May Program: Stephen Wilson – Events that Led to Patrick Henry’s Liberty or Death Speech, and Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Speech

We’ll be talking about the events that led to Patrick Henry’s famous speech, along with the history of the St. John’s churchyard and notables buried there.

Stephen Wilson is Executive Director at the St. John’s Church Foundation, a 501©(3) nonprofit organization established in 1938 whose mission is to spark a global appreciation for understanding the role that Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech had in setting America on its path to liberty for all, and to ignite the public’s interest in preserving the historic site where it happened.

He has been at St. John’s Church Foundation since 2019. He served for two years as the organization’s first Director of Development, and was named Executive Director in 2021. His currently serves on the Board of Trustees at the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, VA, the Richard Bland College Foundation, and the Richmond Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). His past board experience includes Peter Paul RVA, the Petersburg Area Art League, and Crater Community Hospice. He has earned degrees from the University of Mary Washington and Richard Bland College of William and Mary, and he holds a certificate in Sustainable Urban Agriculture from Virginia State University.

In his spare time he enjoys hiking and maintaining an urban fig orchard. He lives in Westover Hills in the City of Richmond.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/GRIVAPatrickHenryMay2026