Theology and Pastoral Practice of John Tennent as Typical Preacher of First (Religious) Great Awakening in Presbyterian Churches of Mid- Atlantic Colonies of England in the Second Quarter of the 18th Century

The article examines theological views and pastoral practices of the Presbyterian minister John Tennent during the dawn of the First (Religious) Great Awakening in the British colony of New Jersey in the second quarter of the 18th century. This topic is important both for understanding the regional specifics of the Great Awakening in the colony and for identifying the key mechanisms of a pastor’s influence on his audience, which later on, led to the “awakening” of communities, and then entire regions, spreading into new territories. Comparative analysis of sources made it possible to find out that John Tennent was much more influenced by the Pietist preacher Theodorus Frelinghuysen and less influenced by his elder brother, Reverend Gilbert Tennent. Interacting with them in his ministry, John Tennent regularly adopted Pietist practices — including the “preaching of terrors”, the demand for “awakening” or “new birth”, an expressive and often emotional preaching style, disregard for the ritual constituent of the church, and itinerant preaching that requires leaving the pastor’s home congregation. Yielding positive results (such as community revival), the adopted practices were typically acquired by other pastors and became characteristic of “revivalist” clergy.