In1883, Court Street Baptist Church erected the Scott's Creek Chapel for those living in the Scottsville area of Norfolk County, outside the city limits of Portsmouth, Virginia. The small chapel cost $1,500 to build and was located on the same site as the present day Calvary Baptist Church.

On September 9, 1889, just one day after Court Street Baptist members, along with seven members from Fourth Street Baptist Church, met at the chapel to establish the Scottsville Baptist Church. Rev. John W. Dougherty, who had served the mission, became the first pastor of the newly formed church.

On January 7, 1898, the congregation voted to change the name from Scottsville Baptist Church to Calvary Baptist Church. As the church struggled financially in its early years, it nevertheless approved $600 to build a mission in the Port Norfolk community in 1897 that became Port Norfolk Baptist Church about a year later. Again, in 1913 Calvary sponsored the Rodman Heights Mission that later became Westhaven Baptist Church.

From 1889 to the present, twenty-two pastors (including two interim pastors) have served Calvary. During the pastorate of Rev. Walter R. Leckliter the cornerstone for the present sanctuary was laid on May 10, 1914, and the first service was held in the new sanctuary on January 24, 1915. Charles M. Mason, a Portsmouth architect, designed the new sanctuary, and Taylor, White and Company was the contractor.  The contract price for the facility was $35,000. The local newspaper described the new building as "one of the finest in the south" and it seated 800 people--more than any other religious building in the area at that time.

The Building Committee for 1914 construction of the new sanctuary was comprised of: Rev. W. R. Leckliter (Chairman), J. W. Vaughan, L. C. Channel, W. H. Culpepper, W. J. Baugham, James F. Culpepper, T. C. Bryan, C. W. Britt, E. S. Bradley, David Morgan, W. T. L. Shepherd, Jesse Skeeter, and Z. E. Frey.            

Rev. Dallas E. Hill arrived at Calvary just nine months before the Great Stock Market Crash of 1929 and would stay to shepherd the congregation through twelve of the most difficult years the congregation had ever faced. On Mother's Day, 1929, the church recorded the greatest attendance ever in Sunday School with 1,056 present. A panoramic photograph commemorates the occasion.

On January 1, 1942, Dr. Ralph J. Kirby became the pastor and served faithfully for twenty-two years until his retirement on January 1, 1964. During his tenure, which was the longest of any pastor, the church built a new parsonage and an educational facility. Since then, Rev. Joseph R. Holland, Rev. Ernest Northern, and Dr. Samuel E. Harvey, Jr. have faithfully served Calvary Baptist Church. In June 1980, Rev. Philip J. Parker accepted a call to pastor the church. Under his innovative and creative leadership, Calvary continues to minister and touch the lives of people in this community--and beyond--for the cause of Christ.

In September 1989, Calvary Baptist Church celebrated her Centennial. As a part of that celebration, a cornerstone was laid for a new family life and education center that has greatly enhanced the ministry of the church. Calvary has also sponsored many dramas and in 1998 produced its eighth musical Easter drama, The Easter Story, written and arranged by the Reverend Philip Parker and Dr. Phillip Martin, Minister of Music and Administration.

As the church begins its 118th year of service, Calvary Baptist Church continues to bring people to know Christ and to disciple them as they grow in their relationships with Him.