The Jamestown colonists were, for the most part, religious and
God-fearing people. The majority were members of the Church of England.
One of the first settlers, the Rev. Robert Hunt, was an ordained
minister of that church. Whenever possible, services were held every
morning and evening, and sermons delivered twice on Sundays.
A few ornamental brass book clasps excavated near Jamestown may have
been used on early Bibles and Prayer Books. Under the care of Bruton
Parish Episcopal Church in Willamsburg are four pieces of communion
silver which were used in the church at Jamestown. Two pieces, an
exquisite chalice and paten, were donated to the Jamestown church by Lt.
Gov. Francis Morrison (or Moryson) in 1661. Inscribed on both is the
legend: "Mixe not holy thinges with profane." A second paten, made in
London in 1691-92, was given to the Jamestown Church by Gov. Edmund
Andros in 1694. Another paten, or a collection plate (also made in
London), bears the inscription: "For the use of James City Parish
Church."
[Illustration: DECORATED BRASS BOOK CLASPS FOUND NEAR JAMESTOWN WHICH
MAY HAVE BEEN USED ON AN EARLY BIBLE OR PRAYER BOOK]
The officials of the Virginia Company of London, admonishing the first
settlers to serve and fear God in order to plant a successful and
prosperous colony, advised:
Lastly and chiefly the way to prosper and achieve good success is
to make yourselves all of one mind for the good of your country and
your own, and to serve and fear God the Giver of all Goodness, for
every plantation which our Heavenly Father hath not planted shall
be rooted out.
Seemingly the advice was carried out, for from the small settlement on a
tiny island in the James River grew a great and mighty nation.
[Illustration: COMMUNION SILVER USED IN THE JAMESTOWN CHURCH AFTER 1661.
BOTH THE CHALICE AND PATEN WERE MADE IN LONDON, AND DONATED TO THE
CHURCH BY LT. GOV. FRANCIS MORRISON (OR MORYSON) IN 1661. ON BOTH PIECES
IS THE LEGEND: "MIXE NOT HOLY THINGES WITH PROFANE."]