Downtown in Norfolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

St. Paul’s Church, 1739

Photographed by Laura Troy, November 4, 2007

1. St. Paul's Church, 1739 Marker

Inscription. In 1641 a “chapel of ease” was built here where St. Paul’s Church is now. The 1680 survey of the new town designated this site for a church and burying ground. Many of the founders of Norfolk are buried here. When Norfolk became a borough by royal charter in 1736, it was decided to erect a more substantial church. The new Borough Church was completed in 1739 and became a center of community activities. Along with the rest of Norfolk the church was burned during the British bombardment in January 1776. Only the walls remained standing, but it was returned to service about a decade later. A cannonball fired by Lord Dunmore’s fleet remains embedded in the south wall of the church. The old building was repaired and reconsecrated as St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in 1832. Important events in the history of the church include organization of opposition to the Stamp Act in 1775, a commemoration of the death of George Washington in 1800, and the funeral of General Douglas MacArthur in 1964.

(Caption, picture on left): This early 1840s woodcut shows the church retaining its small 18th century turret.

(Caption, picture on right): By 1857, the turret had disappeared, but it was replaced by a wooden tower on the northeast. It too has gone.

Both pictures courtesy of St. Paul's Episcopal Church

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Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Virginia, Norfolk Heritage Cannonball Trail series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1641.

Location. 36° 50.88′ N, 76° 17.137′ W. Marker is in Norfolk, Virginia. It is in Downtown. It can be reached from Cumberland Street near Market Street. This marker sits in the parking lot of MacArthur Center Mall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Monticello Ave, Norfolk VA 23510, 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: Northern Limit of Old Norfolk (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Willoughby-Baylor House, 1794 (about 600 feet away); St. Joseph’s Catholic Church & School (about 700 feet away); Francis Drake, Free Black Barber (about 700 feet away); East Main Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); Whitehead House, 1791 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Freemason Street Baptist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Cannonball Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Norfolk.

More about this marker. This marker is part of the Norfolk Heritage Cannonball Trail.

St. Paul's Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Laura Troy, November 4, 2007

2. St. Paul's Church

Photographed by Laura Troy, November 4, 2007

3. St. Paul's Church

<i>Interior of St. Paul’s Church, Norfolk, Va.</i> image. Click for full size.

circa 1910

4. Interior of St. Paul’s Church, Norfolk, Va.

<i>St. Paul’s Church, Norfolk, Va. </i> image. Click for full size.

Photochrom postcard by the Detroit Photographic Company, 1902

5. St. Paul’s Church, Norfolk, Va.

Note the cannonball (mentioned on the marker) is still visible on the right side of the building, where someone had thoughtfully cut back the ivy to keep it visible, about 2 feet below the eave.

Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,812 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 6, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. 4, 5. submitted on October 7, 2015. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.