VA SJR199

Pilgrim Baptist Church celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2025, having been originally founded in 1900 by Reverend William Thomas in Miller's Field near the 1600 block of Chamberlayne Avenue in Richmond

The church reorganized in 1917 after Christina Kemp and her daughter Carrie Satterwhite maintained a Sunday school following the original congregation's disbandment, eventually growing to 200 members

Reverend Dr. Sylvester L. Turner served as pastor from 2013 until his passing in 2026, overseeing facility renovations and the ordination of three new ministers

The Virginia General Assembly formally commends the church for its 125 years of service to education, outreach, and social justice in the Richmond community

Resolution agreed to by the Senate on March 10, 2026, and the House of Delegates on March 12, 2026