The Lost Gospel: Christianity and Blacks in North America

Religion was a key factor facilitating integration, assimilation, adaptation and acculturation among the United States Blacks in Canada during the 19th century. The Wesleyans, Methodists, British Methodists Episcopalians, Baptists and Presbyterians were some of the Protestant denominations instrumental in forging a foundation for the transition to freedom. Protestant churches played a crucial role as Blacks struggled to adapt to their new host society.An interesting phenomenon that emerged in this research is the similarities and links with Black churches in the United States. There was considerable communication between Blacks and Whites which overshadowed the racial problems in society.The main areas of this study dwell on the church’s role in education, development of Black leadership, assimilation and independence of Black churches. These themes are used in reconstructing and investigating the socio-religious encounter between Blacks, from the United States and Protestants who belonged mainly to the White churches in Upper Canada. There is also a focus on the educational nature and extent of the relationship of the Protestant church and Blacks. The relationship between Blacks and churches revealed the pre-occupation with education which became the guiding concept in the lives of Blacks.