In 1845, vestry members from Trinity Church in Portsmouth, Virginia, and other parishioners, opposing certain Oxford movement teachings, initiated the creation of St. John's Church. In 1848, Bishop William Meade and the Diocesan Council approved the new church's formation in 1848. The first church was completed in 1850 at Court and London Streets with Rev. James Chisholm as its first rector. In 1897, the church received a permit to build its current building at London and Washington Streets. (Source: St. John's Church website, "https://www.stjohnsportsmouth.org/," accessed 2026 January 29)
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St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church (Portsmouth, Va.) Minute Book, 1925-1929, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.
Minute book, 1925-1929, of the vestry of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, Virginia.