Lizzy’s Latest – St. John’s Episcopal Church – HAPPY 4TH of JULY!!!

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My enthusiasm for Civil War history made Richmond, VA a frequent place of adventure for me and my dad.  Yet, Richmond boasts Revolutionary War history as well!  One weekend, we stumbled upon this sign at The Poe Museum. 

Taken in 2011 – Pre-blogging days. 😉

Being fans of the Master of the Macabre, we couldn’t resist checking it out.  While there, we learned, Edgar Allan Poe’s mother, Elizabeth Arnold Poe, was buried nearby at Historic St. John’s Church.  “Add it to the list,” I exclaimed to Dad.

So, the next time we were in Richmond, our taphophile hearts led us to Elizabeth Arnold Poe’s gravesite at St. John’s Church.

Dad taking a break with and enjoying a good book!

We also couldn’t believe what we stumbled upon at this historic location!  The church was the site of Patrick Henry’s, “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” speech!  That speech was the impetus that eventually led the 13 courageous colonies to approve the Declaration of Independence and declare their independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776.

This was taken in 2011 – pre-blogging days.

It is also the site for a more recent historic event:   Lizzy’s Latest 4th of July photo shoot. 😉

We arrived mid-afternoon and just in time for a guided tour of the church.  Our guide, Betty, was an excellent orator bringing the past back to life.  We got to sit in the pews, the same pews some of our Founding Fathers, like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, sat in! 

What became clear listening to Betty was that the colonies were heavily taxed on everything from everyday goods like sugar and tea, to commerce, and even trade among the colonies.  The colonists were angry because taxation without representation is tyranny. 

The animosity reached a fevered pitch at the Second Virginia Convention at St. John’s Church in March of 1775.  The colonists saw what had happened in Boston after the Boston Tea Party.  Parliament quickly punished and isolated Boston through a series of taxes and the increased presence of armed British troops. 

Patrick Henry, a staunch defender of colonial rights, sensed revolution was coming.  As such, on that fateful day, along with forming a provincial government, he proposed creating a militia and then training the militia to defend the colony of Virginia.  In Henry’s powerful and impassioned speech, he wonders with immediate resolve:

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”     

Patrick Henry, at 27, was the youngest man elected to the Virginia House of Burgess in 1765.  It was the same year Britain passed the Stamp Act, a tax on a variety of paper products.  The tax was very unpopular with the colonists, so Patrick Henry proposed the Virginia Resolves in response to the Stamp Act and at one point during the lively debate, Henry, the fiery orator, roared:
“Tarquin and Caesar had each his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell, and George the Third…”
At the mention of George the Third, Henry was abruptly cut off as men began screaming, “TREASON, TREASON!”
Undeterred, Henry took control and bellowed, “George the Third may profit by their example!”   Photo credit here.

Henry’s proposals passed and just in time because the very next month the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” marked the start of the American War of Independence at the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

This is believed to be the area Patrick Henry sat in and this was his chair.

Of course, we had to quickly get back to photo shooting these beautiful BCBGeneration Jillix sandals.  The church grounds closed at 5PM and it was already 4PM!  The sun was very bright that afternoon making it difficult to get decent shots.  We were running out of time until Betty graced us with a little more time after she locked the gates.  She told Dad there was an elevator we could take to another gate that was open.  Dad was hesitant asking Betty to show him where the elevator was, but I had no care in the world.  In my mind, we had plenty of time now to get good pictures.   

Dad felt uneasy as we continued taking pictures and even suggested we leave, but my stubbornness disagreed with Dad.  It wasn’t until Betty appeared out of nowhere saying it was time for us to leave.  So, I headed to the elevator and as I got there, I could hear, “HELP!  HELP!!  HELP!!!  I looked down to an area a little bigger than a telephone booth to find a couple stuck.  They were frantic as I yelled for Dad.  They told Dad they took the elevator as instructed to the bottom level.  They exited the elevator and then exited a door to get to the gate, but that gate was locked and the door locked from the inside. 

Dad told me to stay up where we were in case he got stuck.  He then went down the elevator to open the door and rescue them.  The couple, Selina and Bill, were so grateful to be free from their temporary prison.  The four of us began looking for Betty as the gates were all locked and we were stuck in the graveyard.  Selina was a little scared and also needed a bio break, but I comforted her and told her everything would be ok and if we couldn’t find Betty, we could always call 911. 

Selina and Bill! Aren’t they the cutest couple?!

Fortunately, we found Betty and Selina was able to use the bathroom before Betty unlocked the gates to let us out.  Dad and I talked to Selina and Bill for few minutes and then parted ways.  They are a very sweet couple and I told them they would be in this blog post.  😊

Dad and I finished the photo shoot at Monroe Park.  By then, the lighting was perfect. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!  Hope y’all have a great 4th of July!     

Style with a Smile!

XoXo,

Lizzy

PS:  During the 240th anniversary of Patrick Henry’s speech, re-enactors acted out that scene: