Charles in Newport News, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Providence Mennonite Church

By Bernard Fisher, July 31, 2010

1. Providence Mennonite Church Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

In 1897, a group of largely Midwestern Amish and Mennonite families, attracted by inexpensive farmland and rich timberland located near the growing urban center of Newport News, moved here to found the Mennonite Colony, an agrarian religious community. In 1900, David Z. Yoder, a minister and a founder of the colony, assisted several Amish families in establishing the Providence Amish Mennonite denomination here at Oyster Point. Christian K. Miller was the chief carpenter for the simple wood-frame church, which was built of locally harvested pine on land acquired from the Jones family. The church was moved and renovated in 1975 when Warwick Boulevard was widened.

Erected 1997 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number W-73.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 37° 6.502′ N, 76° 30.929′ W. Marker is in Charles in Newport News, Virginia. Marker is on Warwick Boulevard (U.S. 60) 0.2 miles east of

Providence Mennonite Church image. Click for full size.

By Bernard Fisher, July 31, 2010

2. Providence Mennonite Church

Menchville Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13101 Warwick Boulevard, Newport News VA 23602, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Young’s Mill (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Young’s Mill (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mathews Mill (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Young’s Mill (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Peninsula Defense Line (approx. 0.2 miles away); Denbigh Parish (approx. 0.4 miles away); Two USCT Heroes (approx. 0.9 miles away); Warwick County Confederate Monument (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charles.

Also see . . . A Short History of Providence Mennonite Church. (Submitted on August 3, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Mechanicsville, Virginia.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Mechanicsville, Virginia. This page has been viewed 774 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 3, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Mechanicsville, Virginia.