THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

From the Archives of the first church. Click for Text Portrait of Nathaniel Appleton from Fogg Art Museum.

Nathaniel Appleton ( 1693-1784 ) Was minister of the Cambridge church for 67 years, from 1717... until his death. Because of the increase of population, the section of Cambridge known as Menotomy ( now Arlington ) was given the status of a religious precinct in 1732; the remaining part then became the First Parish. Similarly, Brighton became a separate precinct of the town in 1779. In 1740-43, New England was convulsed by an upsurge of religious revivalism known as the Great Awakening. It was strongly encouraged by some ministers, but criticized by others for its emotionalism. Appleton, at first, welcomed a heightened interest in religion, but in his Convention Sermon of 1743, he warned against the"peculiar Zeal" of the revitalists which, he feared "is not according to Knowledge". The Third Meeting House and the Court House (right) are shown in the Old Cambridge diorama at the Widener Library.

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