History of Norfolk County, Virginia and representative citizens, V.1, Part 33

Author: Stewart, William H. (William Henry), 1838-1912
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1008

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St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, Ports- mouth,

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has had its location changed and been entirely rebuilt during the last two years. The old brick building and lot on Court street were

In 1896 St. John's Church reported to the convention 76 communicants. This year ( 1900) it will report about 175, a gain of over 100 per cent. in the last four years. St. John's has its mission in the rapidly growing suburb of Port Norfolk. The value of St. John's Church property, including lot for parish build- ; ing. is about $31.000.

The okl St. John's Church was established in May, 1848, and the church building conse- crated May 29. 1850. The first rector was Rev. . of property and money paid out in 1897-98. James Chisholm, who died of yellow fever September 15. 1855. Then followed Rev. Robert Jope from March, 1856, to December, St. Luke's (Norfolk) $77.538 625 1838: Rev. Henry Wall. 1861-62; Rev. John St. Peter's ( Norfolk. 8.950 230 Crosby. 1865: Rev. R. H. McKim. 1866 67: St. Paul's ( Norfolk) ... Christ ( Norfolk ) 554 308 79.200 Rev. John Steele. 1868: Rev. J. D. Powell, Trinity ( Portsmouth ) .. 35! 43.000 45.600 1868 to 1895; Rev. Z. S. Farland, December St. Paul's ( Berkley). 80 St. Thomas' ( Perkley) : . St. John's ( Portsmouth ) .. 3.200 1, 1895- 5.000 50 So 6,600

ST. BRIDE'S PARISH.

There are two Episcopal churches and two missions in St. Bride's Parish : but for many years the church work in this parish was ex- tinct. The first church was built in 1662 at Great Bridge, on the Great Road just oppo- site the point where the New Mill Creek road joins this great highway to North Carolina. Rev. James Pasteur was the first pastor. It is said that tlie funeral rites of Captain Fordyce, the English officer, who was killed in the bat- tle of Great Bridge. took place in this church, and that Rev. John Hamilton Rowland, grand- father of Thomas B. Rowland of Norfolk, officiated. Sometime in the year 1776, Rev. Emanuel Jones, Jr., became the minister. In the year 1787, Rev. Needler Robinson was the rector, but remained only one year. The church went into disuse and was torn down about the year 1845.

Rev. Robert Gatewood established St. Paul's Church in Berkley in 1872, reviving the sold. and a handsome stone church erected on . work of St. Bride's Parish; afterward St. the corner of London and Washington streets. : Thomas' Church was organized : and since two It was dedicated September 1, 1898. The church is of graceful proportions and of purely Gothic architecture. missions .- St. Mary's and Money Point, -- have been established. Rev. E. C. Burr was the first rector of St. Thomas' Church ; he was succeeded by Rev. J. R. Hubert. D. D., and Rev. H. S. Lancaster. The present rector is Rev. Clarence N. Conant.

Since 1637 the Episcopal Church in Nor- folk County has grown rapidly in wealth and influence, and added much in strengthening the moral and religious forces of this section.

Below we give the names of Protestant Episcopal churches in Norfolk, Portsmouth and Berkley, number of members, valuation

Money

Members. Valuation. paid out.

$11.000

4.000

. 10.801

7.520

7.805

398

432

1.857

CHAPTER XIV

CHURCHES AND BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS-Continued

CATHOLIC CHURCHES-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES-HEBREW SYNAGOGUES -- CHURCH OF CHRIST (DISCIPLES)-LUTHERAN CHURCH-CHRISTIAN CHURCHES-BAPTIST CHURCHES-METH- ODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES, SOUTH-BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Norfolk.

Of which Rev. Father John J. Doherty is pas- tor and Father O'Hara is assistant, occupies as its church domicile one of the finest speci- mens of Gothic architecture in Virginia. Just when the first Catholic Church in Norfolk was erected is in doubt, but on the grounds occu- pied by the present edifice there existed to late as IS50, an old church building, which had been for many years abandoned, the congrega- tion worshiping in a church building the walls of which are to a large degree preserved in the large Doric edifice at the rear of the present church, which until its destruction by fire in 1856 was used as a church, and which. since then rebuilt, was for many years used as the domicile of .St. Mary's Male Academy, and since the removal of that valuable school to its present habitat. some three years ago, has been used as a hall for school and church fetes.

The present church edifice was dedicated in 1858. It was built under the supervision and as the result of the labors of Rev. Father O'Keefe, who succeeded Rev. Father Hitzel- berger in 1852, at the end of a ro years' pas- torate, and was pastor of the church through the terrible yellow fever scourge of 1855, re-

maining at his post of duty with a heroism that won the hearts of Norfolk people without ref- erence to denominational beliet.

The destruction of the church by fire in 1856 was a heavy blow to the congregation, but, rallying under Father O'Keefe's leader- ship. with splendid determination and self- sacrifice they put their shoulders to the task, and the new church building was the result. The old church was named St. Patrick's, but in 1354 the dogma of the immaculate conception was promulgated by Pope Pius IN, and the new church was the first of any prominence, if not the first, in fact, in this country to take the " name of St. Mary's of the Immaculate Concep- tion. The building alone ( the shell) cost $65 .- 000, and to-day the property is valued at be- tween $125,000 and $150.000. It is now free from debt, and may be consecrated in the near future. Father Doherty has for 20 years been pastor of the church, and has seen it grow to a position of power and influence that must be pleasant to contemplate : he numbers in his con- gregation many of the most prominent of Nor- folk's citizens.

The church has under its care St. Mary's Male Academy, St. Mary's Female Academy and Orphan Asylum, and the St. Vincent de Paul Hospital.

St. Mary's Male Academy is under the

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY

direct administration of the Xavierian Broth- ers. It is situated in a square bounded by Holt. Reilly, Mariner and Walke streets, has ample grounds, and has now about 200 names on its rolls.

Another branch of Christian education un- der the charge of St. Mary's Church is the St. Mary's Female Academy and Orphan Asylum, both under the care and government of the Sisters of Charity, the first of which has about 200 pupils. on its rolls. the latter caring for some 50 orphans; to each is given the loving care and direction for which the Sisters are noted.

The data obtained in this sketch of St. Mary's Catholic Church only dates back as far as 1852. when Rev. Father Mathew O'Keefe became the pastor : the congregation was wor- shiping at that time in the old church on Holt street, known as St. Patrick's,-on the morn- ing of December 8, 1856, this church was de- stroyed by fire, only three of its walls being left standing. Arrangements were at once made to rebuild, using the old house as a temporary place of worship while the new church was in course of erection, and on March 25 the con- gregation was again in possession of their old church. On the same day, which was the fes- tival of the Annunciation, the corner-stone of the present edifice. St. Mary's, was laid, and on the 3d of October, 1858, it was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bishop McGill. In the interval between the laying of the corner-stone and the dedication of St. Mary's edifice the congrega- tion continued to worship in their old church, while the work of erecting the new one was vigorously entered upon and pushed forward to completion.

The present church, which is one of the handsomest and most imposing edifices in the city, was completed at a cost of $125.000. Since the building of this church an elegant pastor's residence adjoining it on the corner of Chapel and Virginia streets was erected at a cost of $12,000. St. Mary's Female Acad- emy and Orphan Asylum cost $30,000. The

total valuation of the church property is $182,000.

The present pastor, Rev. Father John J. Doherty. succeeded Rev. Father O'Keefe in the fall of 1887. over 13 years ago, and under his ministrations the church has grown in numbers and influence. The present member- ship of St. Mary's is about 2.000 souls.

Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Norfolk.

In 1895 a number of the members, realizing the importance of having a second church in the city, withdrew from St. Mary's and formed a new congregation under the name of the Sacred Heart Church. A lot was purchased on the corner of York and Dunmore streets at a cost of $23,000, and a neat edifice erected thereon for $7,000. This church was built under the supervision of its first pastor, Rev. Father McCarty, who was succeeded by Rev. Father T. J. Wilson, whose successor is the present pastor, Rev. Father R. A. Drake. The membership consists of 1,000 souls.

St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, Ports- mouth.

The following historical account of this church was written by Mrs. Olivia S. Cooke, one of its oldest communi- cants.

The five Catholic churches which have been erected in the parish, now the city, of Portsmouth, Wirginia, were all under the patronage of St. Paul.

Early in the nineteenth century the land on which the present church was built was given by Patrick Robertson for that purpose; he also gave the land situated on the north side of High street, adjoining the land on which is now the Ocean House, with the tenements thereon, said land extending to Middle street. This was given for the benefit of the church when it should be erected. The congregation at that time was very small. consisting of a few French and Irish families.

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The first church was a very small brick edi- fice, placed well back from either street and facing east, with a brick floor level with the ground. Immediately beyond the stone door- sill was the grave of the donor, covered with a marble slab. upon which his name was en- graved. The sacristy was in the northeast corner of the building and separated from the body of the church by tongue and grooved slabs ; there was neither pulpit nor organ, and the whole interior was very plain. When this church was built the writer does not know. This parish was attended by the priest of Nor- folk, who also had a small congregation, com- posed of French refugees from San Domingo, who came here in October, 1799. The name of the reverend father was DeLacy, who was also a refugee. The first priest who came to take charge of the Portsmouth congregation was Rev. Joseph Van Horsigh, a native of Antwerp, who came in 1824, and remained un- til 1834, when he was sent to Washington, D. C., where he lived until his death, April. 1851.

The congregation increased so rapidly. it was found necessary to have a larger building ; therefore the first church was pulled down and replaced by a very attractive building. This church was built of brick. stuccoed all over. and the floor was about four feet from the ground. . Unlike its predecessor. it faced High street and was located back about eight feet from the pavement. This building was erected during the pastorate of Rev. Father Joseph Van Horsigh. After the church was com- pleted a row of cedars was planted on the west, northi and east sides. which gave the building a very picturesque appearance. A handsome fence separated the steps to the en- trance of the church from the street, and just inside the gate was a willow tree on either side, which added greatly to beautify the pic- ture. In this church there was a pulpit, an organ gallery, which was placed over the door, an organ and a bell. Over the sanctuary altar, which was opposite the entrance to the church,

were the words in large gilt letters, "Rever- ence My Sanctutary.

After Rev. Father Horsighi left the parish, in 1834, the next priest who succeeded him was a young German by the name of Burgess, who did not speak English very plainly; he only remained six months. After his removal the next priest who came was Rev. Father Joseph Stoakes; he remained about 18 months or more. The congregation was then without a priest for nearly two years, when, in the spring of 1839, Rev. Father Walter Moriarty was sent to take charge of the seemingly for- gotten congregation.

During Rev. Father Moriarty's time he had the church frescoed; the designs were "The Crucifixion," over the altar; "The Im- maculate Conception," on one side of the altar, and "The Annunciation," on the other side. and the "Twelve Apostles," six on each side of the church. The Rev. Father remained in charge until August, 1844.

From that time until October of the same year the Catholic flock was left again without a shepherd, when the dear Lord took com- passion on this poor parish and sent to it Rev. Father Devlin, the priest and martyr. He re- mained in charge of the Portsmouth congre- gation 11 years, when he, too, was taken from it. In 1855, when the two cities of Ports- mouth and Norfolk were visited by the dread- ful scourge, yellow fever, the good father was indefatigable in his efforts to relieve the sick of all grades, classes and religions, without any distinction, until, overcome by the terrible strain upon his system, he, too. fell a victim to the fever. After rallying twice. the third at- tack conquered and he was called to fill a martyr's grave. He did not leave his charge without a monument to his memory, which was the third church built on the same site.

The congregation having the second time outgrown the church, the one built during the administration of Rev. Father Van Horsigh was pulled down and a much larger one built. This church was commenced in 1851, and also

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY

fronted High street and stood a little back from the street. The first mass offered up in this church was on Sunday, February 13, 1853. and Rey. Father Joseph H. Plunkett, a.dear friend of Father Devlin's. preached at night on "Purgatory." After the death of Father Der- quested his place, and was sent in January, 1856, to fill it. Notwithstanding the havoc made in the congregation by the fever, the church had to be enlarged by running galleries on the east and west sides of the building.

This church was of short duration, for it was scarcely finished when it was leveled to the ground by fire in April, 1859, caused by the hand of an incendiary; not. as at first be- lieved, from any malice to Catholics, but as a means to rescue friends who were confined in the jail, which building was on the southeast corner of High and Washington streets, op- posite the church. This belief was strength- ened by the absence of the very persons the next morning : how they escaped no one knew, but all thought it occurred during the excite- ment at the fire, especially as many persons remembered seeing a hack standing not far from the jail on Washington street.

The fourth church was commenced as soon as arrangements could be made to begin so great an undertaking. The first thing that was done was to fill up the marsh on the west side of the church, for that part of the yard, as well as what is now Washington street, was then, and for many years previous, nothing but a marsh. After that the foundation of the fourth church was commenced. making the front on Washington street, with an entrance also on High. This church was commenced about 1860, but many years elapsed before it was completed, the war between the States being a drawback. It was, however, so ar- ranged that it could be used for divine service.

At the close of the war Rev. Father Plun- kett began to solicit subscriptions and was en- abled to improve his handsome edifice greatly. This church was very much larger than any of the others, and yet none too large, as the con-

gregation had increased in proportion. Like its predecessor, it met the same sad fate, as it was burned to the ground on Sunday, 4 A. M., March 28, 1897.

Rev. Father Plunkett, like his friend, Fa- ther Devlin, did not live to see the destruction lin in October, 1853. Rev. Father Plunkett re- >of his beautiful monument, for his anxiety and efforts to get the church completed brought on a spell of sickness. which finally caused his death at St. Vincent's Hospital, Norfolk, Vir- ginia, on February 3, 1870. Father Plunkett was brought over to his home on the following day and laid in state before the altar on which he had offered up the holy sacrifice so often; he was buried on Sunday, February 6, at the foot of the altar. just on the outside of the sanctuary rail. Rev. Father William Hanley was sent as assistant to Father Plunkett dur- ing his sickness and remained for some time after his death.

Rev. Father Thomas J. Brady was sent to take charge of the parish, which had been filled for 14 years by the much beloved and lamented Father Plunkett. Rev. Father Brady took charge in October, 1870, and went to work with a good will and determination to carry on the work which was so well begun by Rev. Fathers Devlin and Plunkett. In the course of time Rev. Father William Hanley was sent as his assistant. Rev. Father Brady by his efforts had nearly relieved the church of the debt commenced by Father Plunkett, when it was burned. The pressure on the mind of our good and much beloved pastor. Rev. Fa- ther Brady, caused by. this terrible calamity, was very great. However, steps were immedi- ately taken to build another and much hand- somer church, and on February 2, 1898, the first dirt was thrown up to begin its founda- tion. Father Brady began work with a firm determination, and by his zeal and the exer- tions of his congregation, with the kind assist- ance of outside friends, the fifth and the most beautiful church of all is on a fair way of being completed in a much shorter time than was at first expected. As this will be the good father's monument. it is to be hoped he will not

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only live to see it completed, but that he will live to offer up divine service in it for many years yet to come.

The first sacrament of confirmation that ever took place in the Catholic Church in Ports- mouth was it 1830, in the first little church. Archbishop Whitefield. Fourth Archbishop of Baltimore, was the celebrant, and Mrs. Olivia S. Cooke is the last of that little band who were then made soldiers of Christ. The first marriage that ever took place in church was in the second edifice; the parties were Miss Vir- ginia Bilisoly, daughter of Sylvester Antonio Bilisoly and sister of the late Joseph A. Bilisoly, to Dr. Laurensco Jose Moniz, of Lis- bon, Portugal. Rev. Father Van Horsigh per- formed the ceremony, which took place in July. 1833. The second marriage, which took place in the same church, was that of Patrick Henry Cooke to Olivia S. Bilisoly, on Monday. Sep- tember 16, 1844. The stationed priest of Nor- folk at that time. Rev. Father Alexander Hitz- elberger, was the celebrant.

(MRS. ) OLIVIA S. COOKE.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.

First Presbyterian Church, Norfolk.

Presbyterianism in Norfolk is a heritage from the early days of religious life and ac- tivity in America. Rev. Francis Mackemie was one of the first and most prominent of the apostles of this faith in the New World. His labors were spent chiefly in Maryland and the region northward, but in May, 1684, he vis- ited the part of Virginia lying on the Elizabeth River, and there found an organized Presby- terian Church, of which, in a letter preserved by the Massachusetts Historical Society, he says : "I found there a desolate people mourn- ing the loss of their dissenting minister, whom the Lord had been pleased to remove by death the previous summer." We may infer that their work began some time before this, and date the beginning of their church life some time about the year 1680. From this time to 1710 there are no records of the church. This

fact may be readily accounted for, however, by the periods of intolerance and persecution, of long duration, through the intervening years.

From the records of the Norfolk County Court we learn that Rev. Josias Mackie was licensed in 1692 to preach at three points .- the house of Thomas Ivy, on the Eastern Branch ; the house of Richard Phillpot. on Tan- ner's Creek, and the house of John Roberts, on the Western Branch, and, in 1696. the house of John Dickson, on the Southern Branch. . It a court held for Norfolk County in January, 1714 .-

These are to certify to their worships, His Majes- ty's justices for Norfolk County. that I the subscriber do pitch upon a house, last summer erected and now built upon the land belonging unto Richard Butt. Senr., in the Southern Branch for one of our appointed places of public meeting for divine worship and administra- tion of Gospel ordinances, requesting that the same may he entered a record under my hand the first year of His Majesty's reign, this 17th day of January. 1714. JOSIAS MACKIE.

The above request granted and ordered to be re- corded, THOS. BUTT, Deputy Clerk.

Norfolk became a town in 1705. Mr. Mackie died in 1716, as recorded by the Nor- folk County Court, and his people are spoken of in a letter of the Philadelphia Presbytery as "the congregation on the Elizabeth River."

In 1801 the General Assembly appointed Rev. Benjamin Grigsby to itinerate through the lower parts of Virginia. By invitation of the church in the borough of Norfolk, of which John McPhail and William McKinder were ruling elders, he became identified with its" work, and during the year 1802-03 succeeded in having a building erected at a cost of $12 .- 000. This building still stands at the corner of Bank and Charlotte streets, in good preser- vation; and the church organization in the "Borough of Norfolk" continues as the First Presbyterian Church. In 1814 the number of communicants in this church was 43. In 1840 the congregation, which numbered 122 com- municants, removed to its new building on Church street, which is the present spiritual

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY

home of the large and flourishing assembly of their descendants and successors.

From the completion of the church build- ing in 1802 to the year 1822 the elements for the communion service in the church were fur- nished by the grandmother of Hugh Blair Grigsby and John B. Whitehead, and from that date to December, 1800, by their mother ; and by Mrs. John B. Whitehead, with the ex- ception of three years during the Confederate War, until her death, and then by her daughter until the present time. So from under the same roof for a hundred years less five have been borne the sacred elements for communion in the First Presbyterian Church.

PASTORS.

Rev. Francis Makemie. 1683-1692

Rev. Josias Mackie. 1692-1716

Rev. Benjamin Grigsby 1801-1810

Rev. John H. Rice, D. D. 18II-1814

Rev. John D. Paxton. D. D 1814-1819

Rev. Joshua T. Russell. 1820-1824

Rev. Shepard K. Kollock, D. D. 1825-1834

Rev. John D. Matthews. D. D. 1835-1840

Rev. Samuel J. Cassells. . 1841-1846

Rev. S. J. P. Anderson. D. D .. 1846-1851

Rev. G. D. Armstrong. D. D .. LL. D .. 1851-1891 Rev. James I. Vance. D. D. .. . Oct. 2, 1891-Feb. 1. 1895 Rev. James R. Howerton. D. D. June 19. 1895 Rev. Edward Mack, D. D. 1900 -

In 1851 Rev. George D. Armstrong be- came pastor, and for 40 years continued in the relation, sharing with the church the joy of her achievements, as well as the sadness and burden of her trials. These latter were no ordinary dispensations, such as are common to men, but scenes of bleeding hearts, and want and death-of pestilence and war. In 1855, during the summer of the pestilence, the church was brought almost to desolation. By the Ist of September only 87 communicants remained in the city. Some had died and many had fled from the fever. The pastor remained. Of the 87 remaining members few escaped the pesti- lence, and 32 died. After the scourge passed away hope returned, the life of the church was revived and she kept on her way until the war came on, and again her trials were multiplied.

Her pastor was removed under an arbitrary military order and confined to a harsh military exile for 15 months.

After the war prosperity returned and the church continued to be a center of light and of moral and spiritual power in the community, an exponent of evangelical Christianity and a perpetual admonition against all unrighteous- ness.

In July, 1891, the congregation celebrated the 40th anniversary of the installation of Dr. Armstrong as pastor. This anniversary also marked the termination of the pastorate that had been so long and tenderly cherished.

Rev. Edward Mack, D. D., is the pastor of the church at this writing ; there are 17 offi- cers, a membership of 600, and the estimated value of church property is $85.000.

All the Presbyterian churches of the com- munity, including those of Portsmouth and Berkley, are the offspring of this mother church.

Second Presbyterian: Church, Norfolk,

Was organized in 1872 with 50 members, three elders and three deacons. In February, 1873, Rev. N. M. Woods was called to the pastorate, and the present church building on Freemason street was erected at a cost of about $15,000. After the retirement of Rev. Mr. Woods, Rev. F. O. Frierson was called to the pastorate, and continued in charge for several years. He was succeeded by Rev. R. Moreton, who continued to supply the pulpit for a limited time.

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History of Norfolk County, Virginia and representative citizens, V.1, Part 33

Author: Stewart, William H. (William Henry), 1838-1912 Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1008

Author: Stewart, William H. (William Henry), 1838-1912
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1008