Holy Neck in Suffolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Somerton Friends Meeting
Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, November 6, 2017
1. Somerton Friends Meeting Marker
George Fox, founder of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), visited this area in 1672 during a missionary journey to Virginia and North Carolina. His visit encouraged Friends who had settled nearby and led to the organization of Somerton Friends Meeting. Members conducted worship in private homes and later built a meetinghouse three miles southwest of here. The Somerton meetinghouse, along with a nearby school for African Americans, was burned in 1866. The congregation constructed its current building on the same site in 1869. Somerton is the oldest active Quaker meeting in Virginia.
Erected 2015 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number U-57.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion • Education • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Quakerism, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1672.
Location. 36° 42.056′ N, 76° 42.074′ W. Marker is in Suffolk, Virginia. It is in Holy Neck. Marker is at the intersection of Holland Road (U.S. 58) and Lummis Road, on the right when traveling north on Holland Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Suffolk VA 23434, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers.
this page online
Additional keywords. Chuckatuck Meeting, Dissenters, Nansemond County; religious persecution, religious refugees, Richard Bennett; Seekers, William Edmundson (William Edmondson), William Penn
Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, November 6, 2017
2. The obverse of "Somerton Friends Meeting" faces south.
The viewer is looking north. Pictured left is Holland Road (U.S. Route 58), and a street sign for Lummis Road is pictured at the right.
Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, November 6, 2017
3. The reverse of "Somerton Friends Meeting" faces north.
The view here is a southward one.
Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, November 16, 2017
4. Present-day Somerton Friends Meeting House.
Located on Quaker Drive near its intersection with Box Elder Road, this house sits on a small hill. The sign in a black frame posted left of the door, reads: “Somerton Friends Meeting. Sunday School 10 A.M. Worship 11 A.M. Est. 1672”. A commemorative plaque hangs at the right. See the separate photo of it.
Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, November 16, 2017
5. A closeup of the commemorative plaque.
The embossment on this plaque reads: (seal) “Colonial Dames XVII Century.” (inscription) “Somerton Friends Meeting. Established in 1672. Oldest active Quaker Meeting in Virginia. Marked by the Suffolk Chapter, National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century. 2016.”
Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, November 16, 2017
6. Another building at Somerton Friends Meeting site.
This building stands adjacent to the meeting house (left). It wears the street number of 5329 but no other identifying signage. A playground area, however, is in its backyard.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,137 times since then and 77 times this year. Last updated on February 5, 2018, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 7, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 19, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
