What Religion Was Anthony Johnson? Exploring The Faith Of A Colonial Figure

Anthony Johnson was a Roman Catholic who arrived in Virginia in 1621. He was an indentured servant who worked for a merchant at the Virginia Company. He sailed to Virginia on the ship, the James.

It’s important to note that the Roman Catholic Church played a significant role in the lives of early colonists in Virginia. While the English crown favored the Church of England, many settlers arrived with different religious backgrounds, including Roman Catholicism. It’s also important to note that the religious landscape in Virginia during this time period was quite complex. The Church of England was the official religion of the colony, but other denominations, such as Puritans and Baptists, also had a presence.

Anthony Johnson’s religious faith was likely shaped by the religious environment of his homeland, Angola. In Angola, Christianity was introduced by Portuguese missionaries, and by the 1600s, there were a significant number of Roman Catholics living in the region. It’s possible that Anthony Johnson converted to Roman Catholicism before arriving in Virginia or was influenced by the Roman Catholic missionaries he may have encountered during his time as a slave.

Regardless of the specific circumstances of his conversion, Anthony Johnson’s embrace of Roman Catholicism is a testament to the diverse religious landscape of early colonial Virginia. It also highlights the importance of religion in the lives of people of African descent, who, like other colonists, sought spiritual guidance and comfort in a new and often challenging world.