The Presbytery of the James was formed in 1989, bringing together the former Blue Ridge, Hanover, and Southern Virginia presbyteries to serve central Virginia. The name Presbytery of the James was chosen to highlight the James River, which flows throughout the geographic area of the new presbytery.
At the time of its formation, the steering committee invited members to reflect on their identity as “a merger of varied people of faith with different memories, moving forward into a new beginning and a new creation.
Since then, eleven individuals have served as general presbyter, stated clerk, or both, in either a permanent or interim capacity.
The Presbytery of the James now serves 98 diverse congregations across approximately half of Virginia’s 95 counties and 38 independent cities. Its reach extends from Rockfish Presbyterian Church in Nelson County to the Northern Neck churches in Richmond, Northumberland, and Lancaster County, and from Culpeper Presbyterian Church in the north down to the First Presbyterian Church in Emporia close to the North Carolina border.
The over 250 minister members serve in congregations as teaching elders, in healthcare facilities or the military as chaplains, or other validated roles. Around 115 of our membership consist of retired ministers.
Updated 1-25
![HAPPY ANNIVERSARY 4_square HAPPY ANNIVERSARY 4_square](https://www.presbyteryofthejames.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/HAPPY-ANNIVERSARY-4_square-380x380.png)