History of grace college campus ministries

College Campus Ministries saw its beginning at Grace Church in 1991-1992 with Norfolk State University. The church, calling itself the Ministry of Canterbury, initiated a merger with Norfolk State University and the organization become known as the Norfolk State University Canterbury Association. The Reverend John Harmon, who was then Assistant Rector/Chaplain at NSU, pulled together a group of interested Grace Church parishioners who formed the Board of Supporters of NSU Canterbury Association. Among the initial participants were: Virginia Bryant, co-chairman with Rev. Harmon; Doris Parrish served as treasurer; Board members included: William Colson, Howard Duncan, Carl Haywood, Mona Thornton, and several others who worked tirelessly during the two year period to get the ministry off the ground.

Jack Neal later joined the Ministry, and became sponsor of the group. He was also Ministry Representative to the Diocesan Department of College Ministries. Rev, Howard Purvis and Rosalyn Neal worked alongside Dr. Neal as a small group of students were mustered from Norfolk State. Certain constraints within the college community made it difficult to establish a momentum that might continue. However, the interest and the effort never ceased. Ros Neal continued as the Diocesan Representative, which was tantamount in keeping Grace Church and Norfolk active participants in Campus Ministries.

The present group of NSU students are, for the most part, in the School of Science Technology at Norfolk State, and have been introduced to Grace and its mission by their educational sponsor, Ms. Valencia Ingram. Much is being accomplished at this time with this new wave of interested students who are about twenty-five in number. Reverend Dennis Patterson, the new Assistant Pastor to Fr. Cobb, does much to enhance the program and to stimulate the interest of the young college students. A cadre of Grace parishioners joined in the mentoring and sponsoring of Campus Ministries. These ladies diligently lend their time and services, thus forming the sponsorship staff of the program. They are: Mary Woodhouse, Gloria Vincent, Rosalyn Neal, Valencia Ingram, Coletta Bey, Paulette Ellis, Olivia Osei-Sarfo and Patrice Smith.