John Leland (May 14, 1754 – January 14, 1841) was an American Baptist minister who preached in Massachusetts and Virginia, as well as an outspoken abolitionist.

The unincorporated community of Grafton, Virginia is believed be named based on Leland's influence in the church there.

[9] Leland returned to Massachusetts in 1791 the year the Bill of Rights was ratified, leaving Virginia after an anti-slavery sermon.

[13] John M. Cobin says that Leland held, in seminal form, to the "liberty of conscience" position on public policy theology.

[2]: 240  His tombstone reads, "Here lies the body of John Leland, of Cheshire, who labored 67 years to promote piety and vindicate the civil and religious rights of all men.

The school was named for Leland for three reasons: his firm stand for religious liberty for all, his opposition to slavery, and his service as a pastor and evangelist.