St. Paul's Catholic Church (Portsmouth, Virginia)

St. Paul's Catholic Church
An historic photograph of the church
Location 518 High St., Portsmouth, Virginia
Coordinates 36°50′15″N 76°18′13″W / 36.83750°N 76.30361°WCoordinates: 36°50′15″N 76°18′13″W / 36.83750°N 76.30361°W
Area 0.8 acres (0.32 ha)
Built 1897-1905, 1913
Architect Peeples, John K.; Carpenter, John R.
Architectural style Gothic
Governing body Private
NRHP Reference # 02000619[1]
VLR # 124-5063-0008
Significant dates
Added to NRHP June 6, 2002
Designated VLR March 13, 2002[2]

St. Paul's Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic church located in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is a compact Gothic Revival style, cruciform plan church. It is constructed of load-bearing masonry walls clad in quarry-faced granite. The church was designed by John Peebles (1876-1934) in 1897, and dedicated in 1905. It is the fifth church on the site. Also on the property is a contributing rectory constructed in 1913.[3]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.[1] It is located in the Downtown Portsmouth Historic District.

Yearly, the choir director and organ player, Nick Nespoli, who is also the chorus instructor of Western Branch High School, has his students from school perform at the church around Christmas. This concert is a free event, and the music performed ranges from secular to religious music. The main pieces performed are selections from the Messiah, by Handel, or the Gloria RV 589 by Vivaldi.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
  2. ↑ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  3. ↑ William and Helen Maloney (December 2001). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: St. Paul's Catholic Church". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying two photos

External links

View of the Church in 2014