The Future of St. Lukes
In this article, John Ericson, Interim Executive Director, discusses upcoming events and plans for St. Luke’s Historic Church & Museum.
The Question of Dating
In this article, we discuss the dating of St. Luke’s church building. We will touch on several pieces of evidence that points to its circa 1685 completion date.
Religious Violence in America: The Gnadenhutten Massacre
In this article, we discuss the 1782 Gnadenhutten Massacre and the violence that occurred against minority religious groups during the Colonial period and into our American Republic.
Born from Conflict: The Pamphlet Wars
Today we throw around the terms propaganda and fake news rather zealously. But did you know that the first use of propaganda in the English language concerned the English Civil Wars? “Join us at St. Luke’s on Saturday, April 6, at 1 PM, where Public Historian Hunter Willis will present on this topic, ‘Born from Conflict: The Pamphlet Wars.'”
The Great Enigma: Oliver Cromwell
During a recent trip to England, St. Luke’s Education Department stopped by the Oliver Cromwell Museum in Huntingdon. During this visit, the Curator of the Cromwell Museum, Stuart Orme, shared his opinions about the man, the many myths associated with him, and more.
Born from Conflict: Cavaliers and Puritans of Newport Parish a Documentary
In March of this year St Luke’s Education Department will be going on the road to the UK. We will be filming for a documentary to be released later this year entitled; “Born from Conflict: Cavaliers and Puritans of Newport Parish.”
Honoring our Veterans
Join St. Luke’s Historic Church & Museum in a day of appreciation and community as we honor Veterans and their families.
Huguenots in Early Virginia
This article discusses the Huguenots, a group of Protestants who fled Catholic France to escape persecution and their settlements in early Virginia.
A King and His Bible!
In this article, we discuss the motivations, intentions, and consequences behind the creation of the 1611 King James version of the Bible.
Rev. John Camm and the Two Penny Acts
In this article, we introduce the Rev. John Camm. Camm traveled from England to become the Rector at the Newport Parish in Isle of Wight County, later known as St. Luke’s. He was a minister of high regard who had received his Doctorate in Divinity.
The Royal Rebel
James II ascended to the throne after the death of his brother Charles II in 1685. But his transition to power was anything but easy. Learn more about the king who was beset on all sides because of his religious beliefs.
Revising Our History: What Remains in Anne Randall’s Tomb?
St. Luke’s is about to embark on a final journey of sorts. In late January, researchers will come together to explore what remains in Anne Randall’s tomb. The “Old Brick Church” of St. Luke’s has been a resting place for its guarantor, Colonel Joseph Bridger, but who is this person resting next to him in the chancel floor and what is in her tomb? Soon we hope to answer these questions and share them with you.
Part 3: Religion in Virginia during the Commonwealth
In our third and final installment of the series on religion in England and its protectorates during the Commonwealth from 1649 to 1660, we discuss how the Virginia Colony was affected by its home country’s governmental transition to Puritanism.
Part 2: The Curse of Cromwell – Religion in Ireland and Scotland during the Interregnum
The years from 1649 to 1660, which constituted the period of the Commonwealth of England, was a time of extraordinary violence. While Oliver Cromwell is often seen as this era’s most dominant leader in England, there were others who helped chart the course of the republican government.
Part 1: Religion and the Commonwealth
This is part one of a three part series discussing the period known as the Interregnum; the period in England when Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Realm following the execution of King Charles I.
Why the Old Brick Church Matters
In preparation for our Oct. 2nd event, Thompson Mayes, the Vice President and Senior Counsel for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, discusses why old places matter.
Race Was Religion: Understanding the Role of Religion in Early America and its Lasting Effects
This month Dr. Travis Harris discusses the often misunderstood and underreported relationship between religion and race, particularly its roots in English ethnocentrism.
The First Christians in Virginia
This month we discuss the undertold narrative of Catholic Christians in 16th century Chesapeake, Recusants at Jamestown, a mysterious member of the House of Burgesses and George Washington’s advocacy for religious freedom.
King Charles I and the Rise of Civil War!
King Charles I inherited from his father, James I (also referred to as James VI of Scotland), a divided kingdom when it came to matters of religion. England was also the ruler of Presbyterian Scotland and the largely Catholic Ireland. Closer to home, there were many dissenting groups; Brownists, Diggers, Levellers, and Enthusiasts just to name a few.
King Philip’s War and Bacon’s Rebellion: Colonial Paradigms and their Effects
The British colonization of North America, not unlike most other colonizations, centered around the prospect of wealth and interest in evangelization. It is no surprise then that many of the conflicts that occurred in the British colonies started out of the friction this caused between the Native Americans and the colonists.
The Church of the Empire!
When modern people think of church, we think of a voluntary gathering of like-minded people, who meet to worship God and endeavor to strengthen their spiritual lives. The Church of the 17th century, especially in Virginia, has to be seen in a different light. Within the Empire of Great Britain, the church was a vehicle of the state to promote its imperialistic goals.
Closer to the Heart: How Preaching Changed with the Great Awakening
For much of the history of Christianity, listening to the sermon given by the minister or preacher was the way to learn more about one’s place in their Christian faith and consequently how they fit in with the prevailing ideas at the time. The First Great Awakening represents a change in how people wanted to receive these ideas.
The Banner Weathervane: Featuring the Collection
One of the oldest weather instruments, the weathervane, also known as vane, wind vane, and weathercock, is a device that turns freely on an upright rod to show the direction of the wind…
All Possess Alike Liberty of Conscience: George Washington & Religious Liberty
One of the great innovations in rights from the American Revolution and founding was religious liberty as a natural right. Virginians James Madison and Thomas Jefferson have justifiably received a lion’s share of the credit for religious liberty. The typical story crediting Madison and Jefferson has much evidence to support the argument…
The Warraskoyack: A Brief History
We (especially those of us working in the Public History Field) often hear the phrase, “History is written by the victors.” This idiom rings particularly true when trying to do any in-depth research of the many Native Indigenous Tribes that dwelled here in North America, before and after colonial contact…
What Does Religious Freedom Really Mean?
William Shakespeare writes in his play, The Tempest, “What’s past is prologue.” It is a sentiment that links us to our history. Even if we don’t know our history very well, the past still informs what we believe and how we act today…
To Bigotry No Sanction: The Challenge to Religious Freedom and the Story of the Mormons
… Religious Freedom is a hallmark of our American Republic. However, these freedoms have been sorely tested over the years, especially in the case of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…
Religion and the Declaration of Independence
… We rarely think of religion in connection with the observance of Independence Day in the U.S…
Ratifying the Constitution: Religion, Slavery, and the Heated Debate
Did your mother teach you not to talk about religion and politics in polite company? If so, she would have blushed at the amount of debate during the ratification of the Constitution concerning these topics, which raged between 1787 and 1789…
Ella, Sue, and Elizabeth: The Jordan Girls and a Generational Commitment to St. Luke’s
On May 19, 1973, John C. Parker marked the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of Historic St. Luke’s Restoration’s executive committee by noting the limits of a memorial tablet honoring the Jordan sisters, Ella, Susan, and Elizabeth…
Black Literacy in Colonial America: The Impact of the Bray Schools
When Americans generally think about colonial education, we often imagine men like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison pouring over books in their personal libraries. Hardly ever do we reflect on how literacy and education came into contact with those who American society did not consider “elite”. Indeed, I often get looks of confusion or bewilderment when I tell people that I study the history of Black literacy in Colonial Virginia…
The Origins of Race: A Brief History
When we talk about the concept of race in the 21st century, we are discussing a socially constructed idea. For the most part, we are talking about skin color when we use the term today. But, at the dawn of the 17th century, race typically identified a group of people with a common ancestor. That group, just as we see in families today, could be quite diverse…
Bishop James Madison and Religious Freedom
When I speak with people about Bishop James Madison of Virginia, often the initial response is one of confusion. “I didn’t know that James Madison was a bishop,” some have replied, confusing the clergyman with his cousin of the same name, the third president of the United States. But Bishop Madison is a significant historical figure in his own right as the first bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia…
Joseph Bridger Hodsden: War of 1812 Veteran
Joseph Bridger Hodsden was born on March 29, 1776 and died on November 19, 1815. He married Mary Wilson Pasteur on November 23, 1799 and in fifteen brief years managed several farms, fought in the War of 1812 and fathered nine children. His last child, Julia Ann Hodsden, was sadly born after her father had passed away…
Mystery of the Lost Colony Solved? Not So Fast!
A recent Virginia Pilot headline declared “Mystery Solved,” referring to the long unanswered questions about the English attempt at Colonization of the New World in 1587 on what is now the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This so-called “Lost Colony” has been the subject of many archaeological digs, theories, conjecture, a quaint play, and even a horror movie. What happened to those 114 people who sought to compete with Spain, England’s chief rival, in reaping the benefits and resources of the New World?…
A Religious Revolution: American Independence and the Birth of the Protestant Episcopal Church
The 16th and 17th centuries saw horrific conflicts spawned by the religious disputes known as the Reformation. By the 18th century, these conflicts switched to disputes of a more economic and political nature. Most of us don’t think of the American Revolution as a religious conflict and yet religion was a major bone of contention throughout the engagement…
Something Wicked, This Way Comes — to Virginia.
Today we usually only think of witches at Halloween… ugly wicked hags who wear pointy black hats and fly around on brooms. It is interesting, however, to look at the historical truth — which doesn’t begin in Salem, Massachusetts. Did you know that we had supposed witches and devils here in Virginia long before they appeared up in Massachusetts?…
Recognizing The Strength of Our Community: A Letter to Our Supporters
Over the past few months, the difficult decisions we have all had to make and the stressful times that have united us, have put the meaning of “community” into perspective for me. We are all part of many communities, both small and large, that connect us and influence our lives every day…
The Yellow Fever Outbreak of 1855 and a Surprising Connection to St. Luke’s
On June 6, 1855 a steam ship known as the Ben Franklin came into port in Norfolk, Virginia for repairs. The ship had traveled from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, a place Yellow Fever was known to be prevalent. Local authorities were concerned about the possibility of Yellow Fever onboard because of the ship’s origins and interviewed Captain Byner upon arrival…
Against All Odds: George Washington, Smallpox, and the American Revolution
In July of 1775, just three months into the conflict with England that would become known as the American Revolution, George Washington took command of the patriot army. He faced not only the greatest military power in the world, but also the scourge of Variola. He had a difficult decision to make: Should he inoculate the army?…
A Pox and the Social Covenant: 1721 and 2020
Several years back, I wrote a book about a 1721 Boston smallpox epidemic and the introduction of inoculation into colonial America entitled The Pox and the Covenant. The fact that there are parallels between that epidemic and our current pandemic should not surprise us given the immutable character of human nature. However, that fact should also give us comfort that we can endure…
Jamestown: A Story of Unexpected Survival
A 1972 New York Times article referred to Jamestown as “the blunder that started America.” The author, H.H. Morris, certainly had a lot of fodder to support his claim that Jamestown was a complete and utter failure…
17th Century Medicine: A Major Obstacle Faced by the Jamestown Colony
The Englishmen, inexperienced in surviving in this new wilderness, fell ill with terrible diseases often caused by their poor water supply. Many experienced salt poisoning, dysentery, typhoid, or even a mixture of these. Furthermore, they unknowingly arrived during a significant drought which further degraded their water supply and quickly led to food shortages and desperation…
A Letter to Our Community: Like So Many Before Us, We Will Endure
Hello, everyone! My name is John Ericson and I am the Outreach Coordinator and one of the Museum Interpreters here at St. Luke’s Historic Church & Museum. Though we are unable to open our doors for tours during this time of social distancing, we are striving to continue our mission of educating…
The Pyland Family of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, and Newport Parish
By Kelly McMahon Willette, CG® Historic St. Luke’s Church’s survival since the 1600s means that it, both as a church and an institution, has shepherded hundreds of early Virginia families through its doors, its catechism, and its legacy. Because of Isle of Wight...A DREAM COME TRUE: Gen. Joseph Bridger’s Whitemarsh
By William P. Carrell II The author of the cryptic epitaph on the gravestone of Gen. Joseph Bridger (by 1631/2-1686) now in the chancel of St. Luke’s Church queried: “does nature silent mourn and can dumb stone make his true worth to future ages known?” Whoever that...The Misconception of Memory
The Misconception of Memory: Part One Written by Research Assistant Lauren Harlow What is history? What is memory? Are these two words synonymous, or do they hold their own meanings? Very plainly, history is the use of collected facts and primary sources in...Who Lies Beneath the Baptismal Font?
Who Lies Beneath the Baptismal Font? Written by Research Assistant Lauren Harlow “Whose time-tinted bones are slowly reverting to dust at the bottom of a shallow grave in the [“Old Brick Church”]?” (Smithfield Times, 1956) This is one of the many mysteries which...Why do we like Ike?
Why do we like Ike? Written by Former Research Assistant Lauren Harlow and Former Education Coordinator Rachel Popp On October 12th, 1956, President Dwight Eisenhower wrote a letter to Mr. Henry Mason Day, the first president of Historic St. Luke’s Restoration. In...Dr. Michael Browder Discusses Reverend Devereux Jarratt
“Devereux Jarratt: Virginia Evangelical Lecture” Who was Reverend Devereux Jarratt and why does he matter? These questions and more will be answered by Dr. Michael Browder on August 26th during his 1 p.m. lecture at Historic St. Luke’s. The lecture will...Meet the Man Behind the Mead
Historic St. Luke’s Museum Interpreter Nicole Lichty Interviews Glenn Lavender, Founder and Owner of Silver Hand Meadery Mead is an historic fermented honey drink that goes back for centuries. Though mead has a long history, not many know about this historic...JUNETEENTH: A Celebration of Freedom at Historic St. Luke's
Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom. The American holiday celebrates the freedom of former slaves granted by the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War. But why is June 19th the date that Juneteenth is typically celebrated on? June Nineteenth is not the...Dr. James Rice and Bacon's Rebellion
Museum Interpreter John Ericson interviewed Dr. James Rice about his upcoming lecture at Historic St. Luke’s on Bacon’s Rebellion and research from his book, Tales from a Revolution: Bacon’s Rebellion and the Transformation of Early...Coffee and the Civil War
The American Civil War proved to not only be a period filled with turmoil, but also a time of innovation. The Gatling Gun, ironclad warships, and improvements to railroads and telegraphs are only a few of the innovations that flourished during the Civil War. One of...Board of Directors Highlight: Vice President Dana Dickens
Historic St. Luke’s is grateful for our Board and their years (and in some cases, decades) of volunteerism here at our National Landmark. As a new feature for our blog, each month we will highlight one of our board members. E. Dana Dickens III has been a board...Living Historian Richard Greathouse and Our Civil War Weekend
Living Historian Richard Greathouse of the 3rd Virginia Infantry visited Historic St. Luke’s Church on March 2nd for an interview with Former Education Coordinator Rachel Popp. They discussed his long involvement in Living History and how he first got involved in the...The Pox and the Covenant: Interviewing Author Tony Williams
Tony Williams is the author of several books including; The Hurricane of Independence, The Jamestown Experiment, America’s Beginnings and a book co-authored with Stephen Knott; Washington and Hamilton: The Alliance that Forged America. John Ericson, Outreach Coordinator and Museum Interpreter at St. Luke’s Historic Church & Museum, interviewed Tony Williams before a lecture at St. Luke’s held on March 4, 2017 on one of his recent books, The Pox and the Covenant: Mather, Franklin, and the Epidemic that Changed America’s Destiny…
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