Puritan Catechizing

Abstract

For Puritans, catechizing figured prominently as a pedagogical ordinance of the church for grounding individual members in the fundamentals of doctrine; the means of grace; and the rules for godly living. With these principles of religion, believers were equipped for the Christian life, and the church unified against two of its greatest challenges: error and schism. This chapter examines how catechizing dovetailed well with the tenets of the godly, rendering it a vital part of Puritan church and family life in England and abroad. Yet Puritans were not unique in their conviction to catechize. Despite sharp differences between godly and conforming clergy in the Church of England, Puritans enjoyed considerable common ground with the established church’s catechetical tradition. Thus, elements of catechizing where Puritans benefited from long-held practice are considered alongside godly contributions made to advance the skill of the catechist, improve the catechumen’s outcome, and realize corporate unity.