West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-02-06
HISTORIC ST. JOHNS.
Richmond'sFamOuS Old Church Doomed
10 be Demolished.

News comes from Richmond, Virginia.
says the New York Sun, tha, another of the
country's historic structures is TO he sacri6.
eed to the felentless march Of modern COM
mereialism. II is stated that negotiations
are under way FOR the sale Of old St. Iohn's
Church. II was there that the words OF
rebellion and defiance to England were
uttered, when Pa,siek Henry rose in the
Virginia convention, then sitting in the
building, and hurled his famous challenge
to King George, ''Give me liberty or give
me death
Around the church cluster memories of
other famous men. II is picturesque
structure. standing on hilltop surrounded
by ancient elms. The building was com
Pleted IN I74I making II at present I6I
years old. Beside it is the graveyard where
lie the bones Of many famous colonial cava-
lieis and continental regulars, whose names
and many virtues are carved ON the crum-
bled old stones a few feet down the hull
side and you have stepped from the 18th
into the Goth century, with it's roar of rail
road trains and mills. lust below is the
broad sweep of the James river.
The first chapel was built about I6Is.
The history Of ST. Johns begins with the
first settlement Of the colony Of Virginia.
The FIRST record of the chronicles is that
Dale, the high marshal, and the Rev. Alex.
ander Whitaker, ''did found a church Z"
This Whiuakcr is historical parsonage,
and was evidently man Of great force in
the colony. 1t is recorded in England that
che did leave his warm nest; and, to the
wonder Of his kindred and amazement of
them that knew him, did so to Virginia and
help bear the name Of God unto the Gen.
tiles"
II was Whitaker who attempted to Chris
tianize Pocohontas afterward married her
10 John Rofe, His salary as minister was
fixed at 500 pounds Of tobacco and 200 bar
reis Of coru. The records Of the church
were lost in the many Indian massacres. and
its early chronicles are fragmeniary The
parish vesty book from 75o to I774, how
ever, Is in existence. This old volume is
redoIent Of antiquity, aud some of its entries
arc quaint as the following show
go John Jones for keeping his daughter,
being fool, 800 pounds of iobacco."
Ordered that Sackdeld Brewer be APP
pointed reader in the chapple. Richard
Williams being absconded from duty there
in."
One Of the earlier preachers was Mr..
Mossoni, who aflefward married George
Washington to the widow Custis. Another
Of the pioneers in the ''cbapple" was the
Rev Anthony Gavin. who was bitterly op-
posed TO slavery and might be called the
first abolnionist The present building was
built "a land donated by the famous William
Byrd, Of Wsstover, the founder Of Richmond.
Among the FIRST church wardens was Ed
mund Randolph, af,erward Governor Of
Virginia md attorney general Of the United
States
In IT'S the Virginia convention was CALI
ed to meet at St. Johns Edmund Pendle-
ton presided and many spoke, counsclng
patience and further parlcyiug With the
English government. until Henry sprang TO
his feet and in burning eloquence carried the
day for liberty. So old ST. Johns became
the cradle of freedom. But il was doomed
to suffer for this distinction for 10 1881 The
traitor, Benedict Arnold, landed on tie
shores Of Virginia and began pillaging and
burning. When Richmond fell into his
hands he converted ST. Johns into bar
racks. The building was defaced and
damaged, and for a long lime af,erward
services were discontinued.
The building was enlarged IN I777. IN
this century fashion made IL necessary to
lower the pulpi, and toe pews, but the same
sounding board Is still there and the bapiis-
NAL font is also being used, having been
discovered in cellar, where for years il
served as a mortar for beating hominy
The names on ihe old tombsioues are al
most complete regisiey Of famous Virgin
JAMS Of lhe colonial period Close against
ihe building and below one Of The cast win.
dows a ilai slab tells that Edward Caring.
ton, whose bones are here Inferred" stood
on that Identical spot and through the win
dow above listened to Patrick Hcnryfs
spccch. and then aud there declared bis IN
tenfi3n of bciug buried on the sam. ground
where hc haf listened 90 that historic
Grafton.