General Assembly
Meeting Site Is
Rich In History

by Jane Hines

Richmond’s first white visitors were Capts. John Smith and Christopher Newport who sailed up the James River within days after their historic 1607 landing in Jamestown. They were stopped by the Fall Line, which is now the site of the city where the Presbyterian General Assembly will attract many visitors, many who are nonwhite, almost 400 years later, June 26-July 3, 2004.

The city of Richmond, capitol of Virginia, one of the 13 original British colonies in America, is filled with historic buildings and monuments. On Monument Avenue, there is a new monument to Richmond native Arthur Ashe, the great tennis player, along with old monuments to Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Jeb Stuart and Matthew Fontaine Maury. The capitol building itself, in use since 1788, is surrounded on Capitol Square by other historic buildings and monuments. The Valentine Museum, Richmond History Center, has superb exhibits on the life and history of Richmond. In St. John’s Church, in 1775, Patrick Henry gave his famous “liberty or death” speech.

The Presbytery of the James, host to the General Assembly this year, is offering cultural, historical and mission opportunities for visitors that include tours to Williamsburg, Monticello and Fredericksburg. They are also urging Presbyterians to come early and remain for a visit following the Assembly.