After the Revolution the Episcopal Church in America fell on hard times. It had always retained strong ties with the mother country, and in many cases was identified with the Tory element of the people. The early part of the nineteenth century was the time when the great Methodist evangelical preachers swept through this country, organizing new churches in every community. Portsmouth was no exception to the general disaffection for the Episcopal Church, and for a time Trinity Church was without services.

In July 1845, seven vestrymen and other lay members of Trinity Church dissented over doctrines and practices and organized another congregation in Portsmouth. They presented a petition to the Diocesan Council, which was approved, and on October 28, 1848, the cornerstone of the original St. John’s Church was laid.

The first St. John’s Church building was a plain brick structure seventy feet long, forty-seven feet wide, and in height about equivalent to a two-story house. Its roof was recessed, and supported by two Doric columns. It had neither belfry nor spire. The windows were in proportion to its height, with sashes glazed with ordinary glass in small panes, and except for their enormous size, appeared like the windows of a dwelling house. The interior of the building was plain. There were no chandeliers, but artificial light was supplied by gas rods topped with white china globes attached to the pew backs at intervals down the aisles. Down the entire length of the western wall of the church extended a gallery, in the center of which stood the organ. In the gallery were seats for the choir, which were screened from the public by red silk curtains. The chancel was formed by a railed platform that occupied the entire eastern wall except room on either side for “Amen Corners.” In front of this platform stood a huge pulpit painted white, of such a size that when the minister had climbed the steps to reach its floor nothing could be seen but his head and shoulders. Customarily the clergyman changed his surplice for a black silk gown before entering this structure. The rail that enclosed the chancel did not run to the edge of the platform, and the space outside was filled with red velvet cushions and used for kneeling when Communion was administered. Between the front rail of the chancel and the pulpit stood the Communion table. In the center of the rail, at the head of the middle aisle, the font was placed. This font was of historic interest and it was fashioned from a live oak pillar taken from the celebrated frigate Constitution, then under repair at the U.S. Navy yard, and presented to St. John’s Church by Commodore Lewis Warrington, then a member of the congregation. The space between gallery and chancel was taken up by pews, which were very roomy. According to the custom of the day, they had doors, provided with bolts, and were sold or rented to the congregation. Many were sold or rented before the building was completed. About 250 persons could be comfortably seated in them.

The only bit of beauty in the church was the fresco on the chancel wall. From the newspapers of the day we learn that it was a very finished piece of work, done by an Italian painter named Olivero. Unfortunately, this fresco was ruined by a storm, which injured the church soon after it was finished, and the work that replaced it held no element of beauty. A tablet on which the Commandments were inscribed- a general custom in many of the older churches covered most of the wall.

In May 1850, the Reverend James Chisholm was called as the first rector. In 1855, the terrible scourge of the Yellow Fever Epidemic devastated Portsmouth and Norfolk. Through almost the whole period, when one thousand of the two thousand people who remained in Portsmouth fell victim to the plague, Mr. Chisholm remained at his post and ministered to the pest-stricken community, at times single-handed. The Rev. Mr. Chisholm remained despite the death of his wife and son. St. John’s was the only church to remain open during the epidemic. In September 1855, Mr. Chisholm himself fell victim to the disease and died on September 15, 1855 in the Naval Hospital. Indeed, his was a hero’s death.

The Rev. Robert Jope, a young Scottish student at the Virginia Theological Seminary, was called as successor to Mr. Chisholm. Mr. Jope’s tenure of office here was brief. Some years after leaving Portsmouth he was called to Texas, where he and most of his family were drowned in a flood.

The next Rector of St. John’s was the Rev. Henry Wall, of Lunenberg Parish, who was called in 1861. In 1862, when the town of Portsmouth was about to be evacuated, he left to accompany his family to their relatives near Fredericksburg. Shortly thereafter, the Federal Army occupied Norfolk and Portsmouth, and he was unable to get through the lines to return to his Parish. The Rev. Robert Gatewood of Norfolk took charge of St. John’s until another rector could be obtained.

The Reverend Mr. Gatewood was succeeded by the Rev. Leonidas Smith, who was temporary incumbent in October 1863, when General Barnes of the Federal Army took over St. John’s for the United States government so that their soldiers might have a place to worship. The church building had already been looted, but the Provost marshal, Hiram B. Crosby, promised that the stolen articles would be returned and that nothing else would be taken from the building except by “orders from Headquarters.” The Rev. Mr. Willing was designated to take over the building.

Shortly after General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, St. John’s congregation returned to their building at Court and London Streets. In July, the Reverend Mr. John Crosby was made Rector, but he remained only until October, when he resigned to accept a call to St. Paul’s Church, Petersburg.

The Reverend John D. Powell became Rector on December 20, 1868. Since the church was unable to pay his salary, he suggested that the envelope system be adopted and pews no longer be rented or sold. The old brass cross beside the main entrance still proclaims “All Seats Free.” Mr. Powell agreed to accept the remainder of the offerings after all the expenses of the church had been met and refused Diocesan assistance since this would change the status of the church to a mission. This saintly man served faithfully until 1895.

On October 22, 1878 a very severe windstorm wrought havoc in the church, almost unroofing it. It was then decided not only to effect necessary repairs but also to beautify the church building. The walls were redecorated and the windows greatly improved by replacing the small panes in the sash with ornamental glass. The chancel wall was newly frescoed. The “Table of the Law” finally disappeared, but the result was not an improvement. Finally, a handsome chandelier was hung, which made the church a much more cheerful place at night services.

In the early 1890's, the congregation became interested in a new church building. Plans were pushed for the erection of the new church. The site chosen was the northeastern corner of Washington and London Streets, in Sussex Square. The building permit issued for the erection of St. John’s Church, dated April 1897, describes it as a stone and brick building, to cost approximately $25, 000. As a result, the present beautiful Gothic building with its magnificent rose window was opened for services in September 1898. The original interior of the church building was somewhat different from what it is today. The ceiling of the chancel was plain and much higher than at present. On the side of the chancel opposite the organ there was a vestry room, which was enclosed, making the chancel itself roughly symmetrical to the eye. The glorious Tiffany window over the altar, “Come Unto Me,” which depicts Jesus with his arms outstretched in invitation to all, was installed in 1907. In 1915 the planned Parish House was erected on the lot to the West of the Church.

St. John’s Church was consecrated May 29, 1921. In 1928, the interior of the church was redecorated. The ceiling of the chancel was lowered and arches fashioned. The brick of the columns was covered over to resemble stone; the vestry room was done away with and the chancel opened up on the right hand side.

St. John’s has been blessed and well served over the years by several distinguished clergy, including two who became bishops. The Reverend William A. Brown was Rector from 1903 until 1938 when he was consecrated as Bishop of Southern Virginia, and the Reverend C. Cabell Tennis, who was Assistant Rector from 1964 until 1965, and became Bishop of Delaware.