St. John's Episcopal Church (Richmond, Virginia) facts for kids
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St. John's Episcopal Church
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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St. John's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia on a winter day
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Richmond, Virginia |
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| Built | 1741/1611 |
| Part of | St. John's Church Historic District (ID70000884) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000920 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 20, 1961 |
| Designated CP | September 15, 1970 |
St. John's Church is an Episcopal church located in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It's the oldest church in Richmond. The church was built in 1741 by Colonel Richard Randolph. The area around it, called Church Hill, got its name from the church.
St. John's Church is famous for being the place where important meetings happened before the American Revolutionary War. It's especially known as the spot where Patrick Henry, one of America's Founding Fathers, gave his powerful "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech. This church is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, which means it's a very important historical place.
Contents
How St. John's Church Began
Early Days at Henricus
The story of St. John's Church starts a long time ago, with a church in a place called Henricus. This was an early settlement in the Virginia Colony, founded in 1611. At that time, the Anglican Church (part of the Church of England) was the official church.
Henricus was special because it had many "firsts." It was the first place to give land to individual settlers. It also had the first "College" in colonial Virginia, which was meant to educate both colonists and Native American children.
A famous event happened at Henricus: the colonists held Pocahontas there. She was the daughter of Chief Powhatan, a powerful Native American leader. During her time there, a church leader named Rev. Alexander Whitaker taught her about Christianity and helped her learn English. She was baptized and given the name "Rebecca." Later, she married John Rolfe, who started a tobacco plantation nearby.
In 1622, a terrible event called the Indian Massacre of 1622 happened. Many colonists were killed, and Henricus, including its church, was destroyed.
Moving to Varina
After Henricus was destroyed, the colony continued to grow. A small village grew around John Rolfe's plantation, which became known as Varina. In 1634, Henrico County was formed, and Varina became its main town. In those days, church areas (parishes) usually matched county borders.
A notable church leader in Henrico Parish was Reverend Dr. James Blair. He was a very important religious leader in Virginia. He helped start the College of William and Mary, which is still a famous university today. The College was built in a safer, fortified place called Middle Plantation, which later became Williamsburg.
The exact locations of the early church buildings in Varina are not known. However, a later church was built a few miles east of Varina. The only part of that old church that still exists is its baptismal font, which is now used at St. John's Church.
The Church Comes to Richmond
In 1741, the Henrico Parish Church moved to Richmond. It was built in what is now the Church Hill neighborhood. The land for the church was given by William Byrd II, who also provided wood for building it.
The new church was built by Colonel Richard Randolph. The first part of the church was finished on June 10, 1741. This original part is still a section of the church you see today. In 1772, the church was made bigger with an addition on the north side.
Important Meetings for Freedom
The Second Virginia Convention
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As tensions grew with Great Britain, the colonial government in Virginia, called the House of Burgesses, was shut down by the British governor. So, the leaders decided to meet on their own. Their first meeting was in Williamsburg, but they moved the next one to Richmond for safety.
On March 23, 1775, the Second Virginia Convention began at St. John's Church. Important leaders like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington were there. The main topic was whether Virginia should create its own army (a militia) to protect its rights from the British King George III.
Patrick Henry, a delegate from Hanover County, gave a very famous speech. He argued strongly for the militia, ending with the powerful words, "Give me liberty, or give me death!" His speech convinced the delegates to vote for preparing for war.
This meeting was also important because it allowed Baptist church leaders to serve as chaplains for soldiers. This was an early step toward freedom of religion in Virginia. After the war, the Anglican Church was no longer the official church, and the Episcopal Church was formed in the United States.
The Third Virginia Convention
The Third Virginia Convention was also held at St. John's Church on July 17, 1775. At this meeting, the delegates focused on organizing Virginia's troops and war efforts. George Washington had just been chosen to lead the American Army. The delegates recognized Patrick Henry's important role in getting the colony ready for war, and he was named the first Governor of Virginia.
During the American Revolution
In January 1781, during the American Revolutionary War, the British general Benedict Arnold (who had switched sides from the Americans) used St. John's Church to house his soldiers when the British took over Richmond.
Visiting St. John's Church Today
St. John's Church is still an active church with a lively community. It also welcomes many visitors as a historic site.
You can find the graves of important people in the churchyard. George Wythe, who was America's first law professor and signed the Declaration of Independence, is buried there. Elizabeth Arnold Poe, the mother of the famous writer Edgar Allan Poe, also has a memorial in the churchyard.
There's a gift shop where you can start guided tours of the church. These tours teach you about the events leading up to the American Revolution, Patrick Henry's famous speech, and his life. On Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, you can even watch actors in 1700s costumes re-enact Patrick Henry's speech! The church also hosts special talks about history with important speakers.
See also
