The Founders and the Seminary
On June 8, 1830, during the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, a number of ministers and individuals interested in the cause of education came together at Second Baptist Meetinghouse in Richmond. They discussed plans to create a seminary for the purpose of training young men for the ministry. At that meeting, the Virginia Baptist Education Society was formed and charged with creating a plan. The sum of $250 was pledged to the project at that time. Jeremiah Bell Jeter and James B. Taylor, both young ministers, were leaders of the initiative.At a meeting on August 26, 1830, the Education Society Board approved a course of study for the seminary and defined the session term. Two divisions of study, literary and theological, were approved. The school session was to be 10 months long, beginning October 1 and ending August 1. The committee decided to require two years of study in the Theological Department, or three years if the student had no knowledge of English language and literature. Edward Baptist, Vice-President of the Educational Society, was appointed to be the first teacher.
Six students attended the first school session, which was held at Dunlora in Powhatan County. William Allgood of Dinwiddie was the first student enrolled. Dunlora was the home of Mrs. Ann Hickman. Mrs. Hickman was a relative of Edward Baptist. She provided accommodations for students for $60 for the year. The following year, Eli Ball took students into his home for instruction and Edward Baptist agreed to continue instructing students.
At a meeting held on March 31, 1832, the Education Society agreed to purchase a tract of land to house a seminary to be named "The Virginia Baptist Seminary." The society named Robert Ryland as superintendent, at a salary of $400 per year. Henry Keeling was offered a salary of $360 to serve as agent for the Seminary.
In July 1832, the trustees of the Education Society purchased about 224 acres, known as Spring Farm, for $4,000. The Seminary was established on this property. Buildings on the property provided space to accommodate up to 40 students.
Students were required to be at least 14 years old to enroll. Tuition was set at $30 for the year, board was $60, fees for washing and fuel added $5 to the cost. The Seminary focused on a "literary" or general education. Non-ministerial students were required to pay their own tuition.
Students were required to do manual labor on the farm in order to help cover operating expenses. The labor was unpopular with the students and was abandoned within a few years.
In June of 1834, the Board authorized the sale of Spring Farm in order to move the Seminary to a more desirable location.