The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-14


as to where the new church should
be located. II was finally decided that
IL be built ION Indian Town. at Rich
mond." The two lots given by Col
onel William Byrd. the father of
Richmond" constitute half OF the
| present st. Johns burying ground.
st. Johns church was built in 114i.
| The original building was so feet
long and rs feet wide, situated due
east and west. In 1772 an addition
! was made on the south side, of 40
| feet in length and 40 feet in width.
/ The Rev. Miles Selden was rector
| when the Virginia Conference met
| in the church. thus enlarged. on
I March 20, 1T75. He was chaplain
| of the convention. Edmund Pendie
! ton was the president.
ct will be recalled that the first
General Assembly, the earliest legis
lative body in America, sat In the
! church at jamestown. on July 80,
/ 1879
Here, In a short speech. Patrick
Henry flashed the electric lspark
! which fired the colony to rebel against
the king.
In 1881. when Richmond had fallen
| into the hands of Arnold. this sacred
edifice was made "A barracks for his
British soldiery."
The first record in the second YES
y-hook Is of an election of twelve
yestrymen, holden on March ~,
17sb. at the court house in the city
| of Richmond" Their names were:
Edmund Randolph. Jaquelin Amber
Bowler Cooke. Miles Selden. Jr.. Will
liam Foushee. Hobson owen. John
Ellis Turner Southall, Nathaniel Will
kinson. Daniel l.. Hylton, Thomas
! w
ION the tenth of May. 1875, the
Rev. John buchanan was unai-
mously chosen by ballot incumbent
for the parish He was to preach every
other Sunday at Richmond church,
and on the intervening Sunday at
Curle's and Deep Run. alternately"
ON the fifteenth of June. 1885, the
first convention of the reorganized
Diocese of Virginia was held in Rich
mond The business sessions were
probably held in the capitol, but the
convention attended divine service in
the church in this city by resolu-
ton of the convention. 1T was a
correspondence between the Rev.
David Griffith and Rev. John Buch-
anan. the rector of this parish, that
led to the resuscitation of the church
in Virginia
Mr.. Buchanan was prominent in
this first convention of the Diocese.
He was elected treasurer of the
j Diocese and. faithfully served as
such for nearly thirty years.
Edmund Randolhp was lay dele
gate of this parish. lie was on com
mittee ito prepare an address TO the
members of the Protestant Episcopal
church of Virginia, representing the
condition of the church. and exhort-
ing them to unite in its support
FIR Rapdntnb also reDDTtpd for n
committee. declaring the Willingness
OF the Virginia Convention to unite
In "a general ecclesiastical convention
with the members of the Protestant
Episcopal church"
Edmund Randolph was afterwards
'governor of Virginia. and attorney
general and secretary of state in
Washingtons cabinet.
Mr.. Buchanan's rectorship extended
from 1855 to 1922. The most fra
ternal relations existed between him
and the Presbyterian minister. Rev.
John u. Blair For a time there We're
alternating services with the Pres
byterians IN the church. In 1890
the vestry gave permission to any
regular minister of any Christian de-
nomination to use the country
churches OF the parish. when not used
by Rev. Mr.. Buchanan. or any other
minister Of the Protestant Episco-
pal church.
During part of Mr.. Ruchanan's min
istry services We're held in the capitol.
as being more convenient to most of
the congregation: but the church was
used "on Christmas, Easter and Whit
Sunday. when the Holy Communion
was administered and combinations
were held"
This faithful and much beloved pas
tor died in 1929, incurred by the
whole community. He was buried be-
meath the chancel to the right of
the communion table.
Rev. William II. Hart, who had
seven years, was rector for the next
six years. Under his ministry the
speaks of preaching in the church to
large congregations. and of the pres
ent prosperous state OF the church.
Rev. William +. Lee was the next
rector. To him we probably owe the
name st. Johns church" The build
ing had had many names--"rhe New
Church" The Upper Church. THE
Richmond Church" Tine Town
Church" The Church on Richmond
Hill" "Henrico Church on Richmond
HILL, The Church The Old
+ Church" etc. The following entry is
found in the vestry-book shortly after
Mr.. Lee became rector: AT a meeting
of the vestry or Henrico Parish, at
the lecture-room of 81. Johns church.
Richmond. Saturday evening, April
rs, 1929" etc
n In the convention journal of that
year this church is entered as St.
Johns church. Richmond Henrico
Parish.
In 1880 the church was enlarged
! by an addition to the nave. The
tower was probably built few years
later The church passed through
many vicissitudes during the next for
ty-flve years. under the rectorship of
the Revs. Edward w. Peet. 1890:
Robert b. Croes. 1888: William IL.
Hart. 1896 j. III. Morrison, 1s43:
Henry ). Kepler, lS4S; J. r. Points,