Blackwater Road is to the far left in this photo - photo is taken from the south of the church in the side cemetery section.

" The Blackwater Baptist Church, said to be an offshoot of the Pungo Baptist Church [present day Oak Grove Baptist Church], was constituted in 1774.
The first reference in the Princess Anne County Records to the Blackwater Church was in November 1787. Captain John Woodward made a gift of a parcel of land to the Blackwater Baptist Community. The given boundaries were vague but its land was described as beginning at a sweet gum standing on the edge of a branch [aka: creek].
The land was to revert to Captain Woodward or his heirs when it ceased being used for a church – this reversion did not take place.
Over fifty years later, in 1846, Henry R. Whitehurst sold about 4-1/2 acres for a Baptist Meeting House to the Trustees of the church. It was part of the land on which Mr. Whitehurst resided, that he had earlier purchased from Mr. James E. Bell. The land was to begin at a cedar post on the edge of the road leading from Blackwater Bridge to the Mill Dam Bridge. The present church was probably built shortly after the purchase of this land.
Mr. George Carrington Mason, Historiographer, in "Colonial Churches of Tidewater Virginia", stated that since there were no chapels in Knotts Island and Blackwater, "Reading places were established, probably in private homes, where the clerk of the Pungo Chapel read the service of the church." This was clearly evidenced by an order of the Vestry dated 7th July 1725. "
[source: "Old Churches, Their Cemeteries and Family Graveyards Of Princess Anne County, Virginia", compiled by Laurie Boush Green & Virginia Bonney West, copyright 1985, pages 93-94.]

Photo was taken from across Blackwater Road from the church.

" In 1774, a group organized by members dismissed from the Pungo congregation [present day Oak Grove Baptist Church] planted a church in Blackwater, led by George Plummer and Thomas Armistead. Prior to organization, ministers passing from Camden [N.C.] to Pungo Church would preach occasionally. For 10 years itinerant pastors served the Blackwater congregation until they hired their first permanent pastor, William Sorey, in 1784. He served them until his death in 1811. In 1787 Princess Anne County records refer to the Blackwater Baptist Community for the first time. Captain John Woodward donated a parcel of land for use by the Baptists as long as it remained in use for a church. Such land would revert to him or his heirs if the use changed. The reversion never took place. In 1791, Blackwater became one of the founding churches of the Virginia Portsmouth Baptist Association. The first building was destroyed in 1837. Property was purchased in 1846, and the present building was constructed in 1860. Baptisms were performed in the Blackwater River until extensive renovations and additions brought the sanctuary to its present day size. "
[source: "The Oak Grove Baptist Church Historical Book and Remembrances", compiled by the Church Historical Committee, copyright 2001-2006, page 8]

Blackwater Baptist Church Cemetery -- facing Blackwater Road, section of cemetery that lies directly behind the church building

Blackwater Baptist Church Cemetery -- facing Blackwater Road, section of cemetery that lies to the side of the church building

Blackwater Baptist Church was located in the rural, southern section of what was Princess Anne County, Virginia. In 1963, Princess Anne County became an extinct county when it became the present day city of Virginia Beach. Today, the Blackwater area of Virginia Beach is still very rural and remote from the crowded northern part of the city. Blackwater Baptist Church is located at 6000 Blackwater Road, Virginia Beach, 23457 and the phone number is (757) 421-9606. They maintain a website at www.blackwaterbaptist.org.
Heading south on Blackwater Road, the church is located on the left-hand side of the road across from where it intersects with Indian Creek Road. The church sits on a large parcel of well cared for land, with the cemetery in the large and open backyard and sideyard areas of the church. Blackwater Baptist Church sits a little less than 3 miles north of the North Carolina/Virginia state line.