The History of the Mercy Seat Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church
Warfield, VA
The Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church (RZUA) begins with a man by the name of James R. Howell. The ‘R’ reported stood for both Richard and Randolph. His real life begins with Zion. One tradition maintains that he was a native of New York City and was ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. It appears that he was affiliated with the headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware. He was a free born and skilled carpenter. He had credentials of an Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Howell arrived in Virginia from Philadelphia during the latter part of 1865. He migrated to Norfolk, VA but was frustrated in performing work for the Lord. He also traveled to Portsmouth, Hampton and Petersburg and found the situations defeating his purpose. God revealed to Howell to take the train to North Carolina.
He boarded the Petersburg to Weldon Line for parts unknown. The train stopped in Five Forks Boydton in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. He got off the train to stretch his legs. He fell in conversation with a native of the area. In his conversation with the native he learned that Blacks were separated from whites in worship. The Blacks were meeting in the courthouse, abandoned barns, cabins, bush arbors and anywhere available for worship. Elder Howell was convinced that he had found the place where “God had something for him to do”. He returned to the train only to get his baggage. With this decision, Zion was born.
James Howell quickly associated himself with the worshippers of the courthouse of Boydton and won their acceptance. He came to know preachers of the area which included James Braun, John M. Bishop, and George W. Taylor. However, these preachers were not ordained. Howell was welcomed as a shepherd. This period became known as ‘The day the Elder came over the hill’.
Howell used every opportunity to spread Zion. He expanded his circle to include Brunswick County. His efforts during the period of 1868 to 1869 produced eight Zion Societies. These Zion societies were named Saint Paul, Piney Grove, Mission Union, Roanoke Zion, Union Bethel, Free Union, Zion Union, and Mercy Seat. Howell led in organizing Piney Grove, Mission Zion, and Roanoke Zion. George Taylor spearheaded the organization of Saint Paul. Elder Henry Clairborne guided the founding of Union Bethel. Zion Union was founded under Nicholas Coleman. John M. Bishop aided the founding of Free Union and Mercy Seat. Elder Howell assisted in the founding of all. From this faithful work Mercy Seat was born under the leadership of John M. Bishop.
Mercy Seat was built on land given by the slaveholders. The initial church building was built in 1868 by men with a vision. Services were held every second Sunday of the month. Revival was held starting the second Sunday in August. Revival services started on Monday night and ended on Friday night. People worked very hard and were happy to have some place to go day and night. Candidates were baptized in Sturgeon Creek on #1 Highway.
The Mercy Seat Church building was remodeled many times during the years. In the 1950’s, God gave the people of Mercy Seat a vision to build a new church. Plans for the church were drawn up by Trustees Isaac A. Coleman, Sr. and Walter Rice, Jr. These trustees spent many hours and often times, worked until the wee hours in the morning designing plans for the church. The ground breaking was held in April 1957 by Bishop George W. Taylor, Jr. and Reverend Joe Taylor. The contractors were Leonard Fegans, Howard Short, Meade Coleman, Armstead Coleman, and other hired laborers. The building was completed under the leadership of Reverend George Thompson.
On the second Sunday in November of 1959 a pilgrimage march was held. Led by Bishop T. J. Johnson and Reverend George Thompson, the Mercy Seat Church family marched from the old church to the new church while singing Onward Christian Soldier with the church choir. The dedication of the new church was held by Reverend John Ghee on Sunday May 13, 1973.
In August 1981, a ground breaking ceremony was held by Reverend B. T. Hall for an addition of bathrooms and a lounge. Plans were drawn by Roland Mallory, James Hicks, and Henry Rice. The contractors were the Person contractors of Emporia, Virginia. This addition was completed under the leadership of Bishop George H. Studivant in 1983.
In 1990 the officers and members saw the need for a new fellowship hall. Plans for the fellowship hall were drawn by Bruce Morris and Isaac A. Coleman, Jr. of Chester, Virginia. The groundbreaking was held the second Sunday in August 1990. The contractors were Mr. William B. Peterson and Mr. Donald Wilson and their hired helpers. The building was first used in 1991. The baptizing pool was completed in 1994. The first baptism in the new pool was held in June 1994. The first candidates to be baptized were Tameka M. Coleman, Lavonne Jones and Robert Jones. They were baptized by Reverend Donnell Charity, Deacon Willie Edlow, Deacon Isaac A. Coleman, Sr., and Trustee Bernard Knight. In subsequent years, there were a number of beautification and restoration projects including the paving of the parking lot, cemetery restoration and purchase of new pews and carpeting.
Mercy Seat has set goals for incorporating technology to spread the Word of God far beyond the Warfield, VA community and to improve the overall worship experience. In late 2013, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Danny L. Boyd, a committee was formed to develop a website for the church. The website committee included Trustee Joseph Cooke, Jr. (Chairman), Trustee Sandra Cooke-Hull, Trustee Dorothy Yancey, Trustee Henry Jones and Mrs. Dora Wynn, Church Clerk. The Mercy Seat RZUA church website went live in February 2015.
Compiled: October 1994 by Mrs. Catherine Coleman, Assistant Secretary and Trustee Isaac A. Coleman, Jr.
Updated: October 2010 by Deacon Isaac A. Coleman, Jr.
Updated: February 2015 by Trustee Joseph R. Cooke, Jr.