2015 UM History Series #9: “Early Methodism in America and Wesley's Death”

            As we saw in a previous article the history of Methodism in America began with Wesley's own lack-luster ministry in Georgia.  However, as English migration to the Colonies increased, many Methodists were among them.

            In the late 1760s Methodist lay preachers began Methodist societies.  Phillip Embury began a society in New York, Thomas Webb, also a British Army Captain, began one in Philadelphia, and Robert Strawbridge started one in Maryland.  Soon, Wesley found that the Methodist work in America was not as organized and regulated as he might have liked and so in 1770 he sent some his English preachers, including Francis Asbury, to put things in better order. 

            The Methodist work in America continued to grow until the Revolution.  The Revolution, and American independence which followed it, was a huge challenge for Methodism.  First of all, Wesley was opposed to American independence and wrote to American Methodists encouraging them to remain loyal to England, thankfully, they did not listen and yet remained Methodists.

            After the Revolution most of the Anglican ministers fled America leaving the Methodists, who, if you will remember, attended the Anglican Church to receive the sacraments, without sacramental ministry.  This prompted Wesley to take to the bold step of ordaining Thomas Coke as a "superintendent" of the Methodist work in America and send him with instructions to ordain Asbury as a superintendent.  Coke and Asbury (this is where the name Cokesbury comes from) were to organize a separate Methodist Church in America and to ordain other elders for sacramental ministry. (Methodists in England remained part of the Church of England until after Wesley's death.)

            On December 24th 1784 Coke and Asbury called the Methodist preachers to Baltimore for what has become known as the "Christmas Conference."  At the Christmas Conference a new independent church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was formed.  Asbury insisted that he and Coke be elected by the Conference and they took the title bishop, rather than superintendent.

            Meanwhile, back in England, Wesley was growing old.  On March 2nd 1791, John Wesley died.  His last words were, "Best of all God is with us, farewell."  When he died, John Wesley had only six pounds to his name, he had always lived simply and generously.  Per his instructions, they were given to the poor men who served as his pall bearers.

            Methodism in America and England continued to grow as separate churches after Wesley's death.  We will continue the story of the Methodist Episcopal Church in two months.  But next month we need to pick up with the story of some other folks who make up the history of the United Methodist Church.  Next month we will tell the story of the Evangelical United Brethren Church.