The location of this (first known) parish church was discovered in 1910 by vestryman Jacob Heffelfinger and marked in 1914 with a commemorative cross erected by the Hampton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Architectural elements of the building where revealed during archaeological excavations, 1968-1973, sponsored by the Kecoughtan Branch, Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, and conducted by the Kicotan Chapter, Archeological Society of Virginia. The foundation composed of cobblestones and some bricks with brick corners, is generally two courses high, measures 52 feet (15.8 meters) in length by 23.3 feet (17.1 meters) in width and is uniformly 12 inches (0.3 meters) wide. The brick west porch, or vestibule, abutting the main foundation (probably added sometime after the original structure was completed) is 7.8 feet (2.4 meters) by 9 feet (2.7 meters), 4 to 5 courses high, 12 inches (0.3 meters) wide on the north and west sides and 11 inches (0.28 meters) on the south. The interior floor was originally paved with 7½ inch (2.7 meters) square brick tiles at both the chancel and west ends with a center aisle connecting the two areas. The locally-made tiles where laid end to end on the surface of the ground without mortar, as were the stones and bricks of the foundation. The church was built in 1623/4, abandoned about 1677 except for burial purposes and torn down in 1698 by order of the County Courts. Source: Information found at site.

RECTORS

1 William Mease 1610-1620 2 George Keith C. 1621 3 Thomas White 1622-1624 4 Jonas Stockton 1624-1627 5 Rowland Graeme 1628 6 William Wilkenson 1635-1644 7 Justinian Atymer 1645-1667 8 Jeremiah Taylor 1667 9 William Harris 1675 10 John Page 1677-1687 11 Cope D’Oyley C. 1687 12 James Wallace 1691-1712 13 Andrew Thompson 1712-1719 14 James Falconer 1720-1724 15 Tomas Peador 1727 16 William Fyfe 1731-1755 17 Whomas Warrington 1756-1770 18 William Selden 1771-1783 19 William Bland 1786-1787 20 Henry Skyron 1787-1795 21 John James Spooner 1796-1799 22 Benjamin Brown 1799-1806 23 Robert Seymour Symms 1806 24 George Holsom 1810-1813 25 Mark L. Chevers 1827-1843 26 John P. Bausman 1843-1844 27 William H. Good 1845-1848 28 John C. McCabe 1850-1856 29 Edward H. Harlow 1856-1858 30 William F.M. Jacobs 1860-1861 31 John McCarty 1869-1871 32 John J. Norwood 1871-1872 33 William Jarrett 1873-1875 34 J.W. Keeble 1875-1876 35 John J. Gravatt 1876-1893 36 G. Braxton Bryan 1893-1905 37 Reverdy Estill 1905-1911 38 Edwin B. Carter 1912-1922 39 Charles E. McAllister 1922-1926 40 George O. Watts 1927-1931 41 Theodore S. Will 1932-1938 42 Carter H. Harrison 1938-1959 43 Francis W. Hayes, Jr. 1960-1979 44 Rodney L. Caulkins 1980-1999 45 Keith Adams 2002 46 Donna-Mae Siderius 2003-present

Our History

The oldest Anglican Parish in continuous existence in America

Established in 1610 at the founding of the settlement at Kecoughtan

Settlement Begins 1610

English settlers established a community and church on the tip of the peninsula in 1610, three years after the colonization of Jamestown.  A small group of civilians and soldiers moved to the fertile shores of Hampton Roads to escape the famine and disease which had decimated the residents of Jamestown.  Here, with the friendly Kecoughtan Indians, they found a more congenial environment.  But the killing of a settler ended the peacefulness, and the English took full possession of the area.

In 1619, "Kecoughtan" was named "Elizabeth City" in honor of the daughter of King James I, but the beautiful Indian name continued in popular use for another century.  The settlement was then renamed "Southampton" to honor the Earl who was a major stockholder in the Virginia Company.  In time the name was shortened to "Hampton."  The church also evolved through the centuries.  The following information will assist you in understanding and appreciating the great heritage, history, and Christian faith that is St. John's. ( )

First Parish Site 1610-1623

Excavations in the Church Creek area of Hampton indicate that the earliest English settlements were near present-day LaSalle and Chesapeake Avenues.  Tradition has it that services of the parish were held there, and a historical marker to that effect can be seen on LaSalle Avenue.  The first minister of the new parish was the Reverend William Mease who was appointed by the Bishop of London to lead the church at Kecoughtan.  After serving from 1610-1620, he returned to England, and then later returned to the colonies.

Second Parish Site 1623-1667

By 1623 the settlement had re-established itself east of Hampton River where the second church of Elizabeth City parish was built on a site that is now located on the grounds of Hampton University.  Its foundations were discovered in 1910.  It was a small wooded structure to which a vestibule was added later.  Abandoned in 1667, it remained standing until 1698 when a levy of 400 pounds of tobacco was made by the vestry to one William Bailey to tear it down and to set up its seats in the courthouse. 

This site has been painstakingly excavated.  ( )   The original foundations and some of the brick floor can be seen at the second site along with conjectural paintings and other information.  Artifacts found during the excavation are on display in the parish house museum.

Third Parish Site 1667-1728

The third building of the parish was constructed more than a mile to the west of the second church at "Westwoods Town Quarter" indicating that there was growth of the settlement on the west side of Hampton River.  Like the previous structure, it was made of wood and was of similar size.  This building continued in use for about 60 years.  The site is located off West Pembroke Avenue east of LaSalle Avenue and features a historical marker, building foundations outlined by bricks, several 17th and 18th century gravestones, and a protective brick wall. ( )

The parish has retained ownership of both the second and third parish sites, and visitors are welcomed to visit these historic locations at any time.

Fourth Parish Site 1728 - Present

As the community progressed into the 18th Century, activity centered about the busy port which has become downtown Hampton.

The parishioners petitioned the Governor for permission to relocate their place of worship closer to the population center.  It was granted, and construction of the fourth church on 1/2 acres on the outskirts of Hampton began.  Henry Cary, Jr. of Williamsburg completed the present cruciform building in 1728.  A belfry was added to the west front in 1762.

The British heavily damaged the church during both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.  But more serious than the physical damage was the decline of religious activity.  Not only this parish, but also the Episcopal Church throughout Virginia became so depressed that it was in danger of total ruin.

Among factors causing this decline were antagonism by newly independent Americans for anything English, withdrawal of tax support for the church, and the rise of denominations whose structure and style of worship appealed to the average person.  Although several priests officiated in the parish in the late 1700's and early 1800's, its life could be described as moribund, and the building was severely neglected.

Then came a revival of interest.  In 1825 funds were raised to restore the church, a vestry was elected and a new rector called.  In 1830, the Rt. Rev. Richard Channing Moore, Bishop of Virginia, consecrated the restored Elizabeth City Parish church under its new name, St. John's.

The War Between the States was the occasion for yet another assault on the building, this time by Hamptonians themselves.  On August 7, 1861, to keep the town from Federals hands, they set fire to their homes, businesses and the church.  The great bell was destroyed, and only the blackened walls remained when Union soldiers camped in the churchyard. ( ) As a result of this fire, St. John's is the only surviving colonial structure in downtown Hampton.

At war's end, contributions to a widespread appeal to rebuild the "ancient church" were used to remove the ruined belfry and restore the building so it appeared much as it does today.  Early in the 20th century the rear tower was added, the west gallery was built in 1957, the tracker organ installed in 1981, and the chapel completed in 1985. ( )

Some Points of Interest

Approaching the church you will notice the graves of many former rectors and parishioners of the parish.  The oldest grave is that of Capt. Willis Wilson who died in 1701.  The Wilson family owned land in this area, and apparently, the 1728 building was built next to the family burial ground so that their graves occupied a place of honor at the altar end of the church.

Near the gate at the southwest corner of the churchyard are markers describing the remnants of the original enclosure wall dating from about 1759.

Next to the south wall of the church stands a memorial to Virginia Laydon, born in 1609, and who was the first surviving child born in the New World to English parents and, who with her parents were member of the parish.

The 1728 church walls are of brickwork with superbly glazed headers, and the colonial window arches and jambs of rubbed brick are among the most handsome in Virginia.

Inside the building one can see the Pocahontas window given in 1887 in part, by Native American students from the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute (now Hampton University), who participated in the life of this parish.

Also of particular interest is the circular small window in the north wall bearing the seal of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, the great English mission society.  It incorporates the names of the colonial clergy and was installed about 1903 by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.  The rector at that time objected to the inclusion of the name Jeremiah Taylor (1667) because he "had not the best reputation, being credited with a liking for things of the flesh."  A compromise was reached; the Rev. Mr. Taylor's name is bracketed to indicate forever his tarnished reputation!  This window originally provided light for the tall pulpit, which stood just to the right at the corner of the north transept. 

On the chapel wall to the right of the chapel altar is an aumbry in which consecrated bread and wine are reserved.  The door panel consists of pieces of the 13th century stained glass from St. Helen's Church, Willoughby, England, and the parish in which Captain John Smith was baptized.  The panel was presented to the parish by the rector of St. Helen's on July 14, 1985, as part of St. John's 375th anniversary celebration.