RELIGION

Religion DEEP ROOTS OF RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION

Following the Civil War, many African Americans in Hampton received their education in concert with religious studies through the programs of the American Missionary Association, a philanthropic society dedicated to teaching people of color. But while the presence of the association brought new religious ideas to their communities, Hampton’s African American population soon broke away. Forming their own congregations, they were able to worship more inclusively. The churches were also the source of moral and social advancement, initiating and sustaining temperance organizations, fraternal groups, a YMCA, and a host of social gatherings. Membership in one of the eight churches operating in the 1880’s gave a stamp of social acceptability.

The following churches are significant because they represent some of Hampton’s first African American sanctuaries. These are just a few of more than 100 Hampton churches existing today that we invite you to explore during your visit.

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

The year 1610 is significant for Hamptonians for two reasons. It marks the time from which the first English-speaking settlement was established on land that would become Hampton. It also marks the year that Elizabeth City Parish was formed. The oldest English-speaking parish in continuous service in America, the parish that would become that of St. John’s Episcopal Church in 1728, helped other Episcopal parishes organize, including the first black Episcopal congregation in Hampton, that of St. Cyprian Episcopal Church.

At St. John’s, look for the stained-glass window depicting the baptism of Pocahontas. It was given to the church by Native American students from the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in 1887.

(St. John’s Church is located at 100 West Queens Way, Hampton. 757/722-2567. From Interstate 64, take exit 267 toward Downtown. Turn right onto Eaton Street and left onto Queen’s Way. The sanctuary is open to visitors year-round,

Mon., Wed., Fri. and Sat., 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Guided tours by appointment; no tours Sun. or Thurs. a.m. due to services. Closed major holidays. Suggested tour time: 30 minutes.)

ST. JOHN’S CHURCH—TOUR SITE, MOTORCOACH ACCESSIBLE; OPEN TO VISITORS FOR SUNDAY SERVICES

ST. CYPRIAN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Formed in 1905, St. Cyprian’s group was small at first, numbering just 10, and moved from location to location until a permanent sanctuary could be raised. For a short time the black congregation met in the parish hall at St. John’s. In 1907, the first St. Cyprian’s Church was built on Lincoln Street and remained there until 1963, when it moved to a new church on the campus of Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute (now Hampton University). Today, the congregation resides at 1242 West Queen Street.

(St. Cyprian’s Church is located at 1242 West Queen Street, Hampton. 757/723-8253. From Interstate 64, take exit 267 toward Downtown. Continue straight on Settlers Landing Road, crossing the intersection with Pembroke Ave. St. Cyprians will be located immediately on the right. Visitors are welcome to attend Sunday services.)

ST. CYPRIAN’S – DRIVE-BY, MOTORCOACH ACCESSIBLE; OPEN TO VISITORS FOR SUNDAY SERVICES

LITTLE ENGLAND CHAPEL

Little England Chapel is Virginia’s only known African American missionary chapel. The forerunner of the Chapel was Ocean Cottage School, a “Sunday School” established in the community of Newtown by George C. Rowe in 1877. What began with three students attending Sunday classes became so popular that William Armstrong, Samuel Chapman Armstrong’s brother, offered to build a chapel and contributed funds to support a teacher. Built around 1879, the church served black landowners who had purchased lots and built homes in the integrated Hampton community, Newtown. During its more than 100-year history, it served as a non-denominational church, Sunday school, sewing school, Bible study center, meeting facility and the base from which extensive missionary work was conducted. Little England Chapel was vacated in 1989. After an extensive twoyear renovation it reopened in 1993. The chapel offers a permanent exhibit and video program to help visitors understand the religious lives of post-Civil War blacks in (Take I-64, exit 267 and turn onto Settlers Landing Road toward downtown Hampton; Continue to Kecoughtan Road and turn left; turn left onto Ivy Home Road; church is located on the corner. Located at 4100 Kecoughtan Road, Hampton. 757/728-1710. Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and other days by appointment. Free admission; donations accepted. Suggested tour time: 30 minutes.)

TOUR-SITE, MOTORCOACH ACCESSIBLE

QUEEN STREET BAPTIST CHURCH

First known as Second Baptist (considered a branch of First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, Virginia), Queen Street Church was established in 1865 by African Americans from Williamsburg. The group worshiped at various locations including the Hampton Court House and at Butler School near the site of Emancipation Oak. Eventually land was purchased and the church was raised “in town” before eventually moving to its present address on West Queens Way in 1893. Rev. Thomas H. Shorts, who served as pastor from 1883 to 1917, founded the Galilean Fisherman’s Consolidated Bank and served as Vice President of People’s Building and Loan.

(Take I-64 to exit 267. Follow Settlers Landing Road through downtown Hampton; continue to Armistead Avenue, turn right. Turn right on Queens Way. Located at 190 West Queens Way, Downtown Hampton. 757/723-6630)

DRIVE-BY SITE; OPEN TO VISITORS FOR SUNDAY SERVICES

ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH

Antioch Baptist Church was organized September 1, 1895 when the Herbert Family donated land for a school, lodge and church to be constructed in Buckroe. The church founders, Cornelius Dabney, James Wesley, Christiana Everett, Abby Wilkins and Ellen Henry, originated from Zion Baptist Church in Phoebus and Queen Street Baptist Church in downtown Hampton. Before plans were formulated for the church, services were held in the lodge. Church construction began in 1896. The first pastor was Reverend William N. Thornton.

(Antioch Baptist Church is located at 1563 Old Buckroe Rd, Hampton, VA 757/851-7226. From Interstate 64, take exit 267 at Woodland Road. Follow Woodland to

Pembroke Avenue and turn right. Turn left onto Old Buckroe Road. Antioch Baptist Church will be located on the left near the intersection with Buckroe Avenue.)

ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH – DRIVE BY SITE, OPEN TO VISITORS FOR SUNDAY SERVICES

MEMORIAL CHURCH

Located on the campus of Hampton University, Memorial Church is an Italian-Romanesque structure that features an 150-foot tower and four-faced illuminated clock. Built in 1886, the elaborate building was designed by New York architect J.C. Cady. It is still used as a college sanctuary for non-denominational religious services. The chapel is one of six National Historic Landmarks on campus. The pews are made of yellow pine and were built by Hampton trade school students. Carved African American and Native American faces adorn the trim throughout the chapel.

(On Shore Drive on the Hampton University campus. Coordinate tour through the Hampton University Museum. 757/727-5308)

DRIVE-BY SITE, WALKING SITE, MOTORCOACH ACCESSIBLE; OPEN TO VISITORS FOR SUNDAY SERVICES

BETHEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Historic Bethel AME was organized in August 1864, at Camp Hamilton, New Tabb’s Field by Father Peter Sheppard. Father Sheppard, Caroline Segal, Sarah Parker, Merrit Thomas, James Segal, Thad Peeden and Randall Gooden were instrumental in organizing a house of worship on Oak Street (now Wine Street) in Hampton and, following several years of persistent labor, the first brick church was erected on Lincoln Street in 1887. After 85 years of service, and numerous repairs and additions, the present sanctuary, with pastor’s office, classrooms, choir room and other office space, was erected in 1972 under the pastoral leadership of the late Revered R. W. Wisner, with fellowship hall and modern kitchen built later. During its early history, Bethel organized three churches with St. Paul AME of Newport News among them.

(From downtown Hampton, drive north on Armistead Avenue, through intersection with Mercury Blvd. Continue to intersection with Tidemill Road; turn left into school and church parking lot. Church building is closest to cemetery. If you reach Hampton Roads Center Pkwy, you have travelled too far. Bethel AME is located at 2521 N. Armistead Ave., Hampton VA 23666, 757-723-4065. ) First Baptist Church grew out of Hampton Baptist Church, the city’s oldest Baptist congregation, dating from 1791. Before the Civil War, whites and blacks shared the same worship service, with white parishioners utilizing the main sanctuary while blacks worshiped from the balcony. In 1863, black churchgoers separated from the parent body to establish their own place of worship. Land was cleared near Washington and Bailey streets (known then as the “Pee Dee” section of Hampton), and construction of the first small frame church was completed in 1865. First Baptist would move once more before opening its doors in a permanent location at North King Street in 1889. It is believed that General Samuel Chapman Armstrong of the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute laid the cornerstone of the building. First Baptist’s first minister was Reverend Zechariah Evans. The church’s third pastor, Rev. Richard Spiller, also served as the first president of the People’s Building and Loan Association.

(Take Interstate 64, exit 267. From I-64 west, turn left at the exit; from I-64 east, turn right off the exit. Continue over Hampton River, past Radisson Hotel. Turn right on King Street. Located at 229 North King Street in downtown Hampton. 757/723-0988)

DRIVE-BY SITE; OPEN TO VISITORS FOR SUNDAY SERVICES

ZION BAPTIST CHURCH

Zion Baptist Church was also established in 1863. The congregation held house-to-house prayer meetings and open-air assemblies. The Reverend William Thornton, who was formerly enslaved, was its first and only pastor for 39 years. Drawn by his powerful sermons, membership soon grew and a larger structure was raised on County Road (now County Street) in 1869 following the $80 purchase of a half-acre from the American Missionary Association. Zion Baptist Church was instrumental in organizing several other churches in Hampton as well as the Norfolk Union Association. The present building was completed in 1951.

(Take Interstate 64, exit 267. From I-64 West, turn right at the exit; from I-64 East, turn left off the exit. From Woodland Road, turn right onto County Street. Located at 125 West County Street, Phoebus section of Hampton. 757/723-3442)