Congregationalists, The

The, a religious denomination. The Congregationalists differ from the Presbyterians less in point of doctrine than in form of church government. Each Congregational church has authority to elect its own governing body, select its own pastor, and determine its own form of worship. The Congregationalists of England are often known as Independents. Congregationalism in America had its rise in New England. Yale, Dartmouth, Amherst, and Oberlin are among the older Congregational colleges. There are in the United States about 6,000 (6,012 in 1909) Congregational churches, with over 700,000 communicants. There are as many now in Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and other English-speaking countries. The denomination is noted for intelligence and for activity in Sunday school and missionary work. See Puritans; Unitarians