Methodism
The Methodist
movement was founded by the brothers John and Charles Wesley. The two
boys were
born in the rectory at Epsworth in Lincolnshire.
John was born in 1703 and Charles in 1707. When
he was six, John had an amazing
escape from a fire at the rectory. Friends
and relations believed that God had spared him for some great
purpose.
Later the two studied at Christchurch college Oxford
where Charles founded the Holy Club, which was an austere
society for Bible study and the provision of practical assistance
for the poor and needy. The members studied according to
the
methods laid down by the college Statutes and were so disciplined
and devout that fellow students gave the, the name "Methodists".
In 1735 the two Wesley brothers embarked on a
mission to preach to
native Americans. On their outward passage, John, in
particular, was impressed by the calm and fearless behaviour of a group
of German Moravians who continued to sing hymns and offer prayers with
apparent unconcern for a violent storm raging about them. The
mission was not particularly successful and both
brothers returned to the UK (Charles in 1737 and John the following
year). They were both disillusioned and feeling
that their faith was weak.
This disillusionment was to change quite
dramically in
May 1738. Charles had been suffering from pleuresy and was recuperating
at the home of some Moravian friends in London. He was deeply
moved by
the sincerity and strength of their faith and their concern for the
welfare of others and he produced his first hymn "Where shall my
wondering soul begin?"; the first of over 6000 he was to go on to
write. He regained strength rapidly and began his ministry as a
Church of England curate at St Mary's, Marylebone. A few days
later,
his brother John was persuaded, somewhat reluctantly, to go along to a
Bible Society meeting in Aldersgate St in the City of London. As
he
listened to the speaker, he found his heart "strangely warmed". His
faith in Christ revitalised, he began a lifetime of touring the
country, moving from town to town on horseback or in horsedrawn
carriage, preaching from homes, public halls or open air pulpits,
urging compassion and practical support for the poor.
The Methodist church of Great
Britain
BBC
-History of Methodism