In 1897 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (then called Warwick Parrish) established a mission for Black Episcopalians. The motive behind this undertaking is unclear. The destruction by fire of St. Paul’s records makes the reconstruction of the mission’s early history extremely difficult. If Blacks had been regular worshipers at St. Paul’s, then founding the mission may have been a move toward segregation. Likewise, if Blacks were not permitted in St. Paul’s, perhaps the mission’s birth was an attempt to ease the collective conscience of St. Paul’s congregation under the guise of missionary zeal. Still a third alternative motive for the origin of the mission might have been one of genuine concern for the Black Episcopalians of Newport News, and for their spiritual welfare. The reader may speculate on the most likely motive, realizing that speculation is not a new tool for historians and the only one available for writing much of the history of St. Augustine’s.

St. Paul’s Mission as it was called until 1924 functioned without the services of a full time priest. The Rev. John Frances Ribble, rector of St. Paul’s conducted eight services at the mission in 1897 while lay readers conducted forty services. Having no building of their own, the congregation was forced to meet on the upper floor of an opera house at the corner of Twenty-third Street and Madison Avenue.

In October of 1897 the Rev. Joseph F. Mitchell arrived in Newport News to become the mission’s first vicar. Later in writing about Fr. Ribble, the vicar said, "he has ever been a willing helper in the work of the mission." In that same report Fr. Mitchell said, "We are struggling to build a chapel to hold our services in. Our members are getting very much interested since it is an assured fact that we are to have a chapel built soon. But before this can be done, we will need $250 to $300 from friends of the work. Offerings will be thankfully received."

St. Paul’s Mission was assisted greatly by the Venerable James S. Russell, who had been appointed by the Bishop of the Diocese as the "Archdeacon for Colored Work." In his daily journal in 1899, Archdeacon Russell entered the following: "Sept. 11; 11:00 a.m.; I preached to a very encouraging congregation in the new mission at Newport News, under the rector ship of the Rev. Joseph F. Mitchell. Rev. Mitchell has made a desperate struggle to build up a work in Newport News and he deserves the sympathy and support of all who are interested in the Church work among colored people of the South. With a reasonable amount of money he will succeed, and I do most earnestly pray that he may be given the money he needs for his work in this prosperous and growing city."

The mission did not grow by "leaps and bounds." Archdeacon Russell’s words, "desperate struggle." Describe the situation well. In 1897 the mission had seventeen communicants and by 1902 that number had grown only to nineteen. It stands to reason that the setting for worship in Columbia Opera House left much to be desired and was hardly a drawing card in finding new members. In that regard, Archdeacon Russell recorded this entry in his journal for November24, 1902: "I preached and assisted the rector, Rev. Jos. F. Mitchell in the service. For several years this congregation has had to worship in a rented hall on an upper floor in an opera house. This congregation should have a nice chapel as soon as possible, and I am pleased to state that steps are being taken to erect a chapel costing $1000, and I do hope that the friends of the Colored work will respond liberally to Mr. Mitchell’s appeals. For with a good church building in this rapidly growing city the outlook for our Church work is exceedingly bright."

Records are rather incomplete regarding the building of the church. Apparently it was constructed no later than 1903, and consisted of a simple wooden frame structure, located in the 700 block of Twenty-fourth Street. The building had a seating capacity of ninety-six. With a more fitting place of worship, St. Paul’s Mission began to show some moderate growth. By 1908 the communicant strength had grown to twenty-six.

A great scarcity of historical data exists between the years 1910 and 1940. We can assume that the Church continued to experience its reserved but steady growth. A succession of eight ministers served the mission during that period. In 1924, when the Rev. Adolphus A. Birch was the vicar, the mission was renamed St. Augustine’s in honor of St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, the great African saint (354-430).  Rev. Birch was from Balize, a country in Central America, and was provided with room and board at Dr. Lassiter's house on the corner of 25th and Marshall Avenue.

Later, in 1930, the church building was moved from its location on Twenty-fourth Street to its present site on the corner of Marshall Avenue and Twenty-sixth Street. The Rev. J.J. Posey was then vicar. The church was of a wooden frame and the roof had to be partially removed so not to hit the overhead power lines.

During these early years in the life of St. Augustine’s it should be remembered that Black congregations in the diocese were lumped together in what was called a convocation. The convocation was administered separately. The convocation had only one delegate eligible to attend the Diocesan Council, while white congregations sent more than one delegate. Black priests were paid a salary below the minimum salary for White priests. Candidates for the ministry were sent to the "separate but equal" Bishop Payne Divinity School in Petersburg. The convocation existed with a life of its own, far removed from the majority life and decision making of the diocese. A letter from Bishop Arthur C. Thomson dated January 26, 1935 and addressed to the Vestry of St. Augustine’s may reflect the convocation’s attitude toward a diocese which solicited their support but which failed to include them in the full decision making process. The letter chastised the congregation of St. Augustine’s for making no payments in 1934 on their diocesan assessment of $10.70. The assessment for 1935 was reduced to $8.60. No record exists as to the payment of either amount.

In 1942 with the Rev. Charles H. Dukes as vicar , the church building was buttressed with a brick veneer. Because of the war, there was some problem with the completion of the veneer’s construction, but the job was finally completed. In 1944 the convocation held their Sunday School Convention at St. Augustine’s. The vicar at that time was the Rev. Theodore R. Gibson. After leaving St. Augustine’s in the following year, Fr. Gibson became an active member and officer in the N.A.A.C.P.

Fr. Harper served as vicar following Fr. Gibson.  Fr. Harper was a tall, heavy set dark skinned man who lived on Lincoln Street.  He started the Men's club and he brought quite a few people into the church.  The Men's Club use to meet at "Buster" Reynolds house also known as "Alley Inn" (a garage in the back yard on the corner of Oak and 27th street).  Buster Reynolds house was purchased as the church's first rectory (heretofore, our priests always lived in someone else's home).  Fr. Lloyd Alexander was the first priest to live there.

The Rev. Lloyd M. Alexander, faithful vicar of St. Augustine’s for fifteen years, was the minister in 1952 when more renovations to the building were required (note: because of the shortage of Black priests, Fr. Alexander was also assigned to St. Cyprian's in Hampton, he served both churches on a rotational basis). The church was remodeled, painted, and new pews were installed. The cost of the total project was about $2000. On December 7, 1952 the Rev. Richard B. Martin, then rector of Grace Church, Norfolk, preached at a dedication service to acknowledge the renovations at St. Augustine’s.

 Still under the able leadership of Fr. Alexander, in March of 1959 St. Augustine’s launched a Building Fund campaign with the goal of building an entirely new physical plant. At a Loyalty Day dinner on April 14, $52,955 in pledges was received to make the campaign a reality. On October 28, the Rt. Rev. David S. Rose, then Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese, was present with many clergy and friends for the groundbreaking ceremonies. On September 11, 1960 the cornerstone was laid. While the church was being constructed, the congregation met for worship at Cooke Brothers Funeral Home.

Finally, in 1962, the building was completed and on December 2, the Rt. Rev. George P. Gunn, Bishop of the Diocese of Southern Virginia, was present for a service of dedication. The new St. Augustine’s is of a contemporary design. The nave of the church will seat more than two hundred and fifty people. A sacristy and small vesting room are on either side of the sanctuary. Douglas Fir laminated arches with dormers are used and the lighting comes from beautiful hanging fixtures combined with cove lights. The parish house consists of a large auditorium and an adjacent fully equipped kitchen. Also, on the first floor is a room of repose and a heating/utility room. The rector’s Study and four classrooms are located on the second floor.

In 1965, the Rev. Robert C. S. Powell became the vicar of St. Augustine’s. Under his leadership the congregation began a long concerted effort to gain self-sufficiency. Like the steady growth in membership since those early days in 1897, the struggle to become a self-sufficient parish was steady but slow. With an emphasis on the importance of the sacraments, the need for community involvement, and the merits of becoming an independent parish, Fr. Powell guided St. Augustine’s to new heights of achievement. Under his leadership two of the three mortgages on the building were substantially reduced. The amount of money accepted from the diocese to balance the budget each year was also steadily reduced.

 In late 1969, Fr. Powell announced his resignation to take a new position with the National Council of Churches in New York City. St. Augustine’s, while searching for a new priest, was served by the Rev. R. Scott Copeland, a non-parochial priest employed as a reporter for the Daily Press. With the approval of the Vestry in June of 1970, Mr. Ralph E. Haines, III was assigned as Lay Reader in charge of St. Augustine’s. Mr. Haines was a recent graduate of Crozer Seminary, but since Crozer was not an Episcopal institution, some additional study was required before his ordination. On December 9, 1972, he was ordained to the priesthood. Both services were held at St. Augustine’s.

 In February of 1974, at the Annual Council of the Diocese, the long road to independence finally came to an end, when over fifty members of the congregation traveled to Williamsburg to witness the acceptance of St. Augustine’s into full parish status. December 31, 1973 marks the last time St. Augustine’s accepted financial support from the diocese. The steady growth that began with Fr. Mitchell and the seventeen communicants in 1897 had finally come to fruition.

The one financial albatross that still hung around the neck of the congregation was the remaining mortgage of approximately $24,000.00 In December of 1975 at the annual meeting of the congregation, the parish entered into a dollar for dollar matching payment agreement with the diocese that required the raising of $12,000.00 in the twelve months of 1976. If the Parish raised $12,000.00, the diocese agreed to match the amount, thus negating the entire final mortgage. The campaign became known as the B.O.M.B. campaign, the initials designating the slogan "Buy Our Mortgage Back". Within three weeks after the campaign began, pledges slightly in excess of $12,000.00 were received and then the long twelve-month struggle to turn pledges into dollars and cents began. After some moments of doubt and indecision, on December 28^th, the payment that sent the campaign over the top was received, and on the same day the wardens and the rector traveled to the Diocesan Center in Norfolk to personally make the final payment. A festive Eucharist was held on May 8, 1977 and the Right Reverend David S. Rose, Bishop of the Diocese of Southern Virginia, consecrated St. Augustine’s.

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