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News, events, updates, and tidbits from the Presbyterian Historical Society. Use tags to read related articles or sort by author for similar posts written by PHS staff members and volunteers.

November 12, 2018

It was the book that caused a riot and a war. Prior to the 1637 publication of the Book of Common Prayer, the Church of Scotland was a hodgepodge of reformed theology and Episcopalian government. It had presbyteries and synods, but also bishops.

However, most churches in Scotland used John Knox’s Book of Common Order, also known as Knox’s Liturgy, instead of...

November 13, 2015

In seminary and graduate school, I was taught that the first North American Presbyterians were part of the Puritan immigration that began in the 1620s in Massachusetts and soon spread to other portions of New England, especially Connecticut. The Puritans who peopled New England were usually contrasted with the “Cavaliers” who populated Tidewater Virginia.

Subsequently, I learned that the Puritan movement was a far more variegated and

...
August 18, 2015

In a presentation given as part of the Historic Polegreen Church Foundation Lecture Series, Dr. Jan Swearingen explored how Presbyterian theology and rhetoric informed the actions of Presbyterian leaders in Virginia and throughout Colonial America. We are pleased to share these excerpts from "Presbyterians in Virginia 1740-1770: Samuel Davies, Patrick Henry, and the Gospel of Liberty."

The Reverend Samuel Davies (1723-1761), original print, RG414. Item No....
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