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

Court Street Baptist Church

Path of History, Portsmouth, VA

Photographed by Scott Rollins, June 1, 2009

1. Court Street Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. Established in 1789, the Portsmouth and Norfolk Baptist Church served as the first Baptist congregation in South Hampton Roads. The name was changed in 1791 to Portsmouth Baptist Church and again in 1855 to its current name, Court Street Baptist Church. This Romanesque Revival-style church is the third building to occupy the site and contains the cornerstone of the previous building.

Black members of Court Street Baptist Church worshiped in the basement until May 1865 when 318 of the congregation founded their own church, Zion Baptist. This church became the second African-American Baptist Church established in Portsmouth. Located on Green Street, it is still in use today.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1789.

Location. 36° 50.191′ N, 76° 18.049′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is in Olde Towne. It is on Court Street south of London Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 447 Court St, 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: A different marker also named Court Street Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); The 1846 Courthouse (about 300 feet away,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

measured in a direct line); Pre-Fabricated Houses (about 400 feet away); Norfolk County Court House (about 400 feet away); Towne Square (about 400 feet away); William Flora (about 400 feet away); Glasgow Street Park (about 500 feet away); The Commodore Theatre (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Confederate Monument (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Court Street Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Scott Rollins, June 1, 2009

2. Court Street Baptist Church

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 3, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,578 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 3, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.