From Wesley to Wesleyan

History & Distinctives of the Wesleyan Church
Part 2: From Wesley to ‘Wesleyan’

Wesley & the Anglicans
 Wesley intended to reform Anglicanism
 Certain factors led to separation
1. Anglican pulpits closed to Wesley’s
2. Non-loyalists join Methodism
3. Ordination of Lay-preachers
4. Spread of Methodism in America

Methodism in England
 Calvinistic Methodists separated into 3 sects
 Arminian Methodists divided into 3 sects
1. Wesleyan Methodists (500k in 1925)
2. Primitive Methodists (200k in 1925)
3. United Methodists (200k in 1925)
~ These merged in 1932 (Methodist Church)

Methodism in America
 Methodists immigrate to America
 Wesley Chapel built in NYC (1768)
 Wesley sends men to lead movement
 Methodism thrives through Revolution
 Coke & Asbury named superintendents
 Growth to 1.3 million by mid-19th century
Schism in American Methodism
 Organizational issues (clergy vs. laity)
 Cultural issues (black vs. white)
 Moral issues (free vs. slavery)
 Spiritual issues (Holiness Movement)

The Holiness Movement
 ‘Wesleyan Methodist Connection’ (1843)
 ‘Apostolic Churches’ (late 1800’s)
 ‘Pentecostal Churches’ (early 1900’s)
 ‘Church of the Nazarene’ (1908)

Formation of the Wesleyan Church
 Orange Scott leads 1st Holiness Denomination
 Began as protest against tolerance of slavery
 22 ministers and 6000 lay people left MEC
 Participated in ‘Underground Railroad’
 Participated in ‘Women’s Rights’
 Merged with Pilgrim Holiness Church (1968)

History of the Hess Road Church
 Baptists, ME’s, and WM’s met at Olcott
 WM’s met at School house #3 in Appleton
 Church built in 1878, Parsonage in 1901
 Barn built (1926), 7 room annex (1956)
 Foyer/office built (1966) LC (1973)
 New Sanctuary (1993), Parsonage (2003)