HisHistory of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church

In August of 1879, the Rev. Neander M. Woods of the Second Presbyterian Church of Norfolk came to Gloucester on a missionary visit. He noted that he found 10 to 12 families in the Gloucester Court House area that were deeply interested in the Presbyterian Church. Those families came together in prayer and faith and made an appeal to the Hanover Presbytery to help them organize a Presbyterian church; the Presbytery voted in April of 1880 to form a committee for the purpose or organizing a church. In May of 1880 Walter H. Robertson began preaching twice every Sunday at the Gloucester Courthouse. On Sunday, November 14, 1880, two members of the East Presbytery of Hanover came to Gloucester and consecrated what was known as “The Court House Presbyterian Church of Gloucester”.

The new church consisted of 21 communicants and 28 baptized non-communicants. Services were in held in Gloucester’s colonial court house building until a church building could be constructed. Mrs. Annie Franklin Hughes, an original communicant, donated 13 acres of land to the church. Construction on a wooden church building started in 1882. The current church building still sits on part of this original gift of land and just west of the original church site.

The church’s first minister, Walter H. Robertson was hired in February, 1881. He served until his retirement in August, 1885. The church had no regular services for some time until a supply minister, William A. Campbell came to the church. However he left in April 1888. During this period the church still managed to build a church building, find a manse, and continue worship services. Student interns from Hampden Sydney College, supply pastors, and visiting evangelists all helped to supply the pulpit.

During the period 1893 to 1899 the average weekly church offering was $1.75. Expenses included 25 cents for a sexton on an as needed basis. Occasionally a boy would be given 15 cents to sweep the church building. A ½ gallon of lamp oil cost 8 cents.

In 1898, Rev. W. H. Groves was employed as minister for the church and served 19 years. His tenure is the longest of any pastor in the church’s history. Prior to his taking the pulpit, the records indicate Rev. Groves was once paid a princely sum of $1 to supply the pulpit for one Sunday. In addition, someone was paid $1 to provide a horse and buggy to transport Rev. Groves from the boat to the church and back.

In 1906 the “Ladies Aid Society” is noted, although it could have been formed earlier. This is the start of a long legacy of the women of the church being a significant part of the church’s ministry and seeking to help those in need in the community.

In 1915 the church rolls showed only 20 communicants, but the session notes described the membership as “small but consecrated” and having a “spirit of devotion”. Membership must have increased during the 1920’s however, as in April, 1929, a building committee was formed and charged with raising $12,000 to build a new sanctuary. To help raise the funds, the church voted to sell the manse, located at Naxera, for a total of $3,000 to the Robins Neck and Groves Memorial Presbyterian churches.

The cornerstone of the new brick building – the center portion of today’s church building – was laid on August 12, 1930. Fund raising fell short and a total of $5,000 was borrowed to finish closing in the building. Use of the building began in 1931 but the building was not completed until 1938. The new building helped foster growth as in 1939, the rolls showed 66 members and 96 enrolled in Sunday school.

The church, by this time named First Presbyterian Church – Gloucester, continued to grow as the baby boomer generation came along. A new educational wing was started in 1956 and finished in 1964. By 1975 church membership had grown to 259. Five years later the 1930 church building was expanded to increase the size of the sanctuary. In 1984, the church began having two services each Sunday during the summer months. This was extended to a year round schedule in 1993.

The first Associate Pastor was hired in 1992. The position’s primary focus was the youth. Unfortunately the position is no longer filled. In 1997 the first Director of Christian Education position was added. In 2008, the position of Organist/Choir Director was created.

A major addition to the church building was added in 2008 for educational and fellowship purposes as part of a master plan. The master plan includes provision to later build a new larger worship area.

In 2017, the church left the Presbyterian Church USA, changed its name to Grace Covenant Presbyterian, and became a member of the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO).

Want to learn more? 

Click here to download a PDF of historical notes from a church historian in the 1930s.

Or, click here for a PDF of reflections from our 125th anniversary celebration.