Revivalism and Separatism in New England, 1740-1800: Strict Congregationalists and Separate Baptists in the Great Awakening

by C. C. Goen

Overview

C. C. Goen's landmark study on the effects of revivalism during the latter half of the 18th century filled a great void in understanding the Great Awakening, and it continues to influence the work of scholars today. Full of artful contextualization of the issues that plagued colonial churches, Revivalism and Separatism in New England, 1740-1800 documents the ways in which revivalism helped pave the way for a new religious identity in America. Goen underscores how these congregations responded to state involvement in matters of religion and sheds new light on the development of the Baptist denomination by locating its growth within fringe communities in New England rather than organized structures in the Middle Colonies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781602585577
Publisher:	Baylor University Press
Publication date:	08/01/2012
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	399
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.14(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

C. C. Goen was professor of the history of Christianity at Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C.

Table of Contents

Introduction to the Wesleyan Edition ix

Preface to the 1969 Edition xxv

Preface to the First Edition xxvii

1 The Congregational Churches of New England and the Great Awakening 1

New England's Way in Church and State

Prelude to Revival

Revivalistic Innovations

2 Separatism Emerges: The Issues 36

The Ecclesiological Issue

The Theological Issue

The Practical Issue

The Evangelistic Issue

The Legal Issue

3 Separatism Emerges: The Churches 68

In Connecticut

In Rhode Island

In Massachusetts

In New Hampshire

On the Frontier

Old Light Separations

4 Separate Leaders and Doctrines 115

Representative Leaders among the Separates

Doctrines of the Separates

5 Characteristics of the Separates 159

The Ideal of the Pure Church

Mutual Relations of the Churches

Manner of Preaching and Worship

Nontheological Factors in the Separate Movement Decline of the Congregational Separates

6 Conversion of the Separates to Baptist Sentiments 208

The Rise of Baptist Beliefs

An Outstanding Convert: Isaac Backus

The Organization of Separate Baptist Churches

Separate Baptist Churches on the Frontier

7 Assimilation of the Separates into the Baptist Denomination 258

Break with the Congregational Separates

Conflict with the Standing Order

Rapprochement with the Regular Baptists

Continuing Influence of the Separate Baptists

Epilogue 296

Appendix 300

Sources 328

Primary Sources

Local Histories

Special Historical Studies

Index 347

Maps

1 The Extent of Separatism 114

2 Location of the Separate Baptists 256

Editorial Reviews

Very rarely do doctoral dissertations make a major contribution in their field. Even more rarely are they, as prepared for publication, masterpieces of organization and literary style. This book, which won the Brewer Prize of the American Society of Church History, scores on both counts.

Journal of Religion

The most enduring value of this volume probably lies... in the suggestiveness of its themes and the cogency of its interpretations.

Church History

Very rarely do doctoral dissertations make a major contribution in their field. Even more rarely are they, as prepared for publication, masterpieces of organization and literary style. This book, which won the Brewer Prize of the American Society of Church History, scores on both counts.

Journal of Religion

"The most enduring value of this volume probably lies ... in the suggestiveness of its themes and the cogency of its interpretations."
--Church History

"Very rarely do doctoral dissertations make a major contribution in their field. Even more rarely are they, as prepared for publication, masterpieces of organization and literary style. This book, which won the Brewer Prize of the American Society of Church History, scores on both counts."
--Journal of Religion

From the Publisher