Samaritan Baptist Church - Campus History and
Community, WVSU Archives & Special Collections

The Samaritan Baptist Church, located on Route 25 in Institute, WV, borders the campus of West Virginia State University. In 1896, Scott Brown and his wife Alice donated the land in what was then known as Farm, WV, for the specific purpose of establishing a church. Church services were not held every Sunday during the early years; however, by 1949 when Rev. James R. Kelly, Jr. became pastor, church outreach had increased. Kelly, who also served as the Dean of Men at West Virginia State College, paved the way for the Samaritian Baptist Church to become a regular, Sunday worshiping church. During the 1940s, State students were an integral part of the church through Sunday School, Sunday Service, and the Samaritan Baptist Choir.

After nearly 100 years of service to the community, the Samaritian Baptist Church disbanded and operations ceased in the 1990s. As of 2018, the property is for sale. The church was strongly connected to the Institute community and West Virginia State University. The following poem* by Virene W. Mills identifies the spirit of the Samaritan Baptist Church.

The Samaritan Baptist Church
by Virene W. Mills

There is a little white church at Institute on a hill
Where all may come and worship at will.
But some for worship do refrain
Because of the steps they complain.
It ws suggested by Sister Geneva Brown
That we purchase some land on level ground,
That was once owned by the family of the Brown's.
And there build a church on level land below
Where all who can't climb steps may go.
But, even so,
You can't please everybody,
You know.
So you are welcom to the little white church on the hill
Where you may feel at home and worship at will.



The Yellow Jacket article is available as a pdf, by clicking on the "image" of the "Little White Church On The Hill".

The "Special Installation Service" is also available by selecting it's image to the far left.