The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-19

| OLD ST. JOHNS CHURCH REPAIRED AND
pArsrED-A GREAT INPRovEMgST- SOME
THING OF THE HISTORY OF THE vENERA.
BILE SACRED EDTrIcE.
| The services at old ST. Johns church.
Church Hill, OF which Rev. A. w. Wed.
dell Is the much.loved rector, were OF un-
usual interest on Sunday, not only TO the
members OF that church, but TO every ci.i-
zen interested In the history OF Richmond
and her noted public buildings. II was the
occasion of the oDening of the church after
having been closed for more than month
for repairs. alterations, and improvements.
| The repairs were much needed, and
the alterations and Improvements have 70
changed and beautilied the interior Of
the building that one would hardly
recognize II as the same church. The oe-
casiun, as we have said, was one OF much
interest. Much OF the conkecration service
OF the church was used, and Mr.. Weddell
4 delivered highly interesting sermon from
S7th Psalm, 5th verse, 's And OF Zion II shall
be said this and that man were born in her,"
As viii be seen, the sermon bad reference
10 the changes made in the church. and
reference also 10 her members, some OF
whom yet remain, and TO others who have
passed away. The improvements were
originally estimated at $1,000, but the bills
now foot up 10 about Sl,T00; S40G OF which
deficiency was received at the o1ertory on
Sunday morning.
The memorable building occupies, os is
well known, The square on Church Hill
bounded BY Grace, Twenty-fourtb, aud
Twenty.Eiith streets, and is spot which n
visitor TO Richmond rarely Omts 70 see. II
Is noted structure, and, as has been truly
said, IL its claim as the cradle OF liberty in
| Virginia be denied, it is surely entitled to
be regarded as having been its fostering
temple, for within i.s hallowed walls
met on The Goth OF March, l775, the Sc
cond Patriot Convention of Virginia,
and II was in that church that Patrick
| Henry gave utterauCe 10 the memorable
words, "Uive me liberty or give me
death.' The Virginia Convention of 177S,
which ratified the Federal Constitution,
also met in old st. Johns. The building
stands upon site once known as Indian
| Hill. The land was given By Colonel Byrd,
and the building (of wO0d) was erected in
lT40. Ii had then, and has now, the helsry
and spirc, but the quaint, high old pulpit
with sounding-buafd overhead have passed
away, tie former being lowered and the
| latter entirely removed.
| The most important recent alterations in
the church have been the addition Of eleven
new pews, reduction in the size OF the
choir gallery and the removal OF the old
girders In the building and roof, and the
substitution Of new and stronger timbers.
By the change in the choir gallery the num-
Der OF pews there is not lessened in the
least. The small western gallery has been
taken out and The walls OF the church
Strengthened, succeed, and painted.
The walls have also been arranged
with hooks, TO be used at Christmas
for The customary decorations. A yes
lry.room 10xl2 has been added TO the
church, and the chance constructed some
what after the modern plan OF the re-
cessiOnal chancel. The vcstry-rOOm as
well as the floors OF the church have been
covered with excellent new carpcting, and
the former neatly furnished in part by the
"Little Cleaners" Of the church. AS we
nave already stated, the old sounding board
has been taken out; but The construction Of
the ceiling has been so altered that it is now
q sounding board, and the acoustics OF the
church thus considerably improved. The
old high pulpit has been lowered to suit the
other improvements; large reflector, with
gas-jets, has been suspended from the CEN
ire OF the ceiling; the entire church inside
has been renovated and repainted, The organ
has been cleaned aud repaired, and alto
gether the old church wears an entirely
new appearance within.