John Cennick, 1718-1755

: his role in the eighteenth-century international revivals : formation; doctrine; activity in Ireland

Abstract

This thesis is an examination of the eighteenth-century international revivals by considering the contribution made by one prominent evangelist, John Cennick. It seeks to place him in the intellectual, political and religious context of his times as a unique and significant protagonist, whose role has hitherto only been partially understood. The study is neither a biography nor an account of all the events in which he participated, but a reflection upon how Cennick’s individuality, his upbringing and his apprenticeship to some of the century’s religious luminaries equipped him to thrive as an influential participant in the eighteenth-century revivals in Britain and Ireland. Unlike previous studies which have often seen him either as an evangelical or a Moravian hero, often downplaying those elements of his personality and spirituality which are more problematic, the thesis reveals a more rounded and authentic Cennick in all his protean complexity. The thesis has been able to make use of a much broader range of primary documents than has any previous study. Original letters and journals held in Moravian archives in London or Herrnhut have enabled me to shed new light on issues which have baffled previous researchers or tempted them to supposition. Cennick’s diary of his trip to continental Moravian centres - a unique resource in its own right - is used in its entirety and provided as an appendix. Similarly, previously unknown correspondence between Cennick and Zinzendorf enables a much more nuanced understanding of that key relationship to be achieved. As a Germanist, I have been able to give appropriate weight to Zinzendorfs writings, otherwise not available in English. This thesis contributes to a major re-assessment of John Cennick as a unique and significant evangelist.

Date of Award	Dec 2019
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Queen's University Belfast
Supervisor	Scott Dixon (Supervisor) & Crawford Gribben (Supervisor)