Francis Makemie and Presbyterian Origins in America
By Donald Fortson - Posted at byFaith : Just 20 years ago, we celebrated the 300th anniversary of America’s first presbytery, which assembled in Philadelphia in 1706. The key player in gathering seven Presbyterian ministers to establish this presbytery in the American Colonies was Francis Makemie. In memory of his efforts to create a Presbyterian structure in America, Makemie has been given the honorific title “Father of American Presbyterianism” by later generations. Many of his contemporaries knew Makemie best for his bold advocacy for religious freedom. Who was this man, and how did he help shape early Presbyterianism in America? Before we discuss the life and contributions of Francis Makemie, we will briefly explore the nascent Presbyterian footprint in America leading up to Makemie’s ministry in the New World. This background will provide a useful context for understanding the impulse to establish the first presbytery in America and the significance of Makemie’s fight for religiou...
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