This week in Christian history: Puritans apologize for Salem witch trials, Reformation ally dies

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, January 14, 2024

Puritans apologize for Salem witch trials – Jan. 14, 1697

Bridget Bishop (1632-1692), the first person found guilty and executed by the Salem Witch Trials. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when Puritans in Massachusetts held a day of fasting and repentance for their involvement in the Salem witch trials, which had ended a few years earlier.

Massachusetts officials had issued a proclamation in 1696 designating Jan. 14, 1697 as the day of repentance, as many officials and clergy felt they had failed to do enough to protect those accused of witchcraft.

“That so all God's people may offer up fervent supplications unto him, that all iniquity may be put away, which hath stirred God's holy jealousy against this land; that he would show us what we know not, and help us, wherein we have done amiss, to do so no more,” read the proclamation, in part.

“… whatever mistakes on either hand have been fallen into, either by the body of this people or any orders of men, referring to the late tragedy, raised among us by Satan and his instruments, through the awful judgment of God, he would humble us therefor, and pardon all the errors of his servants and people that desire to love his name.”