One of the most unique challenges faced by Christians during
the colonial years was the internal struggles within the movement itself.
Interestingly enough, these struggles were very closely tied to pro/anti
American Revolution sentiments. In the North East or what we can call New
England territories, there continued to be struggles related to ties to the
Church of England. Why would anyone wish to identify with England and its
church with the push for liberation? Why sever ties with the people who
provided means for a new life? After all, wouldn’t that be the least these new
territories could do for the motherland? Not quite. Aside from economic
and political motivations related to the revolution, the North Eastern region
became a melting pot of diverse religions and worldviews, pre-dominantly
pro-freedom of religious liberties. In Lancaster county, Thomas Barton
described the presence of “German Lutherans, Calvinists, Mennonites, New Born,
Dunkers, Presbyterians, Seceders, New Lights, Covenanters, Mountain Men,
Brownists, Independents, Papists, Quakers, Jews.”[1] Imagine
a community in which such diverse religious worldviews are competing for space,
influence and converts.
