Friends/Brethren Family
Arising out of the “Radical Reformation,” the Friends and Brethren were 17th century movements that built on many of the core teachings of Luther, Calvin, and other early reformers. Unlike the Lutheran and Reformed churches, however, they renounced any close ties with the state. They also stressed personal piety and enlightenment over rigid doctrinal conformity. The Quakers held their first meeting in the American colonies in 1661 and the Brethren would soon follow, establishing their first colonial church in 1723.
Maps: Friends/Brethren Family1
Adherence Rate per 1,000 (2020)
Congregations (2020)
Top 5 Friends/Brethren Family States (2020)1 [View all states]
| Rank | State | Adherents | Adherence Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | 46,307 | 3.60 |
| 2 | Virginia | 29,948 | 3.50 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 5,578 | 3.10 |
| 4 | Indiana | 18,018 | 2.70 |
| 5 | Ohio | 29,581 | 2.50 |
Top 5 Friends/Brethren Family Counties (2020)1 [View all counties]
| Rank | County | Adherents | Adherence Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gove County, Kansas | 467 | 171.80 |
| 2 | Kiowa County, Kansas | 377 | 153.30 |
| 3 | Hardy County, West Virginia | 1,538 | 107.60 |
| 4 | Floyd County, Virginia | 1,478 | 95.50 |
| 5 | Pendleton County, West Virginia | 508 | 82.70 |
Top 5 Friends/Brethren Family Metro Areas (2020)1 [View all Metro Areas]
| Rank | Metro Area | Adherents | Adherence Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wabash, IN Micro Area | 1,436 | 46.40 |
| 2 | Harrisonburg, VA Metro Area | 6,217 | 45.90 |
| 3 | Greenville, OH Micro Area | 2,324 | 44.80 |
| 4 | Somerset, PA Micro Area | 2,990 | 40.30 |
| 5 | Salem, OH Micro Area | 3,750 | 36.80 |
Friends/Brethren Family: Adherence Rates (1980 - 2020)1
Sources
1 The 2020 data were collected by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB) and include data for 372 religious bodies or groups. Of these, the ASARB was able to gather data on congregations and adherents for 217 and on congregations only for 155. [More information on the data sources]
