The Separation Of The Methodists From The Church Of England

This 1912 text contains a historical account of the development of Methodism and John Wesley's role in this process.

"With this volume the publication of A History of the Methodist Church in Great Britain comes to its appointed end. The project of writing it was initiated by the Methodist Conference of 1953, and the lapse of time since then has made it possible to include at appropriate points the results of the continuing research into the origins and nature of Methodism; but 'the chance and changes of this mortal life', which are bound to impinge on the progress of so complex an enterprise, together with the heavy involvement of all the contributors in ecclesiastical, ecumenical and academic affairs, have made this period much longer than the General Editors would have wished." -- From the Preface

John Wesley's insistence on strict discipline for himself was early extended to those who chose to join his movement. Persons who wished to retain their membership in Wesley's societies were expected to follow three General Rules: " "(1) doing no harm; (2) doing good; and (3) attending upon all the ordinances of God." First published in 1743 under the title The Nature, Design, and General Rules of the United Societies, these three simple rules constitute Methodism's first book of discipline.As the title hints, the rules were prefaced by a brief history of the Methodist societies and their organization. Examples were offered to illustrate the ways in which each of the three general rules were expected to work out in practical living. John Wesley claimed that both the principles and their application were based upon the New Testament and the practice of the Apostolic Church, especially as depicted by William Caves' Primitive Christianity.

This book offers a detailed analysis of one of the key episodes of twentieth-century ecumenism, focusing on the efforts made to reconcile the Church of England and the Methodist Church of Great Britain in the years since the First World War. Drawing on newly available archives as well as on a broad range of historical, theological, and liturgical expertise, the contributions explore what was attempted, why success proved elusive, and how the quest for unity was reconfigured into the twenty-first century. The volume sets contemporary ecumenical ambitions in historical context, explains the origins, course, and aftermath of the Anglican–Methodist ‘Conversations’ of 1955–72, retrieves their enduring global legacy, and explores the fraught nature of the ecumenical quest. It will be of key interest to scholars with an interest in ecumenism, Methodist studies, and church history.