damage they sustained.

“I went to the church, and the people from the church were uncertain if they were going to be able to repair the church. I am so glad that their faith and determination was able to rebuild this historic church and maintain the congregation.”

Pastor Mitchell preached his first sermon at Union Baptist Church on July 18. From 2001 until earlier this year, he worked in the church-planting field, while preaching as he developed churches in Dayton, Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio.

In 2012, Pastor Mitchell married his high school friend, Keidra. She works alongside her husband in ministry and adds encouragement and support. By profession, she is a nurse.

On Sunday, the pastor and his wife will be formally introduced to the Dover community during the church’s grand reopening.

“It’s really an awesome occasion to just see a staple in the community come back to life and to reopen,” Pastor Mitchell said.

According its website, Union has a vision of being a church that “unites people to God, purpose and community.”

For Pastor Mitchell, celebrating the reopening and his own formal introduction to the community is an opportunity to reinforce that vision.

“Union still has a lot of work to do in the community in changing lives,” he said.

At the time of the devastation left to the church by the tornado in 2020, Mayor Christiansen recalled the significance of it.

“Union Baptist Missionary Church is one of the oldest congregations in the city,” said Mayor Christiansen. “It holds special meaning to me as it was the longtime church of the Rev. J.H. Williams, who was a longtime chaplain of the Dover City Council and was appointed by the late Mayor Crawford J. Carroll.

“Also, my uncle, the late Rev. Roland Coker, preached there. He was appointed as chaplain by me when I was council president.”

Given the history of the building, Pastor Mitchell said it was important to the congregation that as much of the original building be preserved as possible.

To accomplish that goal and due to the amount of damage sustained, Pastor Mitchell said Union hired an architect to oversee repairs.

The mayor said seeing the church return to its place in the community is a blessing for its members and the city’s residents.

“The church is rebuilt and once again is a part of our community and will be for many more years,” Mayor Christiansen said. “Thanks be to God.”

Staff writer Leann Schenke contributed to this story.

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