University of Virginia Library

THE CHURCHES OF NORFOLK COUNTY AND ELIZABETH RIVER PARISH.

As we hear of a minister in 1637, we must suppose that some
kind of a church was erected in Norfolk at that early period. The
first churches were always rude and indifferent, destined soon to
pass away. There were, indeed, very many such even to the time
of the Revolution.

I have no information concerning the old churches except that
contained in a vestry-book commencing in 1749 and ending in
1761. At the close of it a new vestry-book is spoken of as about
to be. Doubtless there was one, but it is nowhere to be found.

In the year 1750, there is, in the old one, a record evidently
alluding to St. Paul's Church that now is, and to one that had been
there some time before, but how long cannot be ascertained. It is
ordered in that year that Mr. James Pasteur be allowed to have
the bricks and timber of the old church to build a house on the
school-land,—a school-house, we suppose. This proves that the
present St. Paul's was built before 1750, and that there was a brick
church some time before this on or near the same place. It is
otherwise known that St. Paul's was built in 1739. There is an
entry showing that Mr. Smith, the minister, received sixteen thousand-weight
of tobacco for preaching at the mother-church, (St.
Paul's, in Norfolk) and four thousand for each of the three chapels,—that
at the Great Bridge, where the first battle of the Revolution
was fought, that at Tanner's Creek, and the Southern Branch
Chapel. In the year 1753, a Western Branch Chapel is also spoken
of. There are, I believe, some remains of one or more of these
chapels to this day. In regard to St. Paul's; in the year 1750,
we have an account of some of the interior of the same. It is
ordered "that Captain John Cook, Captain John Shriff, Captain
John Calvert, and Mr. Charles Sweny be allowed to build a gallery
in the church in Norfolk, reaching from the gallery of Mr.
John Taylor to the school-boys' gallery, to be theirs and their heirs'
forever." Also, "that Mr. Mathew Godfrey, Mr. William Nash,
Captain Trimagan Tatum, and Mr. William Ashley have leave to
build a gallery from the pulpit to the school-boys' gallery, to be
theirs and their heirs' forever." The whole church in each member

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, NORFOLK, VA.

of the cross was, therefore, galleried by private individuals, except
that set apart for the school-boys. It appears from the foregoing
extracts that there was one church (St. Paul's) and four chapels,
with one minister and three readers. The readers were Chamberlaine,
Granbury, and Nash.

One-half of the glebe rented for thirty-six shillings; but there
were parish servants, and a parsonage which cost £131 10s. After
the building of the new church (Christ Church) in 1800, St. Paul's
was for a time loaned to the Baptist denomination, and was used
first by the white and afterward by the coloured portion of that
denomination. But in the year 1832 it was resumed and repaired
by the Episcopalians and solemnly consecrated by Bishop Moore.
It must not be omitted on our record that, during the war, all the
combustible materials of St. Paul's were consumed by the fire which
laid the town in ashes. The well-built walls, however, not only
resisted the fire, but the cannon-balls of our foe. There is still to
be seen a considerable indentation in the corner of one of them
made by a ball from the frigate Liverpool, and the ball itself may
also be seen in the vestry-room, although a Governor of Virginia
has petitioned that it might be placed in the public library at Richmond.
The communion-plate was taken by the enemy and carried
to Scotland. Some tidings of it have recently been received,
and hopes are entertained of its recovery.[81]

In relation to the other church in Norfolk, which was built in
1800, that was also destroyed by fire in the year 1827. A new
one, the present Christ Church, was immediately erected, which,
being planned before the new style of architecture was introduced,
(one so unfavourable to both speaker and hearer, in winter and in
summer,) is one of the most capacious and comfortable churches in
the land, and when well lighted up at night, and filled with worshippers,
as it almost always is, presents to the eye one of the most
delightful spectacles on earth.[82]

I would that it were in my power to furnish a larger list of the
vestry of the old church in Norfolk, but the brief term of twelve
years, to which the vestry-book is limited, forbids. Among the first
was Colonel Samuel Boush, who gave the land on which St. Paul's
and its graveyard stands, and whose tombstone, at the door of the
church, tells where his body lies. Himself, Colonel George Newton,
Colonel William Crawford, Captain William Hodges, Captain
Willis Wilson, Mr. Charles Sweny, Captain James Joy, Captain
John Shriff, and Mr. Samuel Boush were the first vestrymen on
the book. The two last were in place of Mr. John Scott and Captain
Samuel Langley, former vestrymen. To the above, at different
times, were added, Colonel Robert Tucker, Mr. Mathew Godfrey,
Mr. James Webb, Thomas Newton, Major John Willowby, Captain
George Yeale, Mr. Robert Tucker. This list comes down to 1761.
Should the new vestry-book which then commenced be discovered,
the list can be greatly enlarged.[83]