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Methodist
divisions in Stoke-on-Trent |
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Source:
"The Borough of Stoke-upon-Trent" John Ward, 1843 |
Introduction:
Soon after
John Wesley's death in 1791, his followers began to divide into separate
Church bodies. During the 19th century many such separate Methodist
denominations were formed in Great Britain and the United States, each
maintaining its own version of the Wesleyan tradition. In 1881 an Ecumenical
Methodist Conference was held to coordinate Methodist groups throughout the
world. Conferences have been held at regular intervals since then. They are
currently known as the World Methodist Conference, which meets every five
years. The centennial gathering was convened in Honolulu in July 1981.
Dissention
in the Potteries:
"An
author (Aikin's Manchester, p.519), who wrote in or prior to the year 1795,
said of the Pottery District, 'there are a great variety of sects in the
Pottery , - few places have so great a diversity of opinion on the score of
religion as this;'
and since that period, there has been a very considerable extension of
the dissenting bodies."
The
Kilhamites (Methodist New Connexion):
"In
or about the year 1797, a great secession took place from the Wesleyan
connexion on the ground of church government, and the too stringent discipline
which the hierarchy, or Conference, established by Mr. Wesley, extracted from
the members of his societies, lay as well as clerical. Mr. Alexander Kilham, a
preacher, took a very active part in producing that separation; and the
seceding party are often designated, from him, 'Kilhamites;' tough the
appellation they assume to themselves is, 'the Methodist New Connexion.' They
have one very large Chapel and some smaller ones and Schools, at Hanley and
Shelton, the latter being their metropolitan station; and also a Chapel and
School at each of the other Pottery towns."
Primitive
Methodists (Ranters):
"Another
large secession from the Wesleyans, viz. That of the 'Primitives,' or 'Ranters,'
took place in the year 1808, in the Burslem circuit, in consequence of
the expulsion, for breach of duty or discipline, of some members, who
immediately set up for themselves, and have laboured vigorously and
successfully, among the more rude and uneducated portion of the surrounding
neighbourhood; and very extensively spread themselves throughout England and
Wales. The metropolitan station is at Tunstall, where they have a large Chapel
and Schools. They have bound themselves by the terms of a Conference Deed,
enrolled upon a similar plan to that of Mr. Wesley."
Division
at Burslem:
"A
very large swarm also, left the parent hive at Burslem, in 1836, consisting of
the Teachers and Scholars belonging to what was before called the Burslem
Sunday School, par eminence. The separatists from the Wesleyans have
not attached themselves, at present, to any particular leader."
Footnote:
Early in the
20th century in Great Britain, the separate Methodist bodies began to
coalesce. The Bible Christians, the Methodist New Connexion, and the United
Methodist Free Churches united in 1907 to form the United Methodist Church,
which in 1932 joined with the Primitive Methodist and Wesleyan Methodist
Churches to bring the long chapter of Methodist disunity in Great Britain to
an end. Today the Methodist Church in the United Kingdom has the distinction
of being the "mother Church" of world Methodism.
previous: John Wesley's preaching in the Potteries
next: development of other churches
Statement to Scriven by Joseph Wood (superintendant of Sunday School)
New Connexion and the Primitives in Stoke-on-Trent
