The Origins Of Primitive Methodism

The Primitive Methodist Connexion's mature social character may have been working-class, but this did not reflect its social origins.

Definitive account of the origins and development of the Primitive Methodist movement between 1810 and 1918, first published in 1919.

Excerpt from The Origin and History of the Primitive Methodist Church, Vol. 1 And the said several societies and classes, together with other congregations, societies, and classes, in several parts of England, were afterwards closely united and connected, and the whole thereof under the care of the said Hugh Bourne, James Bourne, William Clowes, and James Steele, were formed into one general community or Connexion, known and distinguished by the title or denomination of The Primitive Methodist Connexion.' Undoubtedly, then, William Clowes is right in his main contention, viz., that the Primitive Methodist Church began in 1811, and, therefore, that the proper history of the Church must also begin with that date. It is an anachronism to speak of Primitive Methodism before 1811. Any incidents which took place prior to the union effected in this memorable year, must be regarded as incidents and episodes belonging to a revivalistic movement, or series of revivalistic movements, locally differentiated, proceeding on early or primitive Methodist lines, partaking, therefore, of the nature of a survival, reaction, or return to an earlier type of aggressive agency, and finally converging and coalescing in one general community or Connexion. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Primitive Methodism was one of the three major churches which united in 1932 to form the Methodist Church of today. This book tells the story of Primitive Methodism, its evolution over a century or more, its character and emphases, the sorts of people who committed themselves to it, and its contribution to the reunited Methodist Church in 1932. The book focuses especially on the two chief Primitive Methodist leaders - Hugh Bourne and William Clowes - who were both working laymen.