Page:Bruton parish church restored and its historic environments (1907 V2).djvu/170

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most of which have since fallen into decay. St. Luke's, in Isle of Wight, and a few others of this century still remain. At Jamestown the lone ivy-mantled tower marks the site of the three churches which have stood upon the recently unearthed foundations.


The Church and Education

Prior to 1700, the Church in Virginia had accomplished an end which should be mentioned, because of its far reaching influence for good. In 1617 a charter was secured from England for the establishment of the University of Henrico; but the Indian massacre of 1622 brought this project to an untimely end, and it was not until 1690 that the project of establishing a college in the Colony was again revived. This movement, which culminated in the establishment of the College of William and Mary in 1693, was largely accomplished through the intervention of the Church. A royal Charter and a royal subscription was secured by Rev. Commissary James Blair, D. D., whose object was to establish in Virginia an institution primarily for the purpose of educating a native ministry, and also for the purpose of educating and christianizing the Indian youth, and the sons of the planters of Virginia. The Archbishop of Canterbury was Chancellor of William and Mary, and Rev. Commissary James Blair, D. D., its first president. For many years its presidents and most of its professors were learned clergymen of our Church. Bishop Madison and Bishop Johns both served in this capacity. When one considers the names of the men upon the roll of the alumni of this venerable institution, including Jefferson, Monroe, Marshall, the Randolphs, and many other distinguished Virginians; when one remembers what the men who were trained in this College have given to America, and then remembers that the College was largely the gift of the Church to the people of Virginia, there is presented a cause of gratitude to God which should not be forgotten. Thus it would appear that between 1607 and 1700 the Church had established her-