While in Norfolk, consider visiting St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, a charming 18th-century church that has survived wars and hosted significant ceremonies. Its redbrick tower rises to the height of the treetops in the heart of Norfolk. Join a guided tour of the church to learn from a docent about its rich history.
Listen to the story of the destruction of the city by the British on New Year’s Day in 1776. Built in 1739, the church is the city’s only surviving building from the attack. A cannonball fired by a British ship is stuck in part of the church’s southeastern wall. Chat with the docent about this history and about General Douglas MacArthur, whose funeral services were held here in 1964.
Gaze up at the cross on a white spire and the crenellations at the top of the tower beside the church’s gabled roof. Admire the rose windows adorning the sides of the tower. On a pleasant day, go for a stroll around the serene grounds of the churchyard, which holds graves from as early as the 1640s.
Enter the church and marvel at the images on the Tiffany stained-glass windows, which allow colorful light to permeate the nave. Attend a Mass in the church, which remains an integral part of the local community. The complex offers music and Christian education programs.
The church is open to the public most weekdays from morning until late afternoon. Worship sessions take place on Sunday morning and Wednesday at midday. For more information, request a guided tour of the church, which is free to access.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is one of the most central attractions in Norfolk. It is on the eastern side of the MacArthur Center, in the downtown part of the city. Travel by bus to a nearby stop or take the Tide light-rail train to the Civic Plaza Station and walk north for a few minutes to get here.
While you’re here, visit neighboring sights such as the MacArthur Memorial museum and the Moses Myers House.
