A Country Strange and Far: The Methodist Church in the Pacific Northwest, 1834-1918

Jason Lee arrived on the banks of the Willamette River in 1834 to build a mission to convert the local Kalapuya and Chinook populations to the Methodist Church. Despite its power and prestige, Methodism failed to achieve religious supremacy in the northwest corner of the continent due to the region's natural geography and the immigrants and clergy's responses to it. This failure provides an ideal case study for McKenzie's region-based look at religion.

Format: Hardback
Length: 370 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2022
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

The weary missionary Jason Lee arrived on the banks of the Willamette River in 1834, determined to establish a mission aimed at converting the local Kalapuya and Chinook populations to the Methodist Church. The Methodist denomination had become a dominant force in the United States, exerting its influence across the mid-Atlantic and East Coast. Despite its immense power, prestige, and vast network of clergy and congregants, however, the Methodist Church fell short of its ultimate goal of achieving religious supremacy in the northwest corner of the continent.

In his book, A Country Strange and Far: Michael C. McKenzie explores the reasons behind the Methodist Church's failure in the Pacific Northwest and the impact of place on religious transplantation and growth. McKenzie delves into the challenges faced by the Methodists in their attempts to convert local Native people, highlighting the region's natural geography as a significant factor in their inability to establish a strong following. Additionally, he analyzes the responses of immigrants who moved into the rural areas and cities of the Northwest, revealing their disinterest in Methodism and its influence on the region's religious landscape.

The Methodist Church's efforts in the Pacific Northwest serve as a valuable case study for McKenzie's region-based examination of religion. By examining the specific circumstances and responses of both the local Native populations and the immigrants, McKenzie sheds light on the complex interplay between place and religion, offering insights into the broader dynamics of religious transformation and adaptation.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496218810