One of the lesser-known periods of Jonathan Edwards’s life was his time in Stockbridge as a missionary to the Native Americans. Fired from his pastorate in Northampton in 1750, JE took some time to prayerfully consider what was next, considering calls to Scotland or perhaps even forming a rival congregation in Northampton with some of his disaffected and loyal church members.

Instead, JE took a call westward to the very borderlands of Massachusetts to go to the Stockbridge Indian Mission. Formed in the 1730s, Stockbridge was intended to be the model town of the peaceful coexistence of the English and the Mahicans. As an exemplary town, it would have a pastor, church, and school and would serve as an example of higher culture to the “savages.” JE took the call and moved his family there.

His time there was difficult, but he did an admirable job for the most part, preaching simple sermons and teaching his people to read and write. All the while, some of his rivals and opponents strove for control of the town and school. Despite threats of danger, illness, disease, and war, JE managed to lovingly pastor his mixed congregation and write four of his greatest works during that time.

In this video, I will extensively cover the history of Edwards’s time in Stockbridge. Check it out here: