John Johns
Encyclopedia
John Johns was the fourth Episcopal bishop of Virginia
.
, John Johns was born in 1796. He was the son of Chief Justice Kensey Johns III, and grandson of Governor Nicholas Van Dyke
of Delaware
.
In 1815, Johns graduated from Princeton College in New Jersey
. He was ordained to the deaconate in the Episcopal Church in 1819 in Philadelphia. At the age of 23, Deacon
John Johns began his ministry and service in the church in Maryland. By 1820, Johns was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Kemp. Johns, at the age of 32, narrowly lost the election for Bishop of Maryland by three votes.
and named Assistant Bishop of Virginia by Bishop William Meade
. Johns was the first bishop to be consecrated in the Commonwealth of Virginia. His consecrators included Bishop William Meade (third bishop of Virginia), Bishop John Henry Hobart (third bishop of New York), and Bishop Levi S. Ives (second bishop of North Carolina). In 1853, Bishop Johns confirmed Robert E. Lee
in the Episcopal Church.
in Williamsburg, Virginia
. In 1849, the finances of the college had been improved somewhat, but it was in a state of upheaval over the national and college politics. “[A]fter the death of President Dew
(1846), the College experienced such a terrible conflict caused by a student delivering . . . a challenge to a duel over a row growing out of some bitterness over a faculty election, that at first the student was dismissed, and then, the whole faculty was ‘fired’ and 'the students left because there were no classes.'" For almost a year and a half prior to the selection of Bishop Johns, the college had been closed with the exception of one professor giving lectures to his students at his home.
According to Bishop Meade, the college in 1845 "by arrangement with the Episcopal Church of Virginia, . . . secured the services of Bishop Johns of Virginia. During the five years of his continuance. . . he so diligently and wisely conducted the management of the College as to produce a regular increase of the number of students until they had nearly reached the maximum of former years, established a better discipline than perhaps ever before had prevailed." During this time, he refused all remuneration that accompanied this post.
, 1861–1865, John Johns was elected as the fourth bishop of Virginia. At that time, the diocese included the current dioceses of West Virginia
, Southern Virginia
, and Southwest Virginia. To cover his episcopal territory, John Johns famously rode "circuit" throughout his diocese of nearly 70,000 square miles (180,000 km2).
There has been some historical speculation as to whether or not Bishop Johns baptized and confirmed Confederate
President Jefferson Davis
.
Johns spent many long weeks riding through the battlefields and visiting the soldiers in camp, baptizing, confirming, and preaching. At the age of 70, Bishop Johns rode like a raider—with the great personal risk of his life—to reach the battlefields’ wounded and dying. Bishop Johns regularly preached at Libby Prison during the War . . . "with special reference to those inmates who had been commended to [his] attention by their friends in the North."
By 1866, Virginia Theological Seminary
in Alexandria
was left "wasted and impoverished by war". All the funds of the seminary being in Virginia bank stocks were completely destroyed in the war. After the war, Bishop Johns became president and also professor of pastoral theology at the Seminary and with some funds bequeathed by his cousin, he began the rebuilding of the seminary
.
After serving as a bishop for 34 years, Bishop Johns died in 1876. He was recorded as having whispered as his dying words, "guide me—wash me—clothe me—help me under the shadow of Thy wings." Bishop Johns was interred on the grounds of the Virginia Theological Seminary
in Alexandria.
, stands today as a living memorial to pioneering work of Bishop John Johns. His ancestral home, Sudley
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1973.
Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
The Diocese of Virginia is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America encompassing 38 counties in the northern and central parts of the state of Virginia. The diocese was organized in 1785 and is one of the Episcopal Church's nine original dioceses. However, the diocese has...
.
Early life and education
Born into a prominent political family in New Castle, DelawareNew Castle, Delaware
New Castle is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, six miles south of Wilmington, situated on the Delaware River. In 1900, 3,380 people lived here; in 1910, 3,351...
, John Johns was born in 1796. He was the son of Chief Justice Kensey Johns III, and grandson of Governor Nicholas Van Dyke
Nicholas Van Dyke (governor)
Nicholas Van Dyke was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware. He served in the Delaware General Assembly, as a Continental Congressman from Delaware, and as President of Delaware.-Early life and family:Van Dyke was born at Berwick, his family's home in St...
of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
.
In 1815, Johns graduated from Princeton College in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He was ordained to the deaconate in the Episcopal Church in 1819 in Philadelphia. At the age of 23, Deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
John Johns began his ministry and service in the church in Maryland. By 1820, Johns was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Kemp. Johns, at the age of 32, narrowly lost the election for Bishop of Maryland by three votes.
Consecration to the episcopacy
In 1842, John Johns was consecrated bishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
and named Assistant Bishop of Virginia by Bishop William Meade
William Meade
William Meade , was a United States Episcopal bishop.The son of Richard Kidder Meade , one of George Washington's aides during the War of Independence, he was born near Millwood, in what is now Clarke County, Virginia. He graduated as valedictorian in 1808 at the college of New Jersey ; studied...
. Johns was the first bishop to be consecrated in the Commonwealth of Virginia. His consecrators included Bishop William Meade (third bishop of Virginia), Bishop John Henry Hobart (third bishop of New York), and Bishop Levi S. Ives (second bishop of North Carolina). In 1853, Bishop Johns confirmed Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
in the Episcopal Church.
Presidency at the College of William and Mary
During the years of 1849-1854, Johns served as the fifteenth president of the College of William and MaryCollege of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
. In 1849, the finances of the college had been improved somewhat, but it was in a state of upheaval over the national and college politics. “[A]fter the death of President Dew
Thomas Roderick Dew
Thomas Roderick Dew was an American educator and writer. He was the thirteenth president of The College of William & Mary .Dew was born in King and Queen County, Virginia, son of Captain Thomas Dew and Lucy Gatewood Dew...
(1846), the College experienced such a terrible conflict caused by a student delivering . . . a challenge to a duel over a row growing out of some bitterness over a faculty election, that at first the student was dismissed, and then, the whole faculty was ‘fired’ and 'the students left because there were no classes.'" For almost a year and a half prior to the selection of Bishop Johns, the college had been closed with the exception of one professor giving lectures to his students at his home.
According to Bishop Meade, the college in 1845 "by arrangement with the Episcopal Church of Virginia, . . . secured the services of Bishop Johns of Virginia. During the five years of his continuance. . . he so diligently and wisely conducted the management of the College as to produce a regular increase of the number of students until they had nearly reached the maximum of former years, established a better discipline than perhaps ever before had prevailed." During this time, he refused all remuneration that accompanied this post.
Bishop of Virginia
During the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, 1861–1865, John Johns was elected as the fourth bishop of Virginia. At that time, the diocese included the current dioceses of West Virginia
Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia
The Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America encompassing all 55 counties within the state of West Virginia...
, Southern Virginia
Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia
-General information:Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America located in the southeast area of Virginia. It is in Province III...
, and Southwest Virginia. To cover his episcopal territory, John Johns famously rode "circuit" throughout his diocese of nearly 70,000 square miles (180,000 km2).
There has been some historical speculation as to whether or not Bishop Johns baptized and confirmed Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
President Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
.
Johns spent many long weeks riding through the battlefields and visiting the soldiers in camp, baptizing, confirming, and preaching. At the age of 70, Bishop Johns rode like a raider—with the great personal risk of his life—to reach the battlefields’ wounded and dying. Bishop Johns regularly preached at Libby Prison during the War . . . "with special reference to those inmates who had been commended to [his] attention by their friends in the North."
By 1866, Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary , formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, is the largest accredited Episcopal seminary in the United States. Founded in 1818, VTS is situated on an campus in Alexandria, Virginia, just a few miles from downtown Washington, DC. VTS...
in Alexandria
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
was left "wasted and impoverished by war". All the funds of the seminary being in Virginia bank stocks were completely destroyed in the war. After the war, Bishop Johns became president and also professor of pastoral theology at the Seminary and with some funds bequeathed by his cousin, he began the rebuilding of the seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
.
Influence and later life
Bishop Johns was twice named the “savior” of the church in Virginia. According to The Rev. Dr. G. MacLaren Brydon, D.D., Historiographer of the Diocese of Virginia, writing in 1957 said that Bishop Johns "was enabled upon two different occasions to save the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia from great calamity." First, he brought the diocese of war-wrecked Virginia “back into the fellowship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States,” and second, "was in the years 1873-75 at the time when the . . . radical element [formed] a Reformed Episcopal Church, [B]ecause of his influence the majority of the clergy and people would go with him . . . . John Johns stood firm as a rock . . . [and in Virginia] the movement stopped right there. . . [T]he stand taken by Bishop Johns had saved the Church."After serving as a bishop for 34 years, Bishop Johns died in 1876. He was recorded as having whispered as his dying words, "guide me—wash me—clothe me—help me under the shadow of Thy wings." Bishop Johns was interred on the grounds of the Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary , formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, is the largest accredited Episcopal seminary in the United States. Founded in 1818, VTS is situated on an campus in Alexandria, Virginia, just a few miles from downtown Washington, DC. VTS...
in Alexandria.
Legacy
Johns Memorial Episcopal Church, located in Farmville, VirginiaFarmville, Virginia
Farmville is a town in Prince Edward and Cumberland counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,845 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Prince Edward County....
, stands today as a living memorial to pioneering work of Bishop John Johns. His ancestral home, Sudley
Sudley (Deale, Maryland)
Sudley is a historic home at Deale, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. It is a -story frame house with shorter perpendicular wings added. It is a grand hall-chamber house of the 1720–1730 period and retains a great deal of early finish...
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1973.
External links
- College of William and Mary
- Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
- Johns Memorial Episcopal Church
- Rev John Johns at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...