A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

HAMPTON, VIRGINIA

At a meeting of the East Hanover Presbytery, held in Richmond, Virginia, in September, 1878, the Rev. John W. Rose, Rev. N. M. Woods and Elder N. V. Niemeyer of Norfolk were appointed as a committee to organize a Presbyterian church in Hampton.  The initial meeting of nine Presbyterian residents of Hampton was held on March 18, 1879, at the home of Mr. Samuel Cumming.  This meeting led to the organization of the First Presbyterian Church of Hampton on April 6, 1879.  It was on this date that 12 persons were accepted into the membership, and Mr. Samuel Cumming was elected as the first Elder of the Church.  Sixteen days later, on April 22, 1879, the Ladies' Society was organized.

For the first five years supply pastors served the congregation.  The first regular pastor, the Rev. John Gray Anderson, arrived April 30, 1884, dividing his time between the Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg and Smithfield churches.  The first church building was erected in 1885 on Chapel Street.  Two years later a manse was completed near the church.  The church property on Chapel Street was sold in the early 1890's to the Central Methodist Church (now Central United Methodist Church) which is its present location.

A new church building on West Queen Street was dedicated on May 26, 1895, and continued as the house of worship until August, 1952, when the church moved into the present educational building.

The ground breaking ceremony for the sanctuary was held on March 19, 1961.  Services were held in the educational building until March 3, 1963, when the sanctuary was dedicated.  The bell in the tower of the church was given by the Sunday School children and dedicated on March 17, 1963.

The Centennial Anniversary of the church was celebrated in April, 1979.  To commemorate this special event, a book was published on the history of the church, and a new organ was installed.

In 1997 a Capital Campaign was held and an enlarged kitchen fellowship hall,  handicapped accessibility, elevator and restrooms were added.

In April, 2004, the 125th Anniversary of the church was celebrated.