A history of the development of the Church of the New Jerusalem in the United States.

The Church of the New Jerusalem, or New Church, is a Christian denomination that developed in the late eighteenth century, based on the writings of Swedish visionary Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772). In this book, Marguerite Block explores the church’s beginnings and traces how it spread through the United States, from its introduction in Philadelphia after the American Revolution to its development through the nineteenth century. Originally published in 1932, this volume remains the most comprehensive book on New Church history in print. This 4th edition contains a new introduction and epilogue by Christopher A. Barber.

Dr. Marguerite Beck Block (1889–1974) earned her PhD from Columbia University in 1932, where she later taught for twenty-five years. Block was one of the first students in Columbia University’s religion department and edited the journal Review of Religion. Though not a Swedenborgian herself, Dr. Block’s scholarship on Emanuel Swedenborg was driven by a deep appreciation for his work and a desire to present him as a “real human being.”


The Rev. Christopher Augustus Barber teaches religion at the Academy of the New Church and holds master's degrees in both New Church theology and Human Sexuality Education. He enjoys exploring and writing on doctrine, church history, and current events. In the Academy, he serves on the pastoral team and works to bring heaven and earth closer for students through classroom learning and curriculum design. As an ordained priest in the General Church of the New Jerusalem, he serves in various capacities, including clergy think tanks and preaching occasional Sunday services by invitation. He serves on the board of directors of the Swedenborg Foundation, furthering the reach of New Church doctrines worldwide. Christopher has been engaged in an extensive years-long study of the life of Dr. Marguerite Beck Block and is honored to play a role in the continued usefulness of her work and increased appreciation of her life. He and his wife, Annika (Fitzpatrick), reside in Trenton, NJ.

Robert H. Kirven was president and professor emeritus at the Swedenborg School of Religion in Newton, Massachusetts. He held degrees from the University of Chicago, Andover Newton Theological School, and Brandeis University, where he earned a Ph.D. in the history of ideas. He was the author of Angels in Action and the co-author, with George F. Dole, of A Scientist Explores Spirit.

Introduction to the 2024 Edition
Preface
I. Emanuel Swedenborg: His Life and Mission
II. “The Heavenly Doctrines”: An Outline of New Church Theology
III. Reception of the Doctrines: The Birth of the New Church
IV. The New Church in America: The Pioneers
V. Beyond the Alleghenies: the New Church on the Frontier
VI. The Intellectual Environment: The New Church Among the “isms”
VII. The General Convention: The Development of Ecclesiasticism
VIII. The Academy and the General Church: The Schism of 1890
IX. The “Conjugial Love” Controversy: The Krampf Will Case
X. The General Church and the Community at Bryn Athyn
XI. Liberalism in the New Church
XII. The New Church and the Social Gospel
XIII. The General Convention Since 1890
Conclusion: Present Scene and Future Prospects
Epilogue to the 1984 Edition
Epilogue to the 2024 Edition
Appendix: Introduction to the 1984 Edition (with Notes)
Abbreviations
Notes
Bibliography
Index