Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-04
OBSERVE ANNIVERSARY
At ST. JOHNS CHURCH
City Officials Will Join Clergy in
Celebration of 175 Years
OF Existence.
BISHOP BURTON TO SPEAK
Former Rector, Now of kentucky
Diocese. VIII Deliver Review Of
History Of Famous House of Wor-
ship on Church Hill.

y
tons Of the state will assemble on
Saturday with the communicates OF
ST. Johns Episcopal Church, famed
throughout the land for it's intimate
association with the beginning on this
continent OF representative government,
Tor the observance of its one hundred
and seventy fifth anniversary.
Simple ceremonies Will attend the
event. The address OF the occa sion will
be delivered by Rt Rev Lewis W. Bur.
ton. p. D., Bishop OF the Diocese OF
Lexington. ny. who was for many
years prior TO his elevation to the
bishonric rector of the church. and Is
we'll remembered in Richmond for his
zeal In the cause in which he labors
ana his charm as a public speaker
Bishop Burton's address will be de-
voted 10 a brief resume Of the work OF
the Episcopal Church in general. and
more largely to the principal incidents
IN the life Of ST Johns and the nota-
bic par. IT has played in the forming
OF American institutions during the
10 years OF it's existence. For thi.
part the distinguished Kentucky clergy
man Is we'll fitted by reason of his init
mate association with the parish and
the close study he has made Of it's won
derful history
MINISTER'S TO ATTEND
SERVICES IN BODi
services nill begin at O'Clock, OPEN
ing with the hymn. The Church's On.
Foundation" Then will follow IN.
regular service OF the Episcopal Church.
conducted BY the rector. Rev Hugh "
Sublett. Bishop Burton's address viii
come after the reading Of the ritual
and the two biblical lessons
s.. Johns Church is one of the oldest
places OF worship in the Western
Hemisphere. As early as October g.
1887. those who worshiped according
10 the Episcopal form held a meeting
n Cu-!e's Neck and decided TO law eve
parish levy 10 build church near
Richmond. As originally planned it
was TO have been bull, on the Brook
Road. just out Of the city
CHURCH ORIGINALLY
COST SUN OF $1,000
Colonel William Byrd OF wcstover
father OF the city. and a sinEularly
hroad-minded man. heard Of the de-
cision. and AT once petitioned the vcs-
try 10 accept free site on Indian
Hi!!" This generosity finally deter
mined the location Of the little church
that was destined 10 play 80 large a
part In the history Of Grea, nation
The contract to build was secured
In the fall Of I'4o hy Edmund RAN
dolph. and on June II OF the next year
the historic edifce was ready for use.
For the church as completed he re-
ceived from the congregation the sum
of sl.53e7o.
Several additions have been made to
r. rob ell
The building is il was originally. is
described by writer as follows:
THE lines of the church then erected
are easily distinguishable The pres
ent transepts lie exactly with the
points Of the compass They formed
the eastern and western ends, respcc-
lively. Of the original church. Tho
ceiling in the old church was foot
and two-thirds below the present cor
nice The chancel. according TO the
then prevailing ecclesiastical custom,
was In the eastern end The present
pulpit. with its sounding board and
the latter's panel stood there The
pews, of course. all faced in that
direction.
ItAND-wRoUGHT NAILS
ARE USED THROUGHOUT
The present are the original pews,
but they have All been lowered
Formerly their backs reached to the
windows. The hinges are hand
wrought. and fastened on by nails
made In the same way. The wainscot-
ing and the window sash are the first
put IN. ANY one examining the ex-
terior will easily recognize the original
weather boarding. 1t is thicker and
wider than OH the new part OF the
church, and fastened by nails wrought
on the anvil. with heads half an inch
broad"
The fame of st. Johns rests chiefly
on the fact that it was within it's walls
that Patrick Henry. speaking to the
Virginia Convention of 1875 gave
utterance to the fiery defiance: 81 know
not what course others may take, but
as for me, give ME liberty or give me
death" thus stirring up the longs
fering colonlsts to that pitch of en-
.husiasm for liberty which finally re-
suited In a severance of relations with
Great Britain and ultimate indepen-
dence.
or much interest to the tourist and
he casual visitor at st. Johns is the
old baptsmal font, of white marble,
which was used originally In Curtis
church. erected on the, James River,
iust below Richmond. in the early part
IF the seventeenth century. This font,
now USED 10 hold the waters of hap
.sn. is over 200 years old. and was
found many years ago, following the
obstruction OF Curtis Church, in a
ellar. where 1t was used as mortar
:pr beating hominy.
Buried In the cemetery, which en-
rely surrounds the church, are many
who were notable figures in the
history OF the State and country dur
ing their day. Among them are John
rage, Governor of Virginia: George
Wythe. member of the House of Bur-
,;esses and signer of the Declaration
NJ Independence; George Mercer, Judge
II the original Court of Appeals Of
Virginia; Thomas Ward White. founder
IT the Southern Literary Messenger.
and Edward Darlington. who expressed
q desire. following the famous speech
OF Patrick Henry. to BIO buried near
that spot