Brainerd Mission
Encyclopedia
The Brainerd Mission was a Christian
mission
to the Cherokee
in Chattanooga, Tennessee
. It was established by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
in 1817 and named after David Brainerd
. It ended with the Cherokee removal
in 1838.
People such as Ainsworth Blunt
and Cephas Washburn
worked at this mission. The Brainerd Mission Cemetery is one of the oldest in Hamilton County
and consists of 60 graves, most of which are of missionary workers among the Cherokee.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
mission
Mission (station)
A religious mission or mission station is a location for missionary work.While primarily a Christian term, the concept of the religious "mission" is also used prominently by the Church of Scientology and their Scientology Missions International....
to the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
. It was established by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was the first American Christian foreign mission agency. It was proposed in 1810 by recent graduates of Williams College and officially chartered in 1812. In 1961 it merged with other societies to form the United Church Board for World...
in 1817 and named after David Brainerd
David Brainerd
David Brainerd was an American missionary to the Native Americans who had a particularly fruitful ministry among the Delaware Indians of New Jersey. During his short life he was beset by many difficulties...
. It ended with the Cherokee removal
Cherokee removal
Cherokee removal, part of the Trail of Tears, refers to the forced relocation between 1836 to 1839 of the Cherokee Nation from their lands in Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, and North Carolina to the Indian Territory in the Western United States, which resulted in the deaths of approximately...
in 1838.
People such as Ainsworth Blunt
Ainsworth Blunt
Ainsworth Blunt was an American missionary to the Cherokee at the Brainerd Mission and the first mayor of Dalton, Georgia....
and Cephas Washburn
Cephas Washburn
Cephas Washburn was a noted Christian missionary and educator who worked with the Cherokee of northwest Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. He is often referred to as "The Apostle to the Cherokees" and "Builder of Presbyterianism in Arkansas"....
worked at this mission. The Brainerd Mission Cemetery is one of the oldest in Hamilton County
Hamilton County, Tennessee
Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It was named for Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 310,935 . Its county seat is Chattanooga....
and consists of 60 graves, most of which are of missionary workers among the Cherokee.