A Brief History of
Johns Memorial Episcopal Church

1754

On January 1, Prince Edward County is established by dividing Amelia County. “The name of the new county honored a young prince, Edward Augustus, Duke of York and Albany, second son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, deceased son of the reigning sovereign, His Majesty George II” (Bradshaw, 21).

1755

The parish of Saint Patrick is established in Prince Edward County by an Act of Assembly on September 1 (Meade, 24) (Bradshaw, 60). “An election of twelve vestrymen by the freeholders of the parish was directed to be held...the vestrymen were directed to take in Prince Edward Court the oath appointed to be taken in the first year of George I” (Bradshaw, 60). Members of the Vestry performed both civil and religious administrative duties during this time period.

1789

Delegates and clergy gather in Philadelphia to officially adopt a constitution establishing The Episcopal Church as "a constituent of the Anglican Communion...in communion with the See of Canterbury...and upholding and propagating the historic Faith and Order as set forth in the Book of Common Prayer" (From the Constitution of the Episcopal Church).

1860’s -1870’s

English immigrants begin to settle in Prince Edward County following the Civil War and hold occasional services in the Courthouse (Bradshaw, 455).

1878

The “Ladies Aid Society” (the beginnings of today’s Episcopal Church Women) organizes in the Farmville area. Several months following, the Society raises approximately $400 to purchase a lot for the church (Church Vestry Minutes).

1879

On May 19, the Episcopalians of Farmville meet in the home of L.M. Blanton and organize a church with the Rev. W.E. Webb, Rector, presiding (Bradshaw, 456). The new name for the church is to be Johns Memorial -- serving as a living memorial to the late Bishop John Johns, Fourth Bishop of Virginia.

1880

The church purchases the lot in the triangle formed by High, Buffalo, and St. George Streets (Bradshaw, 456).

1881

The Building Committee of the Vestry on February 24 selects F.H. Twelvetress to build a church for $3,311.00. This is the existing structure of the sanctuary.

1882

Johns Memorial Episcopal Church is officially consecrated in August.

1883

The church purchases a rectory at the northwest corner of High and St. George Streets.

1892

The Diocese of Southern Virginia (our diocese) is formed by splitting the mother diocese of Virginia. The Right Reverend Alfred M. Randolph (former Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia) is selected to be the first diocesan bishop (Raper and Jones).

1912

The church is expanded to meet the growing demands of the congregation. The choir and sanctuary containing the altar is added. The undercroft is constructed to house vestments, altar guild supplies, and for additional storage.

More Recently

Today, Johns Memorial continues to fulfill its mission of "celebrating Christ and growing." The Children's Choir is established and celebrates its first full year. The Vestry approves ambitious plans to add new lighting to the sanctuary as well as fixing plaster and painting all the old interiors.

Works Cited

Bradshaw, Herbert Clarence. History of Farmville, Virginia 1798-1948. The Farmville Herald, Farmville: 1994.

Bradshaw, Herbert Clarence. History of Prince Edward County, Virginia. The Dietz Press, Richmond: 2003.

Meade, William. Old Churches, Ministers, and Families of Virginia. J.B. Lippincott, Philadelphia: 1889.

Raper, Derris L. and Jones, Constance M. A Goodly Heritage: The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia 1892-1992. Pictorial Heritage, Norfolk: 1992.

The Right Reverend John Johns, D.D., LL.D.
Fourth Bishop of Virginia

1796

Born in New Castle, Delaware into a political family as the son of Chief Justice Kensey Johns III; grandson of Governor Nicholas Van Dyke of Delaware.

1815

Graduates from Princeton College in New Jersey.

1819

Ordained to the deaconate in Philadelphia at age 23 and began his service in Maryland.

1820

Ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Kemp. Johns, at the age of 32, narrowly lost the election for Bishop of Maryland by 3 votes.

1842

Consecrated bishop and named Assistant Bishop of Virginia by Bishop Meade. Johns was the first bishop consecrated in Virginia. His consecrators included Bishop William Meade (Third Bishop of Virginia), Bishop John Henry Hobart (Third Bishop of New York), and Bishop Levi S. Ives (Second Bishop of North Carolina).

1853

Confirms Robert E. Lee.

1849-1854

Served as President and professor of the College of William and Mary.

In 1849, the finances of the college had been improved somewhat, but it was in a state of upheaval over the national and college politics. “After the death of President Dew [1846], the College experienced such a terrible conflict caused by a student delivering . . . a challenge to a duel over a row growing out of some bitterness over a faculty election, that at first the student was dismissed, and then, the whole faculty was ‘fired’ and 'the students left because there were no classes.'" For almost a year and a half prior to the selection of Bishop Johns, the college had been closed with the exception of one professor giving lectures to his students at his home.

According to Bishop Meade, the college in 1845 "by arrangement with the Episcopal Church of Virginia, . . . secured the services of Bishop Johns of Virginia. During the five years of his continuance. . . he so diligently and wisely conducted the management of the College as to produce a regular increase of the number of students until they had nearly reached the maximum of former years, established a better discipline than perhaps ever before had prevailed." During this time, he refused all remuneration that accompanied this post.

1862-1865

Elected as the Fourth Bishop of Virginia (including the current State of West Virginia at that time) and rode circuit throughout his diocese of nearly 70,000 square miles.

Baptized and confirmed Jefferson Davis.

Spent many long weeks riding through the battlefields and visiting the soldiers in camp, baptizing, confirming, and preaching. At the age of 70, Bishop Johns rode like a raider--with the great personal risk of his life--to reach the battlefields’ wounded and dying. Bishop Johns regularly preached at Libby Prison during the War . . . "with special reference to those inmates who had been commended to [his] attention by their friends in the North."

1866

The Theological Seminary of Virginia in Alexandria was left "wasted and impoverished by war." All the funds of the seminary being in Virginia bank stocks were completely destroyed in the war. After the war, Bishop Johns became president and also professor of pastoral theology at the Seminary and with some funds bequeathed by his cousin, he began the rebuilding of the seminary.

Twice named the “savior” of the church in Virginia:

Rev. Dr. G. MacLaren Brydon, D.D., historiographer of the Diocese of Virginia, writing in 1957 said that Bishop Johns "was enabled upon two different occasions to save the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia from great calamity." First, he brought the diocese of war-wrecked Virginia “back into the fellowship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States,” and second, "was in the years 1873-75 at the time when the . . . radical element [formed] a Reformed Episcopal Church, [B]ecause of his influence the majority of the clergy and people would go with him . . . . John Johns stood firm as a rock . . . [and in Virginia] the movement stopped right there. . . The stand taken by Bishop Johns had saved the Church."

1876

After serving as a bishop for 34 years, Bishop Johns died while whispering "guide me--wash me--clothe me--help me under the shadow of Thy wings." He was laid to rest on the grounds of the Theological Seminary of Virginia in Alexandria.

--Notes compiled by Molly McClellan

Works Cited: Wood, John Sumner. The Virginia Bishop: A Yankee Hero of the Confederacy. Richmond: Garrett & Massie, Inc., 1961.