Saint Joseph Catholic Church Marker

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Richmond, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Saint Joseph Catholic Church

By Bernard Fisher, November 6, 2009

1. Saint Joseph Catholic Church Marker

Inscription. In 1884, Bishop John Keane bought this property and established Saint Joseph, making it the first-known Catholic congregation organized for African Americans in Virginia. The original congregation began in the basement of the all-white Saint Peter's Church in 1879, and grew to 50 members. During the years 1904-1968, this site also contained the Franciscan convent, still standing. Saint Mary's; a two-room school for grades K-12, later named Van de Vyver; a parish house; a trade school; and a two-year business college, Van de Vyver Institute. In 1969, the church and the school were formally cloed by Bishop John J. Russell.

Erected 2008 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number SA 79.)

Location. 37° 32.975′ N, 77° 26.203′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Virginia. Marker is at the intersection of North 1st Street and East Duval Street, on the right when traveling north on North 1st Street. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Richmond VA 23219, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. John Jasper (about 500 feet away, in a direct line); Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church (about 600 feet away); Alfred D. “A.D.” Price (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bill “Bojangles” Robinson (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jackson Ward (approx. 0.2 miles away); Engine Company No. 9 Fire Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); "The Great Chief Justice" (approx. 0.3 miles away); First Trolley Car System in Richmond (approx. 0.4 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Richmond.

The Original Saint Joseph's Bell Photo, Click for full size

By Bernard Fisher, November 6, 2009

2. The Original Saint Joseph's Bell

Also see . . . Many black traditions are victims of desegregation. Richmond-Times Dispatch (Submitted on November 6, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Mechanicsville, Virginia.)