 The congregations emphasized a reliance on Scriptures to find church doctrine, weekly communion, biblical church names such as "Church of Christ," the oversight of elders and congregational autonomy.The congregations associated with Sandeman had trouble being sustained, likely because of his loyalty to Britain in the years leading up to the American War of Independence.However, similar church efforts in New England would be revived around the turn of the century, although independently of Sandeman's influence, by others such as Abner Jones and Elias Smith.