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Thomas Jefferson at the Capitol
Thomas Jefferson addresses an audience in the newly renovated Capitol
On January 16th, National Religious Freedom Day was celebrated by a special visit of Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia State Capitol. Mr. Jefferson (portrayed by character interpreter Bill Barker) made his rounds of the General Assembly building to personally greet the legislators and remind them of the importance of religious freedom. Mr. Jefferson and Ambassador Seiple were also introduced as special guests in both the Senate and the House at the beginning of the day’s session.
National Religious Freedom Day commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom on January 16, 1786. The Statute was signed where the General Assembly used to convene at the future site of the First Freedom Center on the corner of 14th and Cary Streets in downtown Richmond.
The Virginia General Assembly became the first elected legislature to protect religious freedom under law when they enacted the Statute. This document was the precursor to the freedom of religion clause in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was based on principles voiced by George Mason, written by Thomas Jefferson and shepherded through the General Assembly by James Madison.
We the General Assembly of Virginia do enact that
no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any
religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever...but
that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to
maintain, their opinions in matters of religion...
- Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom,
January 16, 1786
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...
- First Amendment, United States Constitution |
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom Project
 The Consortium for Richmond’s Religious History concluded their final project to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom Project was finished on Wednesday, January 16th, Religious
Freedom Day. That morning, the Consortium presented to Governor Kaine a book of thousands of signatures from Richmonders who support the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and want to reaffirm its ideals.
Over the past year, this project has travelled around Richmond to various churches and events where Richmond residents and visitors were able to assert their commitment to religious freedom and the principles of the statute by signing this petition. The Consortium for Richmond’s Religious History is a partnership of local faith, history, and education organizations with the purpose of introducing people in the Richmond community to the region’s role in the development of religious freedom in the United States today.
In addition to the Council, the groups represented in the consortium were A More Perfect Union, Beth Ahabah Museum and Archives, Historic Polegreen Church Foundation, The Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond, Museum of Virginia Catholic History, Patrick Henry Committee, St. John’s Church, Sixth Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Soka Gakkai, and Virginia Baptist Historical Society.
 Council Vice President for Education Isabelle Kinnard attends the presentation of the
signatures to Governor Tim Kaine.
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