St. John's Church was the first church built in Richmond. It is also the site of the first public cemetery. The church was completed in 1741 and the churchyard was the site of public burials until the early 1820s. The cemetery reflects the rich heritage of Richmond at the turn of the century when it was a thriving port and the newly relocated capital of Virginia. In addition to being a public cemetery, there has been much debate over the possibility that the hill the church is located on contains Indian burials.

The gravestones, primary source artifacts, reveal many interesting aspects of the culture and social patterns of early Virginia. Many gravestones contain "folk art" carvings that reflect symbolisms and motifs important to the culture. Gravestones reveal genealogical information and areas of origin, allowing individuals and historians to trace settlement patterns. Stones reveal birthplaces such as Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Newark, France, Spain, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, and England.

Many persons important to the history of Virginia and our nation are buried here.
St. John’s Church is the final resting place of:

George Wythe, signer of the Declaration of Independence and teacher of law to Thomas Jefferson, Chief Justice John Marshall, and Henry Clay

John Page, close friend and political ally of Thomas Jefferson, served as governor of Virginia from 1802-1805

James Wood, served as governor of Virginia from 1796-1799

Elizabeth Arnold Poe, mother of Edgar Allan Poe

Dr. James McClurg, a Virginia delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787

Joseph Gallego, founder of the largest flour mill in America

John Enders, prominent tobacco businessman

Col. Robert Gamble, a leading merchant in Richmond

Edward Carrington, served in the American Revolution under George Washington and as Quartermaster for Nathanael Greene

James Mercer, served Virginia as a delegate to the House of Burgesses, Committee of Safety, and in the Continental Congress

Veterans of the American Revolution

Veterans of the War of 1812

The graveyard covers 1 city block and contains approximately 1,300 graves.