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FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE |
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FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE |
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Methodist Ancestors |
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The History The Methodist Church was formed in 1729 by a group of men who included John Wesley. Wesley and fellow preachers set about traveling throughout the United Kingdom publicising both the message of god and the new Methodist Movement. The inspiring message attracted converts who would become traveling preachers themselves or who found or attend a new Methodist Church in their area. The expansion was rapid with churches springing up throughout the country. In 1741 the movement was split by doctrinal arguments which led to breakaway movements. George Whitfield established the Calvinistic Methodist Churches in Wales. Wesley died in 1791 taking away his established leadership and within a few years more splits occurred. Alexander Kilham formed the Methodist New Connexion which became established in the North of England. Hugh Bourne formed the Primitive Methodists who were established in Central and Eastern England. Rural Essex was a particular stronghold. The Primitives Methodists worshipped in a less austere way than the traditional Methodists and were often called the Ranters due to their practice of singing vociferously and preaching loudly in open air meetings. The third group to spilt was the Bible Christians who were based in Western England. The situation became quite fluid for a while with other smaller breakaways leaving the Wesleyan Church and others rejoining or forming new alliances. In some villages there could be up to three Methodist Churches following the Different groups. In 1932 the Main Methodist Churches came together to form the Methodist Church although a few of the smaller splinter churches remained independent and a few decided to join other churches . What records can you find? Most Birth, Marriage and Death records before 1753 will relate to the Methodist Church. From 1753 to 1837 Birth and Death records will still relate to the Methodist Church although due to the Marriage Act of 1753 all banns had to be read and marriages recorded in the Church of England Registers. Individual chapels belonged to a group of Chapels which was called a Circuit. Some records would be held for an individual Chapel although most would be held for the Circuit and some nationally Birth Marriage and Deaths before 1837 Baptisms 1700- current Census Returns Local Newspapers Membership lists Ministers lists Minutes of various local meetings The Methodist Church of Great Britain is a good place to start. There are only a few names listed but information is there to help guide your search. * The Methodist Central Hall in London has some great records most of which will require a personal visit or purchase of a CD. The star attraction is a historic roll that contains the names of over 1 million Methodists in the year 1909. * The largest collection of Methodist material in the UK is held at the John Rylands Library at Manchester University. Most of the material requires a personal visit but a growing amount is going online. * The Second largest collection is held at Oxford Brookes University. A personal visit is required to see this material. * The Museum of Primitive Methodism contains most information available on the Primitive Methodists * Hills Arrangements was a book that listed Methodist Ministers and Methodist Circuits. Google Books has Hills Arrangements for 1826 available online * The Times and Guardian newspapers carry announcements of appointments of Methodist Ministers as will local newspaper archives.
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