This Week in Christian History: Martin Niemöller Dies, Religious Instruction Ban, America's 1st Religious Magazine
America's First Religious Magazine Released - March 5, 1743
This week marks the anniversary of when The Christian History, colonial America's first magazine devoted primarily to religious issues, was published.
Printed in Boston and released every Saturday, The Christian History was a byproduct of the First Great Awakening, a time of large-scale spiritual revival in the British colonies of North America.
"The Christian History was modeled on revival magazines such as [George Whitefield's] Weekly History in London and William Macculloch's Glasgow Weekly History in Scotland," explained historian Lisa Smith in a 2012 book.
"Most issues of the Christian History contained a single revival or conversion narrative from a New England pastor, although sometimes a congregation in the Middle Colonies was featured, along with news of the revival from abroad."
