In this research, we examined a small part of the substantial detailed data on church activity for colonial Woodbury, Connecticut. Time series regression analysis suggested that religious activity in Woodbury, as reflected in church members and baptisms, was influenced by wars and economic activity but not influenced by particular ministers. Regional population trends influenced church activity as long as the church was established. Deviations from trend occurred because of periodic revivals. The Great Awakening, however, was a continuation of an underlying trend. THEORETICAL CONTEXT W hen analyzing religious trends in colonial America, historians have followed several lines of inquiry. The first, represented by Perry Miller (1953) and Edwin Gaustad (1962), is rooted in the New Light critique of the colonial church and emphasizes the role of charismatic leaders in guiding and shaping the colonial religious experience. Thus, it is said that George Whitefield, the renowned evangelist of the Great Awakening, saved colonial religion from utter extinction. It is the presence and preaching of such individuals that determines the success or failure of a given church or denomination. The second approach focuses on revivals as dramatic events, the result of a crisis in society or in the religious community. Since the advent of the new social history in the 1960s, historians have tended to view revivals as manifestations of social crisis. Thus, William McLoughlin (1978) linked the Great Awakening to a shift from Gemeinschaft to Gesellschaft, resulting in blocked psycho-social mazeways which the great revival cleared. Richard Bushman (1967) portrayed the Awakening as an event ushering in a social order. A third line of inquiry compiles and provides some analysis of actual church activity over time. This approach views revivals as events that are not extraordinary and external to the community but rather are part and parcel of the regular life and growth of the parish. Writers like Donald Mathews (1978) have argued that revivals cannot take place without some meaningful ideational and institutional context. These writers analyze *The authors gratefully acknowledge comments by Rodney Stark, Bryn Roberts, and anonymous referees, as well as the research assistance ofJudith Schantz, and will remain responsible for errors and omissions. Reprint requests should be sent to Brooks B. Hull, Department ofSocial Sciences, UM-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI48128-1491. tGerald F. Moran is Professor ofHistory andBrooks B. HuU is AssistantProfessorofEconomicsat the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, Michigan.