In the early nineteenth century, a wave of Christian revivals which became known as the Second Great Awakening swept across America. These revivals not only changed the lives of thousands, but also fostered vibrant new reform movements and educational initiatives. As renowned religious historian David Bebbington (University of Stirling, Scotland, and Baylor University) demonstrates, one such revival, led in 1841 by Judge R.E.B. Baylor and William Tryon in Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas, helped lead on to the establishment of Baylor University in 1845. Using new archival research, Dr. Bebbington places the Washington-on-the-Brazos revival, and the founding of Baylor, in the context of religious growth and ideological struggles happening across the English-speaking world. Dr. Bebbington's lecture will cap a symposium on American and British evangelical Christianity in the nineteenth century, sponsored by Baylor's Institute for Studies of Religion. A morning panel will feature presentations on topics such as the history of missions and religious publishing by professors Beth Barton Schweiger (University of Arkansas), Kelly Elliott (Abilene Christian), and Joseph Stubenrauch (Baylor), with comments by Dr. Bebbington.

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