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Methodists
Construction
of the dome of the new Darlington Street Methodism
arose in the 1730s from the influence of the preachers George Whitefield
and John and Charles Wesley. The first Methodist Society was established
in Moorfields, London around 1739. They tried to persuade people
to live their religion according to a new 'method' rather than just
going through the motions. In 1744 circuits for Wesleyan preachers
were established and the first national conference was held. The
followers of George Whitfield had broken away by 1747 and formed
31 societies, Calvinistic Methodists.
Splits and reunions within the group The Methodists themselves began to split into several groups: -
Methodist New Connexion formed in 1797
Some of
the different factions united to become the United Methodist Free
Churches in 1857 and others became the Wesleyan Reform Union. The
New Connexion and Bible Christians joined with the United Free Churches
in 1907 to form the United Methodist Church.
Structure of the church Unlike other Nonconformist churches, the Methodists developed a hierarchy for governing and administering the church. The lowest level was the individual church, or society as they are sometimes called. Each church would have the care of its own registers and records. The Wesleyans had developed 'bands', for religiously advanced people, made up of four people and 'classes' of up to twelve members. These would meet weekly under band or class leaders and where the records survive they can be a useful source of information about members of the church.
Bradley Wesleyan Band of Hope pledge card, 1905. Young people were encouraged to 'sign the pledge' against all intoxicating drinks. The churches were formed into local groups known as circuits, which were led by a superintendent. These were developed to ensure that ministers preached at different meetings. There was a custom of moving ministers every few years so that they did not put down roots in any one congregation. The circuits were divided and sub-divided as the movement grew so that they could accommodate expanding congregations. The circuit records tend to be concerned with finance and administration and also compiling circuit plans. The circuit plans can be a useful source of information if your ancestor was a preacher.
Click the image to enlarge Records of Wolverhampton circuits are held at Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies. Circuits were grouped into districts with Wolverhampton belonging to the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District. These records tend to be purely administrative with few sources for family historians. Ultimately, the districts reported to the conference which met annually as it still does today. A major resource for the activities of the church at a national level can be found at the John Rylands University Library of Manchester.
Registers The registers are similar in layout to Anglican registers. They can turn up in unusual place as the ministers covered large and ever changing areas and sometimes took the records with them. Occasionally, the registers may record more than just names and dates. Some transcripts of pre-1837 registers are available on our website.
Extract
from burial register Bilston was hit particularly badly by the cholera epidemic of 1832 resulting in around 700 deaths. One or two of the cholera cases are identified in the Swan Bank Methodist Church burial register. More information and a list of 692 of the victims can be found on our page on the Cholera in Bilston
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