Jordan, Joseph H. (1842-1901)

The first black Universalist minister was from Norfolk, Virginia, where he began the first Universalist mission. Rev. Joseph Jordan was born in West Norfolk, VA, in 1842 and was converted to Universalism through the writings of leaders such as Thomas Whittemore. You may see this ancestor’s story in the Administrative Hall of CVUU.

In the late 1880s, Rev. Jordan traveled to Philadelphia and attended the Church of the Messiah, where he was eventually received into fellowship. Rev. Edwin S. Sweetser, the minister there, presided over Rev. Jordan’s ordination in 1889. Rev. Jordan wanted to start a Universalist church in his hometown. The congregation, which had begun to gather in 1887, was accepted into fellowship by the General Convention at the same time as Rev. Jordan. Within two years, he had organized a day school and a Sunday School in Norfolk. In 1893, he delivered an address before the Universalist General Convention, where he requested support for the mission. The support was approved, and a building was erected in Norfolk in 1894, which served as a church and school.

It was dedicated in November 1894 as the First Universalist Church of Norfolk with Rev. Edwin Sweetser preaching on the occasion. Rev. Quillen Shinn, who was a missionary in the South, organized a youth group and preached there in September. A second mission was established in Suffolk by Jordan’s assistant Rev. Thomas Wise. He had previously preached and taught school there. After raising the necessary funds, a building was erected in Suffolk in 1898. Rev. Jordan died on June 3, 1901, in the Huntersville community of Norfolk, but the work was initially carried on by Rev. Wise, who was placed in charge of both missions. Unfortunately,  the Norfolk mission collapsed. The Suffolk mission, however, was carried on by Joseph F. Jordan (no relation).