New England, often regarded as the cradle of American Christianity, has a dual legacy. It was the birthplace of great spiritual movements, yet it also resisted the transformative power of revival. This pride of cities, evident during the Great Awakenings, serves as a cautionary tale and a call for repentance and a return to God. The New England Revival Resistance demonstrates the region’s complex relationship with spiritual renewal.
New England’s Resistance to Revival
The Great Awakenings swept through many parts of New England, but several cities resisted the movement due to intellectual pride, cultural elitism, or adherence to secular and traditional religious values. Below are examples of cities that exemplified this resistance, with references for further reading.
1. Boston, Massachusetts
• Resistance: Known as the “Athens of America,” Boston resisted the emotional fervor of the Great Awakenings. During the First Great Awakening, Charles Chauncy, minister of the First Church of Boston, criticized revivalist George Whitefield, calling his methods fanatical and divisive (American Religious History, Christianity Today).
• Historical Example: Harvard University published the Testimony Against the Revivals in 1743, denouncing the movement (Harvard Historical Records).
2. Worcester, Massachusetts
• Resistance: During the Second Great Awakening, Worcester’s intellectual and Unitarian roots resisted revivalist preaching. Preachers like Charles Finney were discouraged from entering the city, as revivalism conflicted with Worcester’s rationalist preferences (Religious Revivals in Worcester County, American Antiquarian Society).
• Cultural Barrier: Worcester’s industrial growth contributed to spiritual complacency (Worcester: City of Progress, Worcester Historical Museum).
3. Salem, Massachusetts
• Resistance: Despite its Puritan heritage, Salem’s clergy opposed the emotionalism of the Great Awakenings. Revivalist methods were seen as unnecessary and disruptive (The Legacy of the Salem Churches, Salem Historical Society).
4. Portsmouth, New Hampshire
• Resistance: Portsmouth’s thriving economy and secular priorities created barriers to revivalist movements. Local leaders were cautious of revivalist fervor (Portsmouth and the Great Awakenings, New Hampshire Historical Society).
5. Hartford, Connecticut
• Resistance: Hartford’s Congregationalist traditions resisted the emotional appeals of revivalists. Charles Finney described Hartford as “religious but not personal” in its faith (Second Great Awakening in Connecticut, Connecticut Historical Society).
6. Providence, Rhode Island
• Resistance: Providence, with its emphasis on religious freedom, hesitated to embrace the collective fervor of the Great Awakenings. Dwight L. Moody struggled to ignite revival in this skeptical city (The Religious Landscape of Rhode Island, Providence Journal).
7. New Haven, Connecticut
• Resistance: New Haven, home to Yale University, became a hub of theological liberalism. Academic leaders often rejected revivalist movements (Yale and the Great Awakening, Yale University Archives).
8. Concord, Massachusetts
• Resistance: Concord’s Transcendentalist movement, led by Ralph Waldo Emerson, rejected evangelical Christianity in favor of individual spirituality (Transcendentalism and Religious Reform, Concord Museum).
A Call to Repentance and Return to God
The resistance of these cities to revival serves as a warning for us today. Pride and self-reliance are dangerous obstacles to spiritual renewal. Scripture reminds us: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18, AMP).
Yet God’s promise remains: “If My people, who are called by My name, humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, AMP).
Revival begins with repentance. If we humble ourselves, pray, and seek God, He will transform our hearts and our cities.
Prayer for New England
Heavenly Father, we repent of the pride and resistance that have hindered Your work in our cities and our hearts. Forgive us for relying on our own wisdom, wealth, and traditions instead of seeking You. Pour out Your Spirit upon New England once again. Break down the barriers of pride and unbelief. Revive our homes, churches, and communities for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.