The St. John's Church on East Broad Street at Richmond is renowned as the venue where the legendary words, "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" were proclaimed by Patrick Henry on the 23rd of March, 1775. Today, the church is recognized as a symbol of American Liberty and welcomes visitors to view the famed interiors or even worship with the parish on Sundays.
The first church to be built in Richmond, St. John's Church was constructed in 1741. You can explore the church on a guided tour which will lead you through the various buildings located on the church grounds, while also delving into the history of each of them. You can stop by at the graveyard which is the final resting place of some of Richmond's most noteworthy residents and is also the first public cemetery to be built in the city. You can even view the interior of the church and view a reenactment of the historic Second Virginia Convention where the famous speech was delivered. While at the church, don't forget to collect your copy of the map which details the church grounds and will lead you through the buildings, describe their significance while also detailing the famous gravesites. Tours last for about 20 minutes, while reenactments are about 45 minutes long.
You can even arrange to have a private reenactment of the Second Virginia Convention staged for your private group. These reenactments are also preceded by a patriotic musical performance which is accompanied by the rare Adam Stein organ. The Gift Shop, which is located within the Visitor Center, stores one-of-a-kind memorabilia, which make thoughtful gift ideas.
The Church also conducts prayer services on Sundays, with the Holy Eucharist Rite II conducted at 8.30 am, bible study at 9.30 am and the Holy Eucharist Rite II Worship at 11 am, which also features the St. John's Choir.
Tours are conducted from 10 am to 4 pm, Monday through Saturday and from 1 pm to 4 pm on Sundays. Admission is charged at about $6 per person, with special discounts for children and seniors. If you are planning to visit in a group of 10 or more, you can even call ahead and avail of a special group discount.
