Church Three
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The Vestry took possession of the Church Three building from the builder, Peter Malbone, on Jun 25, 1736.
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Emmanuel Episcopal Church was built in Kempsville in 1843 to accommodate the many families who had moved away from Old Donation. After Emmanuel's building was completed, Old Donation’s Church Three was abandoned. The church and the land around it fell into ruin.
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There is no evidence that the Church Three building ruins were used for any purpose during the Civil War. Hampton Roads, including Virginia Beach, was occupied by Union forces and no land battles were waged there.
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Old Donation made a remarkable comeback when it was rebuilt in 1916.
Executive Committee's 1911 request to the Episcopal Church Extension Fund for $1,000 to rebuild
Old Donation ruins.
May 24, 1911
Mr. W.W. Robertson
Committee in charge of the Episcopal Church Extension Fund.
Norfolk, Virginia.
Dear Sir:
We, the members of the commission having in charge of the restoration and rebuilding of Old Donation Church, Lynnhaven Parish, Princess Anne County, Virginia, respectfully request your honored body that you appropriate for us the sum on One Thousand Dollars ($1000.00) to assist in this valuable and notable work.
We deem it not inappropriate to say that we consider this work of the most historic value to the diocese.
These ruins lie in the ancient parish of Lynnhaven, and it is beyond the means of the parishioners to rebuild them.
The whole county of Princess Anne is growing extensively, and the appeal has come the Church from many persons living there to rebuild the Church for them.
About Seven Hundred Dollars ($700.00) had been pledged within this vicinity. This will show you the interest of the people in this ancient house of Worship; and the commission are not trying to appeal only to your sentiment, but to the practical side of the question of re-establishing our dear old Church in this parish.
We call your attention with alarm to the many Churches of our Communion that have gone under in the time past because of the lack of help from churchmen, and we feel that you will agree with us that this amount of money whish is so earnestly and respectfully asked for, will be wisely expended.
Very Respectfully,
Executive Committee.
Rev. James M. Owens, President
Judge B.D. White, Vice Pres.
Miss Cordelia Hodgeman, Secty.
Thos. J. Hoggard, Treasurer
Dr. R.E. Whitehead.
Richard J. Alfriend.
Copyright: ©2012 by Douglas W. Reynolds, Jr.
Historic Old Donation Episcopal Church in 2012.