Pennsylvania has often been characterized as the most diverse colony in Colonial America. Founded as a Quaker colony, the Church of England was a small minority within its diverse population. However, within fifty years of establishing regular missionary activity in the colony, it emerged as a powerful force, with its activities and presence in the colony ultimately significantly impacting political debate and outcomes, contributing to the establishment of educational institutions, and fostering diverse church communities. But why did the Church of England find success in the Quaker-dominated colony? Did they become an impactful force in the colony? Why did they succeed? This thesis argues that the Church of England in Pennsylvania successfully expanded through the ordination of non-English clergy, purposeful political engagement, and strategic religious collaboration with other established Protestant groups, particularly Lutherans. Central to Anglican expansion was its use of non-English clergy as missionaries, including Scottish, Welsh, and even Swedish Lutheran priests. Figures like George Keith, a Scottish ex-Quaker, and Evan Evans, a Welsh missionary, baptized hundreds of colonists and laid the groundwork for the Church of England's eventual institutional growth. As the colony developed, the Church of England employed various strategies to foster growth, and over time, established a sustained presence that contributed to political change. Thus, through pursuing a purposeful strategy of leveraging the linguistic and cultural ties that non-English missionaries often possessed, Anglicanism was effectively spread to many dissenting and immigrant colonists, challenging the notion that Anglicanism was an exclusively English endeavor. By examining minutes and records from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, missionary correspondence, church archives, and diaries of ministers, this thesis demonstrates that the Church of England's success in Pennsylvania was not a failure of homogenization but a triumph of adaptation. In Pennsylvania, Anglicanism was successful by embracing ethnic pluralism and establishing alliances that crossed linguistic and theological divides. Additionally, the Church's impact was evident in the educational and religious institutions based in the colony. The church's legacy endures to the present as the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania is characterized by an architecturally diverse collection of colonial church buildings built and settled by a variety of peoples who often collaborated with Anglicans during the colonial period. Ultimately, the Anglican experience in Pennsylvania demonstrates the Church of England's ability to adapt its growth strategies within pluralistic societies.
Maximus Marlowe (Sun,) studied this question.