1922-1936 James B. Quinn, O. S. B. was assigned to the Norton area. Benedictine Annals notes there were Italian and Syrian Catholics in Norton. The railroad junction made Norton an ideal place as a center for missionary activity. In the mid 1920's a church in Dorchester was demolished and the materials were used to build the building used as a place of worship on the 800 block of Park Ave. in Norton, VA.
          1936-1943 Fr. Peter Aarts A Dutchman architect who owned his own concrete block construction company designed and built St. Anthony's Catholic Church on Virginia Ave. in Norton, VA. St. Anthony's was dedicated July 3, 1938.

The artist rendering above shows the physical relationship of the new St. Anthony's Church to the original St. Anthony's Church. In 1988 St. Anthony's parish celebrated their fiftieth anniversary. However, at the time of the celebration, the original building was already torn down.

     On November 24, 2002, St. Anthony Catholic Church celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. Our guest speaker was Father Bob Bond who spoke of all the things that have brought us thus far. He remembered the work of the Glen Mary Brethren who labored to build the church, the gift of Protestant friends who carried the block of coal from Pennsylvania to be molded into our altar, and the faith of the Catholic community that made our church happen. It was a wonderful testament to the Glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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