A pastor who vowed to continue preaching through the coronavirus pandemic, or until he was “in jail or the hospital”, has now died of the coronavirus.

Bishop Gerald Glenn, the pastor of New Deliverance Evangelistic Church in Virginia, died on Saturday night.

He becomes the latest Virginian evangelical preacher to fall victim to the coronavirus following the death of Landon Spradlin, who allegedly caught the virus at Mardi Gras after decrying media “hysteria” about the dangers of the disease.

During a sermon on March 22, Bishop Glenn told a church audience in Virginia that he was not afraid of the coronavirus.

"I firmly believe that God is larger than this dreaded virus," the pastor told his congregation.

That came five days after the state’s governor, Ralph Northam, urged Virgnians to avoid non essential gatherings of more than 10 people. The order on gathering was then enforced on March 23.

Still, Bishop Glenn had asked churchgoers to stand to prove how many people had attended the service.

Appearing to accept that his church was turning a blind-eye to health and safety concerns surrounding the coronavirus, the pastor said he was essential and vowed to continue until he was in jail or hospital, reported the New York Post.

He had added: “I’m a preacher — I talk to God!”

In a statement on Facebook, the church confirmed that the pastor had died. “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Bishop Gerald O Glenn”, said the church.

Loading....

The church's post asked that others would allow the "First Family to grieve in their own way."

Senator Tim Kaine paid tribute to Bishop Glenn, who founded his church in 1995, in a message on Twitter.

He said on Sunday: “My heart sinks as I learn this morning that Bishop Gerald Glenn, pastor of New Deliverance Evangelistic Church, died yesterday from COVID-19. He was a friend and pillar of Richmond faith community. May all do as much for so many.”