St. John's Episcopal Church
Also known as: New Church; Church on Richmond Hill
Why it's listed
St. John's Episcopal Church stands on a two-acre plot in Richmond, Virginia, shared with its cemetery. The first building went up in 1740-41 on land given by Col. William Byrd, a plain rectangle 25 by 40 feet, and it remained the city's only Episcopal church until 1814. A nave and belfry were added in 1772. In March 1775 the Virginia Convention met in this "New Church" because it was the largest building in town. About 120 delegates attended, among them George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and George Wythe. On March 23 Patrick Henry delivered his "Liberty or Death" speech, which turned the gathering from conciliation toward preparing the colony's defense. The building has been altered several times since, including a larger nave and a vestry room in 1880 that gave it a cross shape, and a spire replaced in 1896. The churchyard holds the graves of George Wythe and Elizabeth Arnold Poe, and about 60,000 people visit each year.
Significance in brief: On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry delivered his "Liberty or Death" speech here during the Virginia Convention. The speech moved the convention from conciliation to adopting resolutions that put the colony in a state of defense. The church is one of Richmond's most noted historic sites.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000920, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E. Broad St. between 24th and 25th Sts., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000920 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century (specific date 3/23/1775) |
| Architect / builder | Richard Randolph (builder of the original church, per the bibliography notes) |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated January 20, 1961 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Active church in good condition, altered several times since 1772; the exterior is in need of paint but appears structurally sound. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | St. John's Church Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.53148, -77.41966 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000920.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2319561
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.