Changes

Most Virginians were not very religious, but most also believed in a spirit world. The supernatural world of the settlers involved belief in benevolent and demonic forces, divine judgment, omens, magic, witchcraft, combat with the devil, and other ideas brought over from England. This complex supernatural world functioned to explain the unknown, sanction colonization, demonize the native population, control the colonists, and provide a defense against internal and external enemies.<ref> Edward L. Bond, "Source of Knowledge, Source of Power: The Supernatural World of English Virginia, 1607-1624." ''Virginia Magazine of History and Biography'' 2000 108(2): 105-138. 0042-6636 </ref>

Most Virginians were not very religious, but most also believed in a spirit world. The supernatural world of the settlers involved belief in benevolent and demonic forces, divine judgment, omens, magic, witchcraft, combat with the devil, and other ideas brought over from England. This complex supernatural world functioned to explain the unknown, sanction colonization, demonize the native population, control the colonists, and provide a defense against internal and external enemies.<ref> Edward L. Bond, "Source of Knowledge, Source of Power: The Supernatural World of English Virginia, 1607-1624." ''Virginia Magazine of History and Biography'' 2000 108(2): 105-138. 0042-6636 </ref>

The Anglican religion was established--meaning that taxes were collected to support the church and the parish handled poor relief.  Scattered settlements and the lack of trained Anglican ministers --there were only 109 Anglican ministers in 1775--meant that piety was practiced mostly at home. Itinerant ministers encouraged parishioners to use the ''Book of Common Prayer'' for private prayer and devotion. This allowed Anglicans to lead an active and sincere religious life apart from formal church services. Private piety, however, weakened the Anglican Church, and what clergy there were were controlled by the laymen in the vestry.  As a result Anglicans were unable to counter the [[First Great Awakening]], which created a large Baptist denomination.

The Anglican religion was established--meaning that taxes were collected to support the church and the parish handled poor relief.  Scattered settlements and the lack of trained Anglican ministers --there were only 109 Anglican ministers in 1775--meant that piety was practiced mostly at home. Itinerant ministers encouraged parishioners to use the ''Book of Common Prayer'' for private prayer and devotion. This allowed Anglicans to lead an active and sincere religious life apart from formal church services. Private piety, however, weakened the Anglican Church, and what clergy there were were controlled by the laymen in the vestry. The vestrymen filled vacancies in their own ranks, and was thus self-perpetuating and increasingly isolated from the people.  As a result Anglicans were unable to counter the [[First Great Awakening]], which created a large Baptist denomination.

James Blair (1655-1743) arrived in 1685 as an Anglican  missionary and representative of the Bishop of London. Blair was a latitudinarian churchman, Whiggish advocate of colonial prerogatives, backstage political operator, and acting governor (1740-41), Most important, he founded and was president of the [[College of William and Mary]], which he designed to spread throughout America some of the Christian humanism that he learned in 17th century Scotland.

James Blair (1655-1743) arrived in 1685 as an Anglican  missionary and representative of the Bishop of London. Blair was a latitudinarian churchman, Whiggish advocate of colonial prerogatives, backstage political operator, and acting governor (1740-41), Most important, he founded and was president of the [[College of William and Mary]], which he designed to spread throughout America some of the Christian humanism that he learned in 17th century Scotland.