The Historic Polegreen Church Foundation is planning to expand its effort to preserve some of Virginia’s earliest religious history.
The foundation will hold a ceremonial ground breaking at its archaeological site on Rural Point Road May 24 at 11:30 a.m.
Polegreen Church was the site where Presbyterian Pastor Samuel Davies, the first non-Anglican minister licensed by the colonial government, preached at the church during the 12 years he was in Virginia.
“Our mission is to preserve and is to preserve and interpret the property,” said Rev Bluford.
“Polegreen stands out as a beacon of religious freedom,” said Del. Chris Peace, Executive Director of the foundation. “We’re trying to bring the message of history to the present time.”
The history of Polegreen is part of the “Great Awakening” movement which led to The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom.
Patrick Henry worshipped with his mother at Polegreen during the time Davies was in Virginia, and credited Davies with “teaching him what an orator should be.”
The foundation now owns 110 acres at the site, and plans improvements that include a visitors’ center, a time line of religious freedom trail and parking areas.
“The big challenge is to interpret Colonial Virginia history in the middle of urban sprawl,” said Peace.