Saint John's Church
St. John's Church
St. John's Church was built in 1741. It is still to this day an active Episcopal Church with services every Sunday morning. Call for times if you wish to join the services while in town.
The church is most famous for its role in the American Revolution. During the week of March 20, 1775, the Second Virginia Convention was held in the church. Many of our founding fathers were in attendance, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Richard Henry Lee. The convention debates carried on until Patrick Henry made his moving speech in defense of liberty on March 23, 1775. His speech is perhaps the most famous cry for freedom in the world, "I know not course others may choose but, as for me, give me liberty or give me death." The resolution for freedom passed by a narrow margin and in April, shots were fired at Lexington and Concord.
Tours of the church and grounds are open seven days a week. Learn the history of the buildings on the grounds, the church, and the graveyard. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Sundays are special with reenactments. Began in 1976 for the Bicentennial, the performances have continued and are considered to be the longest running historical performance in Richmond.
If you are unable to make the Sunday reenactment, the expert guides will take you on a historic tour. Even without all its historic significance, this is a beautiful church to see.
The church was very nice. The windows were beautiful. Inside the church, Patrick Henry gave a speech, "Give me liberty or give me death". One man, who was outside the window when the speech was made, wanted to be buried right there under the window. His wife had him buried there when he died. Edgar Allan Poe's mother is buried here, too.
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