Newport, Rhode Island

 

This is preacher Stephen Adams again, and this time I am writing from the town of Newport, which resides on the Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic ocean in the colony of Rhode Island. It is the year of 1742. Newport is a large commercial port, and many people travel through its town. The main church in Newport is the Trinity Church, which was founded in 1698, but have recently constructed a church in 1725.


I am here today to observe the impact of George Whitefield, who is from England. Whitefield is a preacher much like Jonathon Edwards, who teaches a new way to follow Christianity. Whitefield’s style of preaching has been described as charismatic and, much like Edwards, was able to elicit emotional responses from the congregation.

Another preacher who followed Whitefield shortly after was Gilbert Tennent, another preacher that visited Newport. Tennent was from New Jersey, but he shared in ideals of Edwards and the preaching that some are calling a “Great Awakening”. One lady, Mrs. Sarah Osborn, has confided in me of how Tennent has changer her way of life and her relationship with God.

After of hearing of these new teachings, Mrs. Osborn struggled with her relationship with her faith. Mrs. Osborn attempted to communicate with her current pastor, one who preaches in the older style, in attempt to settle these doubts. However, she did not leave satisfied from this meeting. It was until Tennent returned that Mrs. Osborn was able to find her path. She “found new pleasure in the exercise of her religious duties”.

It will be interesting to see if other residents of Newport, like Mrs. Osborn, can transition from the old way of thinking to the newer style of Edwards, Whitefield, and Tennent. I am beginning to think that there may be a split in these churches, with some members leaving to create new congregations, and some may stay with their old congregations.


written by Vincent Mule for History 121 at NVCC

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