THE HISTORY OF

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

820 COLONIAL AVENUE, NORFOLK, VA

IN PICTURES:

Churches
Misc
People
Pastors
Tombstones of parishioners and pastors

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OLD BELL CHURCH
From brochure for Centennial Sunday, October 15, 1961
1802-1836
(Catherine (Bank) & Charlotte Streets)

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("The Old Bell Church")
Located at Catherine (Bank) & Charlotte Streets
Became Bank Street Baptist Church around 1840
"The building's present Gothic appearance, including a series of stained glass windows, dates from 1886. Alterations were made by the Negro congregation 26 years after it was purchased from the Presbyterians." George Tucker Virginian-Pilot, May 12, 1966 (See article.)
Another illustration of same church structure.

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First Presbyterian Church
Also know as Second Church
Located on Church Street (across from St. Paul's)
1836-1912
From: Church Directory printed some time between 1925-50
Frontal illustration of same structure. Illustration 2.
Newspaper photo of church in later years.
Interior of church (not confirmed)

In October, 1836, a colony from the original organization erected a building at the corner of Church and Holt Streets which they named the Second Presbyterian Church . Three years later the mother church moved from Bank Street and reunited with the new church, which again became "The Presbyterian Church of Norfolk." This site and building the church occupied till its consolidation with the Ghent Church in 1912.

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First Presbyterian Church
Built in 1912.
Colonial & Redgate Avenues.
Another Illustration.

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Sons of Temperance Membership Certificate
for Rev. George D. Armstrong, D. D.

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Later pictures of Rev. & Mrs. Armstrong

In memoriam.

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PASTOR'S GALLARY

Rev. Benjamin Grigsby

1801 - 1810

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Rev. John H. Rice, D. D.

1811 - 1814

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Rev. John D. Paxton 1814 - 1819

Rev. Joshua T. Russell 1820 - 1824

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Rev. Shepard K. Kollock, D. D.

1825 - 1835
Born June 29, 1795
Died April 7, 1865 in Philadelphia

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Rev. John D. Matthews, D. D.

1835 - 1840

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Rev. Samuel J. Cassells

1841 - 1846

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Rev. S. J. P. Anderson, D. D.

1846 - 1851

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Rev. George D. Armstrong, D. D.

1851 - 1891

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Rev. James I. Vance

1891 - 1895

1938 photo upon professional retirement

Bulletin pages: 1 ** 2 ** Inside.
[Enlarge in browser]

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Rev. J. R. Howerton

1895 - 1896

Bulletin pages: 1 ** 2 ** 3 ** 4

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Rev. Edward Mack

1897 - 1901

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Rev. Joseph Rennie

1902-1912
Pastor of First Presbyterian Church
Both Ghent and First Presbyterian coexisted till 1912 when they consolidated.

Bulletin (front and back only)

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Rev. J. N. H. Summerell 1902 - 1908
Pastor of the Ghent Presbyterian Church

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Rev. Stuart Nye Hutchison

1910 - 1921

Early photo.

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Rev. Joseph G. Venable, D. D.


1921 - 1924

Church Bulletin, February 10, 1924
Front, Inside and Back

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Rev. Jason Leon MacMillan

1925 - 1950
View 2
Church Bulletin, Outside and Inside.
Memorial.

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Rev. Edward H. Jones

1950 - 1962

Church Bulletin, Outside and Inside.

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Andrew R. Bird, Jr.

1963-1979

Bulletin pages: 1 ** 2 ** 3 ** 4

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Rev. J. Shepherd Russell, Jr.
1981 - 2004

Another picture of Rev. Russell

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Rev. James M. Wood, Jr., Senior Pastor
1999 -
Rev. Valena M. Hoy, Associate Pastor
2000 -

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MISCELLANEOUS PICTURES

Daughter Churches
(Pictures taken when the churches were young)

First Presbyterian Church
Portsmouth, Virginia

Founded 1822

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Old Second Presbyterian Church, Freemason Street, organized 1872 (picture taken
January 1980). This was their first structure.

Second Presbyterian Church on Yarmouth Street.
(Second structure.)

3rd and present day structure 2nd Presbyterian Church,
Hampton Blvd.

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Highland Park Presbyterian Church Westminster.
Founded 1914.

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First Presbyterian Church
Virginia Beach, VA
Founded 1920

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Ocean View Presbyterian Church
Founded 1921

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Coleman Place Presbyterian Church
Founded 1929

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Royster Memorial Presbyterian Church
Founded 1941

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Colley Avenue Presbyterian Church,
Colley Avenue near Onley Road
(no longer exists)

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