John Johns was the fourth Episcopal bishop of Virginia. He also served as President of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg and led and taught at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria.
Background
Johns was born on July 10, 1796, in New Castle, Delaware, the son of Chief Justice Kensey Johns and Ann Van Dyke, daughter of Nicholas Van Dyke. He had a younger brother, Kensey Johns. Young John was raised at the family's estate in Maryland, the Cliffs in Calvert County, established by his emigrant Quaker ancestor in 1660.
Education
In 1815, Johns graduated from Princeton College in New Jersey and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1819.
Career
Johns was ordained in 1819 and during the twenty-three years of his ministry he served only two churches - at Fredericktown (now Frederick), Maryland (1819-1828), and Christ Church, Baltimore (1828-1842). He was unusually successful as a preacher and as a pastor, became leader of the "low church" party in the diocese, and, on at least two occasions, narrowly missed election as bishop of Maryland. When Bishop William Meade of Virginia requested the appointment of an assistant bishop, the Convention chose Johns. He was consecrated in Monumental Church, Richmond, October 13, 1842.
Richmond was his home for several years, but the greater part of his time was occupied in visitations throughout the diocese, which reached from the Ohio River to Hampton Roads. He worked diligently and well, and in perfect harmony with Bishop Meade. In 1849, with the consent of the church Convention, without pay Johns became president of the College of William and Mary, still continuing as assistant bishop. When he resigned the presidency in 1854, after a happy and successful administration, the number of students had more than doubled and new life had been breathed into the ancient institution. He now built a home near Alexandria, where he lived during the remainder of his life, with the exception of the four years of the Civil War when he and his family were refugees.
When Bishop Meade died on March 14, 1862, Johns succeeded him and often ministered to the armies in the field and to Federal prisoners. In 1865 he returned to Alexandria. Here he taught two hours a week as professor of homiletics and pastoral theology in the Theological Seminary. When past seventy, he continued his visitations throughout Virginia and West Virginia. His sermons were carefully prepared, but were delivered without notes. Only a very few were published.
After serving as a bishop for 34 years, Bishop Johns died in 1876 at his home, Malvern in Virginia.
Achievements
Membership
Johns was the 15th President of the College of William & Mary, serving from 1849 to 1854.
Personality
In his youth Johns was full of fun and frolic, bright in intellect and genial in disposition, passionately fond of hunting and a fine shot. He had few equals as a public speaker, and possessed "a bright intellect, an emotional nature, natural earnestness, a melodious voice, and facility and felicity of speech. "
Connections
Johns was married, first, in 1820, to Juliana Johnson of Fredericktown; second, to Jane Schaaf (or Scharf), and third, to a Mrs. Southgate.