University of Virginia Library

RT. REV. JAMES MADISON, D. D., BISHOP OF VIRGINIA
1790 TO 1812.

BY W. G. STANARD, OF THE VIRGINIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

The Rt. Rev. James Madison, D. D., a member of the same
family as President James Madison, was a son of John Madison,
who was long a prominent citizen of Augusta county,
and was born in 1749.

He was educated at William and Mary College, and prior
to the Revolution was professor of natural philosophy
and mathematics in that institution. He succeeded John
Camm as president of William and Mary in 1777, and in
conjunction with Jefferson, then a member of the Board of
Visitors, made many improvements in its constitution, notably
that of introducing the elective system.

In 1790 James Madison was chosen first Bishop of the
Diocese of Virginia, and was consecrated at Lambeth Palace,
London, in September of the same year.

Bishop Madison seems to have entered upon the duties of
his office with a sincere desire to elevate the character of the
Church and to employ a commendable zeal in the prosecution
of such measures as would be likely to promote its prosperity,
but his efforts proved of but little avail, and the Church sunk
so low that some even of its best friends began to despair.
We know now that the disestablishment of the Church laid
the foundation of its present vigor and usefulness; but at the
moment this reform, like many reforms, seemed to work
chiefly for evil. The loss of Church property, the poverty
of the people, the moral degeneration consequent upon a long
war, the violent opposition of other branches of the Church,
and the spread of French infidelity combined to almost work
its ruin.

Though almost any one might have failed to stem the tide
of destructive influences that threatened the Church in Virginia,

Rt. Rev. James Madison, D. D.,

First Bishop of Virginia.

Bishop Madison may not have been the best man for
the difficult task. There is no doubt that he was learned and
good, and his broad Christian charity is shown by the fact
that in the General Convention of 1792 he introduced a proposition
for a union "with all sincere Christians." It has been
sometimes thought that his devotion to scientific subjects and
to the affairs of the college detracted from his usefulness as a
Bishop, and it is evident that, while profoundly a Christian,
the bonds of Churchmanship lay lightly upon him.

Bishop Madison married Miss Tate, of Williamsburg, and
died in 1812, leaving several children.