On this day 250 years ago in Orange County, Virginia, James Madison wrote to his friend William Bradford about the prospects for petitions for religious toleration that Baptists and Presbyterians were planning to submit to the coming session of the Virginia Assembly:
I can not help being very doubtful of their succeeding in the Attempt. . . . The Sentiments of our people of Fortune & fashion on this subject are vastly different from what you have been used to. That liberal catholic and equitable way of thinking as to the rights of Conscience, which is one of the Characteristics of a free people and so strongly marks the People of your province is but little known among the Zealous adherents to our Hierarchy. . . .
You are happy in dwelling in a Land where those inestimable privileges are fully enjoyed and public has long felt the good effects of their religious as well as Civil Liberty. . . . Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprize
Source: https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%221%20April%201774%22&s=1111311111&sa=&r=3&sr=
On This Day In The Revolution 
One response to “On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — April 1, 1774”
One of my most favorite subjects. Early Americans were not that far removed from a requirement to attend services in the state church, regardless of one’s religious affiliations. Compulsory weekly attendance wasn’t repealed by Parliament until 1650 then twice annual attendance was required until 1791.
It was many decades after the establishment of Jamestown before the state church authorized the colonies to ordain anyone to the ministry without them having to return to England for the ordination.
The establishment of a state church has always led to persecution throughout history. The whole point of establishing “religious toleration” in America was to allow the freedom of religious expression while preventing one church from dominating all the others.
The free practice of religion without persecution was paramount on our founders’ minds. Hence, the first words of the first Amendment to the Constitution ruled that the lawmakers “make no law … prohibiting the free exercise” of religion. This was as important to them as was forbidding the lawmakers from establishing a state church.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_attendance#:~:text=Until%201791
https://www.americanantiquarian.org/proceedings/44497901.pdf
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights-transcript#toc-amendment-i
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