Old Donation Church is the third Lynnhaven Parish Church and is the oldest church in

Virginia Beach Virginia Beach is an independent city located on the southeastern coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The population was 459,470 at the 2020 census. Although mostly suburban in character, it is the most populous city ...

. Records show that the parish's first church services were held in 1637 in the home of

Adam Thoroughgood Adam Thoroughgood horowgood'' (1604–1640) was a colonist and community leader in the Virginia Colony who helped settle the Virginia counties of Elizabeth City, Lower Norfolk and Princess Anne, the latter, known today as the independent city of ...

. The first church building was constructed on Mr. Thoroughgood's land in 1639 on the location later known as " Church Point." The vestry, or governing body of the church, was established in 1640. By 1691 the church building had begun to deteriorate and the land around the church was slowly being eroded by the

Lynnhaven River The Lynnhaven River is a tidal estuary located in the independent city of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Virginia Beach, Virginia, in the United States, and flows into the Chesapeake Bay west of Cape Henry at Lynnhaven Inlet, beyond which is Lynnhaven ...

. The vestry approved the building of a new church on two acres of land purchased from Ebenezer Taylor. The second Lynnhaven Parish Church was completed in 1692. As the parish grew the second church was no longer able to meet the needs of the larger congregation. In 1733 the vestry ordered the building of a new church that could accommodate the parish's needs. The third church was accepted by the vestry on June 25, 1736. The last colonial rector of Lynnhaven Parish was the Reverend Robert Dickson. He served as rector of the parish for 25 years. Upon his death in 1776, he left his home, slaves and property to the church. This property, which was to be used as a free school for orphan boys, became known as "Donation Farm." It is from this reference that the church became known as Old Donation Church. The Reverend Dickson was buried under the altar in the 1736 church. Although records show that Old Donation Church underwent repairs in 1822, it was enjoying regular services and had a healthy congregation. In the years that followed, however, many families moved to the area that we know today as " Kempsville." In 1842, the parish was reorganized to accommodate these new outlying communities and a new church, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, was built in Kempsville. Soon after Emmanuel Church was completed, Old Donation was abandoned for services. In 1882, a forest fire gutted the abandoned church leaving only the exterior walls standing. Through the interest of Thurmer Hoggard and his family, yearly services were held in the roofless ruins to keep the memory of the old church alive. In 1911 an organization was founded to raise funds to rebuild Old Donation. Through the enthusiastic and tireless efforts of the Rev. Richard Alfriend and Judge B. D. White, construction was begun in 1912. The church's restoration was finished in 1916 and Old Donation was once again open for services. The church's bell tower was erected in 1923. The church underwent major repairs in the 1960s to ensure the building's structural integrity. It was during this time that the slate floors were installed. These renovations were completed in 1966. Old Donation is included on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

and is one of the stops on the Bayside History Trail. The parish's third church, built in 1736, and its congregation, dating to 1637, are both among the oldest churches and congregations in the United States. The current Rector of the church is the Rev. Robert J. Randall, Jr.

References

External links

Old Donation Episcopal Church websiteBayside History Trail map
{{Authority control 1637 establishments in Virginia Churches completed in 1736 Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia Episcopal churches in Virginia Religious organizations established in the 1630s Old D Buildings and structures in Virginia Beach, Virginia 18th-century Episcopal church buildings National Register of Historic Places in Virginia Beach, Virginia

See also

References

External links