Olde Towne in Portsmouth, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Monumental Methodist Church

Photographed by Laura Troy, November 12, 2007

1. Monumental Methodist Church Marker

Inscription. This Church, founded 1772, is one of the oldest Methodist Churches in Virginia. The first building was erected, 1775, at South and Effingham Streets. The Church was moved to Glasgow Street near Court in 1792. It established the first Sunday School in Portsmouth in 1818. Monumental was moved to this site, Dinwiddie Street, in 1831.

Erected 1948 by Virginia Conservation Commission. (Marker Number Q8B.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the United Methodist Church Historic Sites, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1772.

Location. 36° 50.151′ N, 76° 18.15′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is in Olde Towne. It is on Dinwiddie Street south of Queen Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 450 Dinwiddie Street, Portsmouth VA 23704, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Commodore Theatre (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Priests Who Died In Their Service Memorial (about 300 feet away); St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church (about

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400 feet away); St. Paul's Catholic Church Burial Ground (about 400 feet away); Rev. Francis Devlin (about 400 feet away); The 1846 Courthouse (about 400 feet away); Norfolk County Court House (about 500 feet away); Saint Paul's School (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.

Also see . . . A Brief History of Monumental Methodist Church. (Submitted on October 14, 2010, by James Thomson of Chesapeake, United States.)

National Register of Historic Places image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Laura Troy, November 12, 2007

2. National Register of Historic Places

Monumental UMC has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior Nov. 14, 1772

Timeline Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Scott Rollins, June 1, 2009

3. Timeline Marker

A. D. 1772
Methodist Society formed by Rev Robert Williams of England, and Isaac Luke of Portsmouth, Virginia
1775
Built at South and Effingham Streets
1792
Moved to Glasgow Street, near Court
1818
Formed first Sunday School in Portsmouth
1831
Moved to this site and erected Dinwiddie Street M. E. Church
1856
Built Emmanuel M. E. Church North Street for colored members
1866
Erected Sunday School chapel
A. D. 1872
Built Monumental Church in memory of the founders

Monumental Methodist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Laura Troy, November 12, 2007

4. Monumental Methodist Church

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,606 times since then and 35 times this year. Last updated on July 3, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 12, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. 3. submitted on July 3, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. 4. submitted on November 12, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.