There was no single denomination or religion in the Middle Colonies. Instead, they were home to members of a number of different Christian sects. Some of the first colonists in the region were Swedish and Dutch Lutherans. William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, was a Quaker and granted full religious freedom in his colony.

This religious tolerance attracted colonists of many denominations to the region. As a result, many Catholics, Calvinists, Mennonites, Presbyterians, and German Baptists came to settle in the Middle Colonies. French Huguenots fleeing persecution in France also came there to freely practice their religion in safety. Even a small population of Portuguese Jews settled in the Middle Colonies. There was also a significant Anglican population as this was still the official church of England.

This diverse population of members of different religions characterized the Middle Colonies as being more accepting of religious differences than elsewhere in British North America. If you compare this to the staunchly Puritan New England colonies (excepting Rhode Island) or Virginia which required its colonists to attend Anglican services, you can see that religious pluralism was one of the defining characteristics of the Middle Colonies.

What religions were in the middle colonies?

The Middle Colonies were the most religiously diverse of the colonies. Religious diversity was most prevalent here for several reasons. First, the land had largely been taken from the Dutch after a Dutch-English war. The Dutch had allowed greater religious liberty in their colonial possessions than England, and that carried over into these new English colonies. Second, New York (as well as parts of New Jersey) were ethnically diverse because of the commercial nature of the colonial port cities. This ethnic diversity required a higher degree of religious tolerance in order to support continued commercial success. Third, Pennsylvania was founded on a belief in religious tolerance that came directly out of the persecution of Quakers.

The religions that existed in the Middle Colonies included Judaism (mostly in New York), Quakerism, Catholicism, Congregationalism, and various branches of Protestantism. Other religions may also have been present, but these were the most prevalent.

What was religion like in the middle colonies?

The middle colonies consisted of New York (previously New Netherlands), Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

They were one of the most religiously diverse regions in 17th and 18th century America. In fact, the First Great Awakening began in the Middle Colonies.

New York: New York played host to immigrants from the Scandinavian countries, France, Germany, Belgium, and England. In light of that, religious persuasions (in terms of Christian denominations) were diverse. There were Dutch Reformers, Congregationalists, Lutherans, and French Huguenots.

New Jersey: Like New York, New Jersey was home to a diverse immigrant population. So, there were Presbyterians, Quakers, Anglicans, Calvinists, and Seventh-Day Baptists.

Delaware: Delaware played host to Dutch Reformers, Quakers, Lutherans, and Baptists. George Whitefield (an Anglican minister) began his first evangelical tour in Lewes, Delaware, effectively spearheading the First Great Awakening in America. Whitefield (like many other preachers during this time) preached about an experiential faith and a strong personal connection to God. He was part of the New Lights faction (as opposed to the Old Lights).

Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn and was the haven of Quakers of diverse persuasions. Within the Quaker denomination, there were evangelical, universalist, liberal, and conservative factions. The colony also welcomed smaller sects that experienced persecution for their beliefs, such as the Amish, Mennonites, Moravians, Roman Catholics, Jews, and the Dunkers. Meanwhile, larger congregations of Presbyterians, Anglicans, and Lutherans also formed a major portion of the faith structure in this colony.