John Rogers and the Rogerenes is the story of unforeseen consequences of the
transatlantic trade. John Rogers and his brother, James, were wealthy New London
merchants who traded in more than just goods. They benefited from the exchange
of cultures, languages, and even religions. Indeed, those influences led John
Rogers to abandon Congregationalism and create America's first indigenous sect
based solely on the Bible.
As a dissenting group, John Rogers and his Rogerene followers leveraged the Bible
and oftentimes outlandish acts of protest to challenge the legitimacy of Connecticut's
established church and its theocratic stranglehold on the everyday lives of citizens.
In doing so, the Rogerene sect was an outcome of what one historian has called the
rough-and-tumble life of a colonial port town, New London. Their rich and varied
story stands in stark contrast to Connecticut's traditional reputation as the Land of
Steady Habits. The only thing steady about the Rogerenes was their unwavering faith
in the Word and their willingness to suffer persecution for their nonconformist faith.
Beyond their colorful history, the Rogerenes have much to teach us through their
influences on such varied subjects as the separation of church and state, polygamy, faith
healing, the importance of individualism, and the rights of the marginalized.
