St. John's Church Foundation History

"No idea is more fundamental to Americans' sense of themselves as individuals and as a nation than freedom. The central term in our political vocabulary, ‘freedom'—or ‘liberty,' with which it is almost always used interchangeably—is deeply embedded in the documentary record of our history and the language of everyday life." Historian Eric Foner, The Story of American Freedom, 1998

Significance of St. John's Church

Liberty is the founding ideal of our nation. And nowhere is the struggle to retain the individual rights and liberties granted to the colonists more vivid than at St. John's Church. St. John's Church symbolizes the birth of American liberty and the foundations of our republic. Here, Patrick Henry's masterful argument summoned Americans toward independence with the immortal words, "Give me liberty or give me death." His phrase remains as recognizable today as "I have a dream" or "Four score and seven years ago." In 1989, Chinese students displayed Henry's words on a bed sheet in Tiananmen Square. St. John's Church has been declared a National Historic Landmark, the highest possible distinction that belongs only to an elite few of the nation's historic sites that possess "exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States."

Education for Our Nation

Since 1938, St. John's Church Foundation (SJCF) has preserved the historic property as a powerful setting where we engage a broad public audience in the personalities and founding principles of our nation. More than 40,000 students (from as far away as Alaska) and adults from across our nation and around the world travel to St. John's Church annually. Our programs include guided tours (translated into the six most common languages), dramatic reenactments of Henry's speech, classroom lessons aligned to Virginia Standards of Learning, free programs for Title I schools, a summer camp for children, a historical exhibition and the Liberty Lecture Series, a scholarly lecture exploring Virginia's history in the context of national events. Our television program, Liberty or Death, aired nationally on American Public Television. St. John's Church Foundation and its operating arm, the Patrick Henry Committee, are not involved in and do not provide funding for the religious activities of the church. We do not receive church funding for any of our operations or programs.

The historic building powerfully engages students and adults by placing them in the very place where our forebears—including Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington— discussed the issues and enacted the deeds that led to the founding of America. Virginia's support of independence prevented the Revolution from becoming a regional conflict.

Even the graveyard, the first public cemetery in Richmond, has an important story to tell. Many people important to Richmond and Virginia are buried here, including George Wythe who not only signed the Declaration of Independence but also taught the law to Thomas Jefferson, Chief Justice John Marshall, and Henry Clay.

As a tangible connection to our founding fathers and a defining moment in our nation's history as the original location of Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty" speech delivered at the Second Virginia Convention of March 1775, the historic building is an irreplaceable treasure. Our educational programs bring to life the events that led to the American Revolution and the birth of American liberty and are aligned to the content of the Virginia Standards of Learning for elementary, middle and high school students, as well as for students on a national scope.

Our educational programming benefits the Greater Richmond community and our free tours for Title I schools contributes to closing the achievement gap experienced by the most vulnerable and needy students. A teacher recently described the experience as—"when the tour guide told the students that they occupied space that Patrick Henry, (Richard) Henry Lee & other famous Americans (occupied), the students were in awe!"

The public reenactment program began during America's Bicentennial. These free, weekly summer events—from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day—continue to thrill audiences as Richmond's longest running historical performance and are consistently full. We also conduct private reenactments, and demand for these has increased from 17 in 2001 to 79 last year. Participation in our educational programs also has increased from approximately 30,000 in 2004 to more than 40,000 in 2007.

The Foundation Builds on Success

Our leadership team, the St. John's Church Foundation Board of Trustees, contributes a variety of time, talent, and treasure to ensure the success of the Foundation. We continue to strive for excellence and elevate our programming by working with scholars, educators, and through dynamic partnerships. From 2003 to 2009, the board of the SJCF has given, raised, and invested almost $2 million to achieve our mission through the following projects:

Education

Produced the television program Liberty or Death, selected for national broadcast by American Public Television
Led a team of historians, educators, and historic site personnel in developing themes and Virginia Standard of Learning-aligned lesson plans for elementary, middle and high school history and government students.
Provided Title I schools in the greater Richmond community with a free educational program and Virginia Standards of Learning-based educational materials
Published a book—Liberty or Death: St. John's Church and the American Revolution
Produced a continuing exhibition in the Visitor Center exploring Henry's career as a Virginia statesman

Preservation of Historic Building 2003-2009

Restored and converted an 1835 schoolhouse into a Visitor Center
Installed an ADA accessible elevator and pathways
Updated the security system in the historic church and Visitor Center
Monitored repair of the brick wall surrounding the site
Funded painting of the building and fence surrounding the property
Funded a Historic Structures Report
Installed a pathway to the Elizabeth Arnold Poe gravesite
Improved costume storage and outdoor lighting on the property
Removed asbestos from the basement crawlspace
Funded a dendrochronology study that dated the wooden building

Preservation of Historic Building 1970-1985

Installation of sprinkler system and modernization of sprinkler heads
Installation of steel framing to stabilize and support building
Installation of concrete shingle roof
Repair of Keeper's Lodge for use as Gift Shop
Installation of restrooms in Parish Hall
Installation of display panels containing historic pictures and artifacts in Parish Hall
Installation of brick walk from Broad Street entrance to Parish Hall
Heating and Air Conditioning system
Repairs, sprinkler system, and alarm system
Outdoor signage

St. John's Church Foundation provides educational programming and works to preserve one of our nation's most important historic sites where Patrick Henry, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and other American leaders led the Second Virginia Convention in March 1775 toward American liberty and independence. This is a powerful story for our time and important to the future of our children and nation.

St. John's Church Foundation, 2011 Board of Trustees

Mr. Brian R. Pitney
President
Sands, Anderson, Marks & Miller

Mr. Neill Goff
Vice President and Assistant Treasurer
Retired, Owner, Plastic Products, Inc.

Mr. Taz Carrington IV
Treasurer
Community Volunteer

Mr. J. William Gray, Jr.
Secretary
Hunton & Williams LLP

Mr. John B. Werner
Retired, Executive Director, Cabell Foundation

Mr. Clay Hamner
Owner, Lythos Studios

Mr. William H. May, MD
Retired, Pediatrician

Mr. Don McCammond, Jr.,
Community Volunteer

Mr. Henry C. Riely
Retired, Dominion Resources

Mr. Michael C. Smith
Chair, Board Resources and Governance Committee
President, Continental Holdings, Inc.

Mr. E. Massie Valentine, Jr.
Chair - Development and Marketing Committee
Davenport & Company LLC

Mr. Dennis W. Hedgepeth
Wachovia Wells Fargo

Ms. Lynn Anderson
St. John's Church

Mr. John L. "Mac" McElroy III
RCM&D

Mr. Douglas D. Monroe III
Community Volunteer

Ms. Kay C. Peninger
Executive Director, St. John's Church Foundation
St. John's Church Foundation

St. John's Church Foundation History

Historic St. John's Church