Provided by Marty Hayes & Fred Walker

On January 6, 1974, a group of 33 former members of Willowwood Presbyterian Church in Norfolk met in the Eastminster Presbyterian Church’s Chapel to decide whether to start a new church or to disperse. The group of 33 was unanimous in their decision to remain together.

Willowwood, prior to that date, was fortunate to have had a pastor that believed and taught God’s Word. Under his leadership the congregation was kept informed of the many changes taking place within the Southern Presbyterian Church (PCUS) which had bred a very liberal Presbytery in Norfolk. In 1971 their pastor died. Knowing that the liberal Presbytery would not approve a theologically conservative replacement pastor, the congregation needed to decide to either withdraw Willowwood from the PCUS or to withdraw from Willowwood. A meeting was held on July 17, 1973, to present both sides. Six months later, on January 6, 1974, a congregational meeting to vote on withdrawing Willowwood from the PCUS to independent status was defeated.

Thus, the group of 33 determined to meet as their own congregation. Their first Sunday worship service was held on January 13, 1974, with 42 people in attendance. On February 24, 1974, the group was officially organized as the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Tidewater. Following the sermon, sixty- three people were received as charter members of the church.

On May 19, 1974, the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Tidewater affiliated with the National Presbyterian Church. The National Presbyterian Church was a new conservative denomination formed in December 1973. In 1974 the National Presbyterian Church’s name was changed to the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).

For almost seven months the new congregation met at Eastminster Chapel for Sunday morning and evening services or in people’s homes for prayer meetings. In the establishment of the first budget, the congregation expressed a desire that no less than 20% go toward missions [this is still our desire today].

During that time, the pulpit was filled with laymen, visiting ministers, and three ministerial candidates. One of the candidates, Robert C. Schoof, was elected as pastor on June 23rd and was installed as pastor on September 15, 1974.

On October 13, 1974, after several names had been submitted, New Covenant was selected as the congregation’s permanent name. During the first year six missionaries were partially supported by New Covenant.

The congregation relocated from Eastminster Chapel to the auditorium of Norfolk Academy on July 21, 1974. Following much prayer and searching during 1975, a piece of property on Kempsville Road was found. The purchase was completed on February 29, 1976. Now the building committee had to come up with an economical building plan. A pre-assembled building was purchased and erected by members of the church. On Easter Sunday — April 10, 1977 — a worship service was held in the sanctuary with everyone bringing their own chairs and extras for guests, because the pews had not been installed yet.

Growth began at once in the new location, and it became evident that new classrooms and a fellowship hall were needed. In the Fall of 1979, the foundation for the new Christian Education building was laid; the building was completed in the spring of 1980. In that building the mother’s morning out and the pre-school programs began in the Fall of 1981.

Due to the growth, it became necessary to hold two Sunday morning worship services. The building committee chose to build an overflow addition to the old sanctuary. The annex was completed in late 1983.

God continued to bless New Covenant so much so that we once again needed to look to expand our facilities. The Nehemiah Project was the name given to a three-year building fund drive began at a special event dinner in November 1999.

Thankfully, a freewill offering had begun to be collected in 1995 toward a future building fund. The amount grew so that by the time the Session started signing contracts for a new building, we had over $270,000 in pocket. This was a good start for a project that ran close to $1.2 million.

In the Capital Campaign friends and members made commitments over the three-year period that totaled $550,000. The current sanctuary was completed in 2002 and paid off in 2009.

In 2013 we opened the building addition of the Fellowship Hall, classrooms, and Gathering Area. In 2016 we welcomed Evergreen Presbyterian (Korean) Church to share our facility with us.

In its forty-nine-year history, New Covenant has called three full-time pastors — Pastor Bob Schoof who resigned in 1983 to go with MTW (church planting in Australia), Pastor Joe Mullen (called in 2009 to Trinity PCA in Asheville, NC), and our current pastor Jeff Elliott who was installed in November 2009. Others that have served in various capacities through the years include Don Clements, Associate Pastor in 1981; Gary Litchfield as Director of Youth and Christian Education in 1982; Jeff Borden as intern in the late 1980’s to early 90’s; Ken Brown as intern in 1996, then as Assistant Pastor in 1998-2002; Rob Hamilton as intern in 2003, then as Assistant Pastor from November 2005 through February 2007; Ken Shomo as Assistant/Associate Pastor starting in June 2007 through August 2013; and Tim Dryden as Assistant/Associate Pastor starting in September 2013. In 2023 Matthew Reichenberger joined our staff to become our Pastor of Youth/Worship.