A History of American Christianity

In Short

This comprehensive chronicle traces the development of Christianity in the United States, from the early efforts of Spanish, French, and English settlers to the complex denominational landscape of the late nineteenth century. It documents the transition from state-supported churches to the American "voluntary system," where religious institutions rely on the support of their own members rather than government mandate. By analyzing the interplay between faith, social reform, and westward expansion, the narrative explores how the American church established a unique identity, balancing traditional European roots with the practical, often turbulent realities of a rapidly growing, democratic nation.

The Story

The saga of American Christianity begins long before the Pilgrims, with the zeal of Spanish missions and the grand, ultimately unsuccessful, French colonial ambitions. These early Catholic efforts are marked by both missionary heroism and political fragility, often dependent on royal patronage and hampered by sparse populations. As English colonization takes hold, the focus shifts to the variety of religious experiments brought by the Puritans and other dissenters. The Virginia Company, for instance, serves as a Puritan-influenced body attempting to steer its colony under strict religious and civil codes, establishing early foundations that eventually give way to more complex societal structures.

As the colonies solidify, the narrative highlights the rise and eventual decline of various sects. In New York, the Dutch Reformed Church struggles through incompetent leadership, while in Pennsylvania, the initial Quaker fervor begins to congeal into formal rigidity. The Great Awakening serves as a critical turning point, characterized by the meteoric preaching tours of George Whitefield and the intense, often emotional, religious experiences that sweep across the continent. These revivals spark new energy but also lead to internal conflicts and schisms, as congregations grapple with the nature of religious authority and the place of emotion in the life of the spirit.

The aftermath of the Revolutionary War forces a reorganization of the churches. With the severing of ties to England, denominations like the American Episcopal Church and the Catholic Church—led by figures such as John Carroll—must find ways to exist as independent, self-governing bodies in a nation that largely rejects religious establishment. This period sees the church stepping into the political and moral arena, influencing national discourse on issues like dueling and the treatment of Indigenous peoples, while also weathering the social turbulence of the mid-nineteenth century, including the rise of "spiritualism" and the often-contentious temperance movement.

As the nation expands, the church adapts to the challenges of the frontier and the immense growth in wealth that follows the Civil War. The late nineteenth century is marked by a "building era," where millions are poured into church infrastructure and new, organized methods of personal service. The narrative concludes by observing a trend toward larger, more international sectarian councils—such as the Pan-Anglican and Pan-Methodist gatherings—which reflect a growing desire for a broader fellowship. Throughout, the story remains one of a church constantly negotiating its place in a free society, finding strength in its voluntary nature while navigating the persistent human tendencies toward division, zeal, and eventual formalization.

How It Unfolds

The colonial foundations The narrative opens with the early, failed missions of the Spanish and French, emphasizing the limitations of state-backed conversion. It contrasts these experiences with the more permanent, if equally contentious, establishment of English-speaking churches.

The shift toward independence The story moves through the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, documenting the emergence of unique American religious identities in colonies like Virginia and Pennsylvania. It examines the decline of initial religious radicalism and the slow hardening of informal movements into established denominations.

The Great Awakening and its legacy The middle chapters detail the sweeping revivals led by figures like Whitefield, which fundamentally alter the religious landscape. This section explores both the spiritual fervor of the era and the nervous, physical phenomena that accompanied such mass conversions.

Institutional consolidation and reform The later narrative focuses on the post-Revolutionary struggle to organize churches without state support. It chronicles the efforts to address social ills, from the campaign against dueling to the controversial political tactics of the prohibition movement.

The modern era of expansion The final portion describes the late nineteenth-century surge in church-building and the development of organized, international sectarian alliances. It reflects on the transition from a period of intense, localized devotion to a more centralized, globally aware church structure.

The People

The narrative is populated by figures who navigate the tension between personal conviction and institutional demands. Everard Bogardus, a faithful and plain-spoken Dutch minister, finds himself in a chronic conflict with the corrupt leadership of the Dutch West India Company, illustrating the friction between clerical conscience and administrative greed. Sir Thomas Dale acts as a stern, military-minded leader in Virginia, using "Laws, Divine, Moral, and Martial" to impose order on a struggling colony, serving as a prototype for later, more rigid reformers. George Keith, a Quaker preacher turned Episcopalian, represents the intellectual restlessness of the era; his shift from one tradition to another highlights the fluidity of religious affiliation in colonial America. John Carroll emerges as a pivotal figure for American Catholicism, navigating the difficult transition to independence while managing a small, scattered, and often divided flock. Finally, the revivalist George Whitefield stands as a force of nature, his cross-country preaching tours creating a common religious experience that transcends local boundaries, even as his presence stirs deep controversy. These individuals, whether acting as disciplinarians, rebels, or reconcilers, embody the diverse, often clashing impulses that drive the American church.

In Its Own Voice

Describing the immense and rapid expansion of French Catholic efforts in North America:

"Thus did the religious zeal of the French bear the cross to the banks of the St. Mary and the confines of Lake Superior, and look wistfully toward the homes of the Sioux in the valley of the Mississippi, five years before the New England Eliot had addressed the tribe of Indians that dwelt within six miles of Boston harbor."

Reflecting on the intense emotional and physical displays observed during the Great Awakening revivals:

"Some lay quiet, unable to move or speak. Some talked, but could not move. Some beat the floor with their heels. Some, shrieking in agony, bounded about, it is said, like a live fish out of water."

Commenting on the shifting focus of the temperance movement toward legislative and political control:

"The guilt of drunkenness must rest, not on the unfortunate drunkard who happened to be attacked by that disease, but on the sober and well-behaving citizen, and especially the Christian citizen, who did not vote the correct ticket."

What It's Really About

At its core, this history examines the viability of a voluntary religious system in a democratic society. It asks whether faith can sustain itself without state support and how that freedom changes the nature of the religion itself. The author explores the paradox of religious growth: how initial, passionate impulses for spiritual purity—such as those of the early Quakers or the Puritans—inevitably lead to the creation of rigid formalities and, eventually, the need for new, counter-reforming revivals. It also addresses the tension between the church’s role as a moral conscience, occasionally leading the charge against national sins like dueling or oppression, and its tendency to become entangled in political maneuvering. Ultimately, the book considers whether the American church, despite its internal schisms and external pressures, can effectively maintain a sense of unity in its mission to serve the public good.

Why Read It Today

This book will appeal to those interested in the deep roots of American culture and the long, often messy process by which religious pluralism became a defining feature of the country. Readers who enjoy meticulous historical detail and are not deterred by dense, academic prose will find the author's sweep—from 17th-century mission stations to 19th-century church building—quite illuminating. It is a work of its time, written with the confidence of an author who views history through a specific, scholarly, and occasionally critical lens.

However, prospective readers should be aware that the style reflects the late 19th-century penchant for long, complex sentences and a formal, sometimes judgmental, tone. The author does not shy away from describing the "deplorable condition" of certain parishes or the "worthless" nature of specific colonial governors, providing an unvarnished, if period-specific, perspective. You will encounter occasional references to long-forgotten disputes and a focus on denominational minutiae that may feel distant from modern concerns. Despite this, the book remains a classic of its genre because it captures the fundamental, repeating cycles of American religious life: the birth of an idea, the fire of a revival, the hardening of the institution, and the subsequent search for a new, broader fellowship. It is a thoughtful, if demanding, companion for those seeking to understand how the American church arrived at its present, complex state.