Tennent, William (1673-1746), was an important Presbyterian minister in colonial America. In 1726, he became pastor of a church in Neshaminy, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. There Tennent founded the Log College to train Presbyterian ministers according to the principles of revivalism (see Revivalism ). Some church leaders’ disapproval of revivalist training at the college contributed to a split in 1741 within the Presbyterian Church of America. Tennent ran the college until his death. The college closed, but its supporters later founded the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University).
Tennent was probably born in Ireland. He immigrated to America about 1718. His four sons–Gilbert, William, Jr., John, and Charles–also became Presbyterian ministers.
