University of Virginia Library

HENRICO PARISH AFTER THE REVOLUTION.

Previous to the Revolution, it is probable that the families of the
Randolphs at Turkey Island, Curls, Varina, Wilton, and Chattsworth,
with a few others in the neighbourhood of the old settlement
of Sir Thomas Dale, formed the main strength of the Episcopal
Church in Henrico, and that the ministers resided at the
parsonage and on the glebe at Varina. But the scene will now
be changed to Richmond, which, though still a very small place,
became the seat of government during the war.[40]

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, RICHMOND, VA.

St. John's Church, on Richmond Hill, whose age we are unable
to ascertain, had been the sanctuary of patriotism, as well as of
religion, more than once before and during the war, in which the
voices of our Randolphs, Lees, Henrys, and Masons roused the
citizens to arms. Beneath it, on the river Powhatan, (the ancient
name of James River, and which ought never to have been
changed,) lay the spot where the old King Powhatan sometimes
held his court when warring with the fierce Monacans or Manakins,
who never allowed him to extend his conquests above the
Falls. Although it is clearly shown that Pocahontas was born and
trained at a place far distant from this, and baptized and married
at Jamestown, and though it is all a fable that it was here she
rescued the gallant Smith, yet, during her residence with Rolph
at Henricopolis, she may have visited the spot before any Christian
church was reared on its brows.

From this time forward we have the sure guide of a vestry-book
in tracing the history of this parish. The one before us opens
with the first meeting of the parishioners, in March, 1785, to elect
a vestry under the act of incorporation by the Legislature, which
had before put down the Episcopal Church as an Establishment.
The first vestrymen were Edmund Randolph, Turner Southall,
Jaqueline Ambler, Nathaniel Wilkinson, Hobson Owen, William
Fouchee, William Burton, Daniel L. Hylton, Miles Selden, Thomas
Prosser, John Ellis, Bowler Cocke, of whom Edmund Randolph
and Bowler Cocke were chosen churchwardens, and the former
elected to the Convention about to meet in the May following.
Previous to that meeting, the Rev. John Buchanon was elected
minister of the parish. He had been the minister of Amherst
parish some years before this. The following resolution of the
vestry in the year 1789 will show their sense of the importance of
religion, and their testimony to its low condition at that time:—

So low, however, was the condition of the church, that a very
small sum was raised in this way for the support of the ministry,
and Mr. Buchannon received but little beside the rent of the glebe
and perquisites during the whole of his ministry; and that little
was always given to others. Having some property of his own,
through the death of his brother, Mr. James Buchanon, and
living with simplicity and economy, he did not need a salary for
himself.[41]

In the year 1790, the vestry passed a resolution permitting the
churchwardens to allow ministers of other denominations to preach
in our country churches in the daytime, when not occupied by Dr.
Buchanon, provided they did not leave them open or injure them.
At a later period, Mr. Blair is allowed to preach every other Sunday
in St. John's Church. This not only shows their kind feelings
toward the other denominations, but that they considered the
churches as not made common property by the law, as some have
contended. In the year 1791, a committee appointed to inquire
into the property of the parish report that the glebe consists of
one hundred and ninety-six acres of land by an old patent, that
the houses are out of repair, that the glebe rents for forty pounds,

and is supposed to be worth one thousand pounds, that there is
one silver cup and salver. In the year 1714, the vestry elected
the Rev. David Moore, son of Bishop Moore, to act as assistant
to Dr. Buchanon; but the offer was declined. In the year 1715,
the Rev. William Hart was chosen and accepted. In the year
1722, Dr. Buchanon died, and Mr. Hart succeeded to the entire
rectorship of the church.

On the 13th of May, 1826, Dr. John Adams presented to the
vestry a marble font, which was obtained from Curls Church. In
July of the year 1828, the Rev. Mr. Hart resigned and the Rev.
William F. Lee was elected. Soon after Mr. Lee's entrance on
the duties of rector, a proposition was made to remove the old
church below the hill, or build or purchase a new one. This resulted
in the resignation of Mr. Lee and of a number of the vestrymen,
and the formation of a new congregation and purchase of
a Presbyterian church, since called Christ Church, in whose service
Mr. Lee ended his days.

In the year 1830, the Rev. Mr. Peet was chosen the minister of
St. John's. In the year 1833, the Rev. Mr. Peet resigned and the
Rev. Robert Croes was elected. Mr. Croes resigned in 1836, and
the Rev. Mr. Hart was re-elected to his old parish, and continued
its minister until the year 1842. In the following year, the Rev.
Mr. Morrison was elected, and continued the minister until 1848.
In the following year, the Rev. Mr. Kepler was called to be the
minister of this parish, and continues such to this time.

I close my notice of St. John's Church by referring to a subject
on which I find that the vestry took action in the years 1826 and
1828. At an early period, two hundred acres of land were laid
off from the College or Company lands near Henricopolis or Dale's
settlement, for a glebe, court-house, prison, &c., one hundred and
ninety-six being for the former. It continued to be the residence
and property of the successive ministers until the death of Dr.
Buchanon, in 1822. A short time subsequent to this, the overseers
of the poor laid claim to it and offered it for sale. The Rev.
Mr. Hart, assistant and successor to Dr. Buchanon, enjoined the
proceedings, and filed a bill in Chancery to obtain ownership;
whereupon the Chancellor, at the January term of his court in
1826, decided in favour of the church and against all claims of
the overseers of the poor. It was then resolved by the vestry to
sell their right and interest in the glebe to Mr. Pleasant Aiken, of
Petersburg, in such manner as shall appear for the best interests
of the parish. An appeal from the decision of the Chancellor was

taken by the overseers of the poor, and Mr. Aiken declined closing
the bargain until the decision of the Court of Appeals. In the
month of March, 1828, the vestry direct the rector to lease the
glebe-lands adjoining the Varina estate, and belonging to the
parish, to such person and upon such terms as he may think will
best secure their preservation. This is the last entry upon the vestry-book
concerning it. I am privately informed that the vestry
withdrew their claim, or did not prosecute it, rather than involve
the church in what might prove a long and bitter controversy with
the overseers of the poor representing the citizens of Henrico,
although well persuaded that the Chancellor was right in his decision.
I presume that the claim of the vestry rested on the fact
that this glebe was not purchased for the parish by a levy of the
vestry on the people, as was the case of the glebes generally, and
on which account the law for selling them was passed, but was a
gift to the parish by the London Company out of the lands set
apart for the College and the general uses of Henrico. In ceasing
to contend for their rights, the vestrymen of Henrico only did
what other vestrymen have done, preferring rather to suffer loss
than promote strife and thereby injure the cause of religion. It
has been the general sentiment of the clergy and laity of our
Church in Virginia, with whom I have been acquainted, that,
though the glebes may have been wrongfully taken away, (about
which there has been diversity of opinion,) yet even if they could
be recovered by law, the effort should not be made, because of the
discord and unhappiness which would certainly attend it.

As I am writing of the old churches and ministers of Virginia,
leaving it to some one else, at a future day, with ampler materials
than I possess for my work, to speak of more modern ones, a few
words will suffice for the new parishes and churches in Richmond.
Of the sad calamity which led to the erection of the Monumental
Church, every modern history of Virginia and sketch of Richmond
is full, and I shall not dwell upon it. Bishop Moore was
called to be its first minister, and still lives in the hearts of all
who knew him. The Revs. Mr. Croes, Nichols, Thomas Jackson,
and Norwood, were successively his assistants. The latter succeeded
to the rectorship at the Bishop's death. A larger church
being needed, St. Paul's was built under the auspices of Mr. Norwood
and some active laymen. The Rev. Mr. Woodbridge, who
had long laboured in the church vacated by the death of the Rev.
Mr. Lee, took possession of the Monumental, when St. Paul's was
completed and entered by Mr. Norwood and his congregation.

Years before this, St. James's Church had been built and Dr.
Empie called to be its pastor. After faithfully labouring many
years, and being unable to labour more, he resigned the charge of
it to the Rev. Mr. Cummings, at whose resignation the Rev. Mr.
Peterkin succeeded. At the resignation of St. Paul's by Mr. Norwood,
on account of ill health, the Rev. Alexander Jones was
chosen, and continued some years. The Rev. Mr. Minegerode is
the present pastor. Since Mr. Woodbridge's removal to the Monumental
Church, Trinity Church has been mostly supplied by missionary
services. During the last spring, while under the charge
of the Rev. Mr. Webb, the building was consumed with fire. It
deserves to be mentioned that a missionary chapel was erected in
the western part of the city, some years since, through the zealous
labours of the Rev. Dr. Bolton, though, from various unfavourable
circumstances, it failed of its object and has been disposed of.
Should I have failed to make mention of the missionary labours of
the Rev. Mr. Duval, in Richmond, the memories and the hearts of
all its citizens would have supplied the deficiency, even if the excellent
memoir of him by the Rev. Mr. Walker had not perpetuated
the remembrance of one of the most devoted Christians and philanthropists
of Virginia.