St. Paul's Episcopal Church — Attraction in Norfolk

I have been to many historic churches across the US. It is very cool that it is the oldest church, and I believe building in Norfolk. This is the 1st that still has a cannon ball still lodged in the building. The grounds are also unique as they are laid out in a cross. There are beautiful old trees and amazing old graves. Google said that it would be closed, so I was pleasantly surprised when Mrs. Major was leaving out of the church and noticed me. She did the unexpected, she asked me if I wanted to see inside. Again, she was leaving, oh and it was on a Friday, so of course I did. It was absolutely beautiful inside. Mrs. Major explained about the inside, pointing out the Tiffany stained class window. Beautiful! I was in all and, then wait for it she pointed out the most breathtaking organ. It was custom built for the church in England and shipped 🚢 to Norfolk. The Ogan player has been playing there for over 25 years. He also plays at a Jewish temple. In that moment, without her even knowing my back story of family members who are Jewish and Christian ✝️, she let me know this Episcopal church ⛪️ was the real deal about God and love. Especially, as I'm a Christian and get so sad with all of the antisemitism Bible teaches, it's not for us to judge. She not only opened the door to the church, but she made it to be a church I want to attend. She also explained that the church is very military friendly. 🪖 It was an absolute 💯 amazing experience. The church inside and out! Mrs. Major really was a...

Come visit the revolutionary war Cannonball Church! On December 9, 1775, the last royal governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, in an act of desperation and anger, attacked Norfolk as he fled Virginia. As he drifted off to sea after being embarrassed at the Battle of Great Bridge, Dunmore shelled the city. It’s believed that the Liverpool, a ship in the Royal Navy, fired the cannonball that became lodged in the side of the church. By the 1830s, the cannonball was no longer in it’s resting place. It was later discovered in the nearby cemetery around ten years later. The cannonball was then returned to its original home on the side of the church. The cannonball is located at the southeast corner of the church, almost against St. Pauls Blvd, GPS coordinates 36.847566, -76.285226. This church is the only colonial-era building that survives to this day in Norfolk. The church has aggressive parking lot signs that imply they'll tow your car if you say longer than a...

St. Paul’s Catholic Church was first built in 1813 by French and Irish immigrants. It was the first Catholic congregation in Portsmouth. This is actually the congregations’ fifth building (once the membership expanded and twice the previous churches were  burned down).  St. Paul’s was built of shaved granite in 1905 and features many fine stone carvings. It is an elaborate example of a compact Gothic Revival cruciform plan church featuring tracery windows of cathedral glass, pointed Gothic arches, flying buttresses and a steep roof. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. The relief of Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemene above the door is magnificent. Above the relief of Christ, you will see St. Paul. If you keep looking up, you will see the 200 foot tall copper-clad steeple. A beautiful church, historical...