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Religion in Virginia through the Antebellum Era Mark Valeri May 19, 2011 | Time: 5:30–7:00 pm From the earliest days of European settlement, religion played a vital role in the lives of Virginians and the society they created. Before the Civil War, this story is best understood through three major changes in religious thought and practice in the commonwealth. The established Church of England enjoyed a commanding position before the Revolution but found its primacy beginning to be challenged even before independence. Increasingly in the decades that followed, evangelicalism grew to claim the allegiance of many Virginians, perhaps a majority. With the advent of African slavery, a growing number of black Virginians began to influence Christian practice in the state, even long before emancipation. Dr. Mark Valeri will assess the role of religion in Virginia from colonization through the antebellum era, with a special emphasis on these three key strains. Professor Valeri teaches the history of religion in America at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond. $25/VHS members; $30/nonmembers Register online