History Lunch and Learn: Parish and Power: Religion and Government in Colonial Virginia

More than a place of worship, the colonial Virginia parish was the foundation of community life. Long before there were public schools, social service agencies, or modern local governments, the parish cared for the poor, apprenticed orphaned children, maintained moral order, and played an important role in the administration of justice. Vestries levied taxes, oversaw public welfare, supported education, maintained roads in some communities, and worked alongside county courts to address the needs of the colony. This lecture explores how the parish became one of the most influential institutions in early Virginia, shaping not only the religious lives of its people but also their legal, educational, and civic experience.
John Ericson began his time at St Luke's Historic Church & Museum as a docent in 2013. Over the years he researched the history of the site, rewrote the guided tour, and helped to develop the narrative of the movement towards religious freedom. In November of 2024, he was made the interim director and in March 2025 was named the executive director. John holds a B.A. in history from Roanoke College (1985) and a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (1989). John married Oneita Jamerson Ericson 40 years ago. They have 3 sons and reside in Hampton, Va.