Commanding a bluff-top position along South Broadway Street, The Parsonage
overlooks Bluff Park, the Mississippi River, and downtown Natchez from one of the
most distinguished vantage points in the region. As documented in the April 3, 1852 issue of the Concordia Intelligencer, the property sits ''on one of the most commanding sites upon Broadway Street, fronting the bluff and overlooking the river'' -- a distinction unchanged more than 170 years later.
Originally commissioned through the generosity of Peter Little of nearby Rosalie (1822), The Parsonage was completed in 1852 as the official residence of Methodist ministers. Architect and builder, James Hardie, a Scottish immigrant and one of Natchez's most accomplished master builder, was the same hand behind the celebrated mansion Homewood and the construction of St. Mary Basilica. Hardie engaged master bricklayer Osborne K. Field, and together they produced a structure of exceptional architectural significance.
The Parsonage is a commanding example of Greek Revival architecture, which
flourished in Natchez from 1833 through the Civil War. Notably, it also appears to be the first building in Natchez to exhibit Italianate detailing -- predating the style's broader appearance in the city by three years -- visible in the distinctive arcaded brick arches that partially enclose the rear porch. The raised basement supports the main living level and provides sweeping views of Bluff Park and the river. Above, the roof is crowned by a balustraded deck -- the highest vantage point on the property -- where the full sweep of the Mississippi River and the Natchez bluff unfold in every direction. It is, quite simply, one of the most commanding private overlooks in the American South.
Inside, the home is beautifully finished with bold Greek Revival millwork, ornate plaster ceiling centerpieces, and refined period details consistent with Natchez's finest historic properties. The formal parlors flank a central hall designed for both grandeur and ventilation -- a hallmark of Southern antebellum design. According to family tradition, the large mirror in the front parlor was concealed on the adjacent grounds of Rosalie during the Civil War, and the original mantel was later modified to accommodate its scale -- an evocative detail connecting the home's interior to the history of the Natchez bluff.
The raised basement level extends the home's livability with a kitchen, dining area, family room, two bedrooms, and two full baths, anchored by a central hall and enriched with exposed brick walls and fireplaces. Between 1886 and 1892, a complementary two- story frame addition was constructed perpendicular to the rear wall, accessible from both upper and lower porch areas. The property also features a brick outbuilding -- likely a carriage house -- documented on an 1864 Union Army map.
The Parsonage has been in the stewardship of a single family for over 130 years. James
and Agnes Metcalfe acquired the home in 1893, followed by son Orrick and wife Anna Rose, then son Albert and wife Gay -- beloved for their tradition of welcoming strangers encountered as tourists to enjoy cocktails and dinner, particularly guests from abroad.
Anna Rose Metcalfe, wife of Orrick Metcalfe, was a direct descendant of Betsy Ross, the Philadelphia seamstress credited with designing the first American flag, lending the property a provenance that extends well beyond Natchez. The current owners are Albert and Gay's three children, the fourth generation of Metcalfe ownership. The family has made the difficult decision to sell, as the fifth and sixth generations are not positioned to assume ownership.
A contributing property within the Natchez On-Top-of-the-Hill Historic District and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Parsonage stands among the most architecturally significant homes in the American South - one of only a few historic Natchez properties with direct views of the Mississippi River
