Truckin' on the Western Branch

A Land of Churches Although the origin of “Churchland” is uncertain, the number of churches in the area validates the aptness of the name. From Bowers Hill to West Norfolk, a diversity of faiths worship in equally diverse settings, with some congregations flourishing, some struggling for survival. Many of the local churches began as missions of older, established urban churches including St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, which evolved as a Parochial Mission from Trinity Church, Green Acres Presbyterian Church from First Presbyterian and Western Branch Baptist Church that sprang from Green Street mission, South Street Baptist Church and Court Street Baptist Church. Some of the downtown churches followed their members to the suburbs, including Central United Methodist and Elm Avenue United Methodist, which merged as Aldersgate UMC in Western Branch. Jackson Memorial Baptist Church in Western Branch originated from Fourth Street Baptist Church and Prentis Place Baptist Church.

Several churches stand out as being among the earliest of their denomination in the area.

Churchland Baptist Church, begun as Shoulder’s Hill Baptist Church in 1785 on land owned by a Mr. Shoulder, sat halfway between Portsmouth and Suffolk. It was a mission of the independent Western Branch Church, but with Edward Mintz as its first pastor, the church became an independent congregation. In 1825 Col. William Wright donated the current church property, at what was then called Sycamore Hill. The first building there was dedicated in 1829.

Rev. Larry Coleman. Image by Sheally

Churchland Baptist Church and cemetery. Image by Sheally

57