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9781496218810

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In this artfully crafted book, McKenzie uses architecture as one indicator of the movement of the Methodist church from being a sect focused on discipline and saving souls to accommodating itself to the upwardly mobile status of its congregants, thus losing resonance with the common person. The focus on the Pacific Northwest makes this book an original contribution to our understanding of the importance of geography in understanding religious demographics. -Donald E. Miller, author of Reinventing American Protestantism: Christianity in the New Millennium Employing a bioregional lens to do a close reading of Methodist history in the Pacific Northwest, McKenzie gives sinew and flesh to the claim that the region's character has always been and remains an actor in the fates and fortunes of religion in this place. A Country Strange and Far is an insightful contribution to understanding the dynamics of regional religion and a refreshing approach to denominational history. -Patricia O'Connell Killen, coeditor of Religion and Public Life in the Pacific Northwest: The None Zone? Michael McKenzie's lively narrative of the Methodist efforts to establish a foothold in the Pacific Northwest brings fresh insight into the early religious landscape of the region. McKenzie's story not only brings to life traditional Methodist figures but details the challenges presented by indifferent immigrants, Indigenous peoples, natural geography, and urbanity. This is a very welcome addition to the study of religion in the Pacific Northwest. -Dale Soden, author of Outsiders in a Promised Land: Religious Activists in Pacific Northwest History McKenzie draws on a variety of sources to analyze the mindsets of evangelists, Native peoples, public officials, and settler families as they faced shattering hardships and disillusionments. Carefully researched and smoothly written, his study outlines a classic American drama: idealists struggling in vain to claim and subdue a new region. -Albert Furtwangler, author of Bringing Indians to the Book A compelling, original new history, A Country Strange and Far reveals that efforts to establish the Methodist Church in the Pacific Northwest were confounded by the region itself. Through rich storytelling and nuanced analysis, Michael McKenzie sheds new light on the relationship between place and religion and significantly deepens our understanding of the roots of the Pacific Northwest's distinct secularity. -Tina Block, author of The Secular Northwest: Religion and Irreligion in Everyday Postwar Life

Employing a bioregional lens to do a close reading of Methodist history in the Pacific Northwest, McKenzie gives sinew and flesh to the claim that the region's character has always been and remains an actor in the fates and fortunes of religion in this place. A Country Strange and Far is an insightful contribution to understanding the dynamics of regional religion and a refreshing approach to denominational history. --Patricia O'Connell Killen, coeditor of Religion and Public Life in the Pacific Northwest: The None Zone? A compelling, original new history, A Country Strange and Far reveals that efforts to establish the Methodist Church in the Pacific Northwest were confounded by the region itself. Through rich storytelling and nuanced analysis, Michael McKenzie sheds new light on the relationship between place and religion and significantly deepens our understanding of the roots of the Pacific Northwest's distinct secularity. --Tina Block, author of The Secular Northwest: Religion and Irreligion in Everyday Postwar Life In this artfully crafted book, McKenzie uses architecture as one indicator of the movement of the Methodist church from being a sect focused on discipline and saving souls to accommodating itself to the upwardly mobile status of its congregants, thus losing resonance with the common person. The focus on the Pacific Northwest makes this book an original contribution to our understanding of the importance of geography in understanding religious demographics. --Donald E. Miller, author of Reinventing American Protestantism: Christianity in the New Millennium McKenzie draws on a variety of sources to analyze the mindsets of evangelists, Native peoples, public officials, and settler families as they faced shattering hardships and disillusionments. Carefully researched and smoothly written, his study outlines a classic American drama: idealists struggling in vain to claim and subdue a new region. --Albert Furtwangler, author of Bringing Indians to the Book Michael McKenzie's lively narrative of the Methodist efforts to establish a foothold in the Pacific Northwest brings fresh insight into the early religious landscape of the region. McKenzie's story not only brings to life traditional Methodist figures but details the challenges presented by indifferent immigrants, Indigenous peoples, natural geography, and urbanity. This is a very welcome addition to the study of religion in the Pacific Northwest. --Dale Soden, author of Outsiders in a Promised Land: Religious Activists in Pacific Northwest History

This bioregional treatment is a significant addition to the literature on Methodism in the Northwest. -W. L. Pitts Jr., Choice In this artfully crafted book, McKenzie uses architecture as one indicator of the movement of the Methodist church from being a sect focused on discipline and saving souls to accommodating itself to the upwardly mobile status of its congregants, thus losing resonance with the common person. The focus on the Pacific Northwest makes this book an original contribution to our understanding of the importance of geography in understanding religious demographics. -Donald E. Miller, author of Reinventing American Protestantism: Christianity in the New Millennium Employing a bioregional lens to do a close reading of Methodist history in the Pacific Northwest, McKenzie gives sinew and flesh to the claim that the region's character has always been and remains an actor in the fates and fortunes of religion in this place. A Country Strange and Far is an insightful contribution to understanding the dynamics of regional religion and a refreshing approach to denominational history. -Patricia O'Connell Killen, coeditor of Religion and Public Life in the Pacific Northwest: The None Zone Michael McKenzie's lively narrative of the Methodist efforts to establish a foothold in the Pacific Northwest brings fresh insight into the early religious landscape of the region. McKenzie's story not only brings to life traditional Methodist figures but details the challenges presented by indifferent immigrants, Indigenous peoples, natural geography, and urbanity. This is a very welcome addition to the study of religion in the Pacific Northwest. -Dale Soden, author of Outsiders in a Promised Land: Religious Activists in Pacific Northwest History McKenzie draws on a variety of sources to analyze the mindsets of evangelists, Native peoples, public officials, and settler families as they faced shattering hardships and disillusionments. Carefully researched and smoothly written, his study outlines a classic American drama: idealists struggling in vain to claim and subdue a new region. -Albert Furtwangler, author of Bringing Indians to the Book A compelling, original new history, A Country Strange and Far reveals that efforts to establish the Methodist Church in the Pacific Northwest were confounded by the region itself. Through rich storytelling and nuanced analysis, Michael McKenzie sheds new light on the relationship between place and religion and significantly deepens our understanding of the roots of the Pacific Northwest's distinct secularity. -Tina Block, author of The Secular Northwest: Religion and Irreligion in Everyday Postwar Life

Author Information

Michael C. McKenzie is an associate professor of philosophy and religion at Keuka College. He is the author of The Ethics of Paul Ramsey: The Triumph of Agape in a Postmodern World and Jehovah’s Witnesses: Understanding Their Faith and Teachings.

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