The Sabbath Apostolic Churches (created as a result of an initial organizing meeting, May 1977) is an outgrowth of the formally known, Apostolic Jesus Name Churches and Apostolic Faith Holiness Churches.
The Late founders, Evangelist Sue Irene Chappel Edwards (affectionately known as “Mother Sue”) and Elder John Oliver Edwards were a husband-wife ministry team. Both had been affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, U.S.A. each being ordained under different religious diocese, as Missionary (she) and Elder (he).
In the year 1935, they began to conduct services at 812 St. James Street, Richmond, Virginia and later moved to 9 East DuVal Street, Richmond, Virginia. It was during the month of March 1939; Mrs. Edwards met Mrs. Florence G. Carter during a transit (local bus ride) that the idea of a more permanent facility spawned. During their brief encounter, Mrs. Carter stated that her church Fairfield Baptist Church was moving to another location from their present location 2129 Fairfield Avenue, Henrico County, Virginia; at that time she proffered Mrs. Edwards a chance to assure ownership and occupancy (this later became City of Richmond property after the City annexed the area in 1942). The condition of Mrs. Edwards acceptance was that she agree to bring the structure up to code standards; albeit, the property was conveyed April 10, 1939. After several months of restoration, the first worship service in the existing structure did not take place until August 1, 1944.
During the ensuing years of ministry, numerous prayers fellowships for the homebound occurred; as a consequence, several “Missions Churches” were created as an extension from the Mother Church to serve those surrounding localities, jurisdictions and communities which included Surry, VA (1946); Clarksville-Mecklenburg County, VA (1948); Dutch Clap, Chester VA (1951); Newport News, VA (1958); Baltimore County, Maryland (1959); Chesterfield County, South Carolina (1954); Halifax County, North Carolina (1966); Blackstone, VA (1967).