Founded in England in 1701 by royal charter, the Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts was formed to strengthen the Church of England and convert non-Christian peoples in the British colonies. The charter provided for a governing board in London headed by the archbishop of Canterbury and comprised of numerous MERCHANTS. The society used both public and private contributions, focusing its activities in the 17th century primarily in British North America and the West Indies.
Between 1701 and 1783 the SPG sent more than 300 ordained clergy and 65 teachers to the 13 colonies and contributed to the construction of many churches and schools. Although only white men were sent from England, the society did support a few women teachers, Native American catechists, and at least two former slaves who were recruited as teachers in the colonies. The missionaries were instructed to live simply, stress loyalty to the monarch, evangelize dissenters, Native Americans, and slaves, minister to Protestants who had immigrated from other lands, and report regularly to London. The SPG also provided Bibles, prayerbooks, and religious monographs for church and college libraries.
While their missionary efforts were most successful among British colonists, SPG ministers also worked among 47 different Native American tribes, from the northern iROquoiS to the southern Yamasee. The most successful missionary effort was among the Mohawk, begun in 1712 in response to a plea for Christian instruction from four Mohawk SACHEMS who presented their request to Queen Anne (1702-14) in London in 1710. Over the next 60 years many tribal members were baptized, the Book of Common Prayer and much of the Bible were translated into the Mohawk language, and Native leaders were trained as catechists and teachers.
Christian instruction for African slaves was more problematic. Missionaries attempted to provide basic literacy instruction for slaves, contending that church members needed to be able to read to participate in the liturgy, but slaveholders often thwarted these efforts. Many blacks, however, were baptized and enrolled in local congregations. Schools for African Americans were also established, such as that taught by Huguenot convert Elias Neau in New York City from 1704 to 1722. The school continued after his death and eventually formed the basis for black public schools after independence.
As revolutionary fervor increased, aside from notable exceptions, most SPG ministers upheld the loyalist cause. In 1783 the society withdrew its support from the newly formed United States. The correspondence between local SPG agents and the London office, available on microfilm, is a rich resource for colonial social history.
Further reading: Daniel O’Connor, et al., Three Centuries of Mission: The United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, 1702-2000 (New York: Continuum, 2000).
—Mary Sudman Donovan
World History
